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Opinions on Wright Leather Holsters vs. Milt Sparks?

2.9K views 37 replies 29 participants last post by  Dwvalor  
#1 ·
Big sparks fan here, but with lead times around a year I’ve been considering some other options. The Wright predator looks like a really nice holster, and the price is decent for the upgraded version. Anyone own one and have some feedback? Barranti also look really nice. Thanks all!
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#2 ·
I am all about Milt Sparks and Kramer. At one point 10 or so years ago, I needed a OWB commander holster I got a Wright Predator. Used it for a bit, didn't like it, bought a Sparks 55BN for my commander length pistols. Way better in my opinion. The Wright is sitting in the "sell someday" box at this point in time.
 
#6 ·
I don't own Wright holsters. I am a fan of Milt Sparks, TT Gunleather, Bitterroot, and Garrett. I carry at Strong Side IWB and Appendix IWB. Different sizes of Government, Commander, and Officer. Different Season, Clothing, and Locale determine the set up I will choose. I go with this typically a week to a month at a time. In Summer sometimes every few days a change is made.
 
#9 ·
Doc Barranti creates works of art. They are a bit spendy and the wait time can exceed a year. IMHO, they are more than worth it!
 
#11 ·
The Wright's shop is in NW Ohio near Toledo. They are truly brothers. They do better than average work.
I thought the leather was a bit on the thin side. It didn't collapse, but, didn't feel as sturdy as Sparks. I also like Kramer. Horsehide is the kydex of the leather world. Kramer may have limited models, but, they are really good kit. the Thomas Perfectionist is a great holster for extended periods seated, like driving.
 
#17 ·
Milt Sparks and many others make beautiful holsters and there is nothing wrong with appreciating the look of a holster just as we appreciate the look of our pistols. Milt Sparks in particular has outstanding proven designs as well. However, for me personally, considering real life carry challenges and not appearance, it is hard to beat stiff, thin, slick horsehide from Kramer. An added bonus, they are absolutely bombproof and last forever.
 
#18 ·
I love Kramer's horsehide, but I do not like the belt loops on the IWB holsters. The Sparks split loops allow that started with Lou Alessi offer better concealment and spread out the weight of the pistol over the entire width of the holster. The Kramer split loops have very little separation, impacting both concealment and comfort. For OWB holsters, Kramer scabbard designs are really good.

Both company's offerings are durable. I finally retired an Sparks HR-LTD after more than twenty years of carry, and I still have a Kramer J-frame pocket holster from the same era.
 
#22 ·
I've got Sparks, Tucker and Wright. Each has it's own merrit. All my 3 Wrights are IWB and used for Glocks and one 3" 1911 Bul Armory and work as advertised. My Sparks IWB is for my Wilson 4" Experior and Professional. My Tucker OWB is for 1911's. All work exceptionally well with no complaints. I just got a Wright IWB for a H & K CC9 that is on order, kinda the cart before the horse. JMHO
 
#23 ·
I've had both Sparks and Wright holsters and IMO Milt Sparks is far superior in almost every single way. The quality of the leather/stitching/construction is better along with the general holster design/how they function.

The only exception is Wright's pocket holster. Back when I started carrying it was a P238 in a pocket holster. Tried all the crappy little pocket holsters out there and then came across the Wright unit. Its absolutely the best pocket holster out there IMO. It doesn't print the gun obviously, holds the gun secure and actually stays in your pocket when you draw the gun.

For everything else, get Sparks. Unless you want to come join the dark side of AIWB :p
 
#24 ·
I have been carrying my DW Guardian in a Sparks Summer Special 2 for probably 7 years or so.

Back in 2020, I had commissioned my gunsmith to build me what is essentially a clone of my Guardian, but with a slide direct milled for an optic.

My SS2 was (supposedly) not going to work to hold the pistol with an optic on it so I started looking around for something like the SS2, but that would work with an optic.

I ordered a Closer RDR from Wright Leather Works. When I received it, I started carrying my Guardian in it while waiting for my new gun to be finished.

This is what I wrote in an email to WLW after that experience:

Hello,

I received my new holster a couple of weeks ago and just wanted to give you some feedback on it.

I have been carrying my Commander in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2. My new WLW Closer RDR is very similar. But, I think I’m going to go back the Milt Sparks. I have attached some pictures, so you can see what I’m talking about.

The main thing is the flap on the Closer that sticks up between the beavertail and my body. The Sparks holster has a much shorter flap there. So far, I cannot tell any difference in comfort, so the Closer does not seem to have any advantage from that extra length. However, there are times when I’m going into a place where I am not allowed to carry. I will take my pistol out and leave it in my vehicle, then re-holster it when I get back to my vehicle. That works fine on the Sparks holster. On the Closer, that flap sags over to the side when the gun is not in the holster. It makes the holster print against my shirt way worse than the pistol does. It looks goofy. And, for what it’s worth, the Sparks keeps its opening better, to make re-holstering easier.

That is really the thing that has pushed me back to using my Sparks holster. But, there are a couple of other differences where I do prefer the way the Sparks is.

The pistol sits further down into the Sparks. More of it is covered/protected. That also means the pistol itself is riding a little lower, compared to my belt line, which I like. I think it prints slightly less like that, too. It may also help with the following, as well.

If I put the pistol in the Sparks, hold it upside down and shake it, the pistol does not come out. Doing the same with the Closer causes the pistol to work its way loose and fall out. That may be partly because of the RDR cut on the Closer, so I’m not really holding that against the Closer, but I suspect it’s more to do with the Spark holster having more coverage of the overall pistol. And even with that, drawing from the Sparks is at least as smooth and easy as a draw from the Closer.

The Sparks is thinner. With the pistol in the holster and measuring the thickness across the slide towards the muzzle end, the Sparks is 1.100” and the Closer is 1.265”. Not a big difference, but I noticed it from the feel, which is what prompted me to measure it.

I hope you can take this is constructive feedback and not just bitching. 😊 And have a great Labor Day weekend.
And this was their response:

Thanks for you feedback.

Our body shield has gone through many changes and through popular request our customers as a whole prefer to have the entire beaver tail covered. I can see what Sparks does and that is fine but it comes down to personal preference. If you would prefer to have our body shield only cover to the back of the slide that can definitely be accommodated.

Second you can see that in the Sparks holster a laser grip 1911 will bump into the top of the leather and that is why we cut a little deeper to allow for the super popular Crimson Trace laser grip. This also make our holster ride slightly higher. Again personal preference.

You are also losing a lot of coverage because of the RDR cut and you are talking about a looser holster because of the deeper sight channel which is normally equipped with red dot ready pistols. If the holster was made for a standard 1911 not a red dot version and then compared, it would be much closer to the Sparks you are comparing it to. Currently you are comparing apples and oranges.
I will not be buying another holster from WLW.

Meanwhile, I moved to South Carolina and Palmetto Leather Works is local to me now. After I got my Alpha Foxtrot 1911-S15 (early last year), I wanted a SS2 for it, but I didn't want to wait 6 months to a year. I took the SS2 for my Guardian and gave it and the S15 to the guys at PLW and asked them to make me a clone of the SS2 to fit the AF. They did an awesome job.

Earlier this year, I got a DWX Compact and did the same thing. PLW made me a clone of the SS2 for my DWXc and it is 99% of the actual Sparks. It does have metal reinforcement in the top for easy re-holstering, just like the SS2. Zero regrets or complaints.

The folks at Palmetto Leather Works are super nice, great to deal with, and do absolutely top-notch work - in my opinion, anyway.

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