I believe Hondo (1953) is credited with the first appearance of the rough-out gun belt. As for the maker, I don't know if anyone actually knows. John Bianchi designed the holster for Duke and possibly the belt. I've read that Anderson didn't make a rig for Duke until 1969. Anderson didn't move to LA until 1958, so I'm pretty sure that with him living in Arkansas at the time Hondo was filmed, he wouldn't have made that rig. One other name that has been fielded, about the maker of the first gun belt, is Bob Brown of Hollywood. Good luck with your research!
Thank You for letting me join. I really was searching for an answer to question and this site came up. I had recently purchased a replica western rig and now every western film I watch Im just looking at gunbelts the whole time! Anyways.. in what film did the Duke first start wearing his signature 2 tone gun belt...? And was it made by Andy Andersen?