Flexible low-profile guard for covering and protecting a climbing gaff

A combination lineman's climbing iron and a guard for covering a gaff of the climbing iron, the combination comprising:

• the climbing iron having a vertically elongate shank orientable parallel to and adjacent a calf of the lineman, the shank supporting the gaff near a lower bend of the shank, the shank extending horizontally from the lower bend beneath the foot of the lineman and having a flexible ankle belt attached to an end of the shank;
• the guard including:
• a base member;
• said base member oriented adjacent the surface of the shank of the climbing iron and slidably attached to the shank of the climbing iron;
• a sheath member;
• said sheath member affixed to an inner face of said base member;
• said sheath member and said base member forming a pocket;
• said pocket having sufficient size to accommodate and protect the gaff of the climbing iron, wherein said loop is located on a surface of said base member opposite a side upon which said means to cover is located, said base member comprises a first piece of material, and said loop is formed by joining a second piece of material to said first piece of material, said second piece of material joined to said base member at a top distal end thereof and at a bottom distal end thereof, said means to cover includes a pocket formed by the joining of a third piece of material to said base member along a lower end of said third piece of material and along two outer sides of said third piece of material, said second piece of material is attached with fasteners, including at least one fastener adjacent said top distal end and at least one fastener adjacent said bottom distal end, said fastener at said bottom distal end passing through said bottom distal end, through said base member of said guard, and thorough said lower end of said third piece of material;
• a strap;
• said strap affixed to an outer face of said base member;
• said strap and said base member forming a loop;
• and
• said loop slidably receive the ankle belt of the climbing iron through a passageway between said loop and said base member, wherein said loop is located on a surface of said base member opposite a side upon which said means to cover is located, said base member comprises a first piece of material, and said loop is formed by joining a second piece of material to said first piece of material, said second piece of material joined to said base member at a top distal end thereof and at a bottom distal end thereof, said sheath member includes said pocket formed by the joining of a third piece of material to said base member along a lower end of said third piece of material and along two outer sides of said third piece of material, said second piece of material is attached with fasteners, including at least one fastener adjacent said top distal end and at least one fastener adjacent said bottom distal end, said fastener at said bottom distal end passing through said bottom distal end, through said base member of said guard, and thorough said lower end of said third piece of material.