[Choc. Lab]

I have Sparks for 1911's and Barranti's for revolvers.

But my go too is TT Gunleather. Make a great product and reasonable wait list.

 

[Bob-O]

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

 

[jetrinka]

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

 

[stuartv]

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.

 

[pipedown]

For OWB carry, I have a couple BN-55s and a couple MS Versa Maxs, which I believe are excellent and well worth the wait.

 

[HeavyDuty]

I have both Wright and Milt Sparks holsters (among others) and like them both. One nice thing about Wright is that he does a RDO compatable scabbard. But, the Sparks SS-2 is the gold standard for iron sighted pistols. I like TT for leather IWBs that accommodate a RDO.

 

[Austin Millbarge]

Sparks all day. Wright is flimsy and not well fitted.

 

[Gumbee]

Never had a Sparks and while my Wright holsters are good, I prefer Warbird Leather.

 

[stuartv]

For OWB carry, I have a couple BN-55s and a couple MS Versa Maxs, which I believe are excellent and well worth the wait.

I also have a MS VM2 for a Commander. I tried to like it, but I eventually went back to the SS2. I just LOVE the SS2 (and my Palmetto Leather Works clones).

 

[PCKLST]

I am a huge fan and pretty much only carry Milt Sparks. VM-2 for IWB and 55BN for OWB. They are expensive but will last a lifetime and you will not wish you had gotten something different.

 

[TomD]

I use Dave at Ronin Leather: Ronin Leather Holsters LLC :: Ronin Leather Holsters LLC - does great work at very reasonable price points and equally reasonable wait times. He just updated his site to include his interpretation of the SS that's gorgeous. Dave's a Vet & great to talk to, and as per his site, just email him with some specifics and your phone. He'll call back & ask questions looking for issues you may not realize you've had, making sure he makes what you really need. He's a Vet, too.

 

[Bob-O]

Sparks all day. Wright is flimsy and not well fitted.

What model Wright do you have as all mine IWB are solid.

 

[Austin Millbarge]

The OWB. Predator? I’m guessing.

 

[Bob-O]

The OWB. Predator? I’m guessing.

I have the Cruiser and Cruiser ROR and the Cobra. All three are solid. I like my 2 Sparks Criterions as well. Both are great holsters for me for the pistols I carry. Each to his own.

 

[Gun stocker]

You could check out Monkey Edge to see if they have some Sparks on their web site. I advise getting a Milt Sparks holster.

 

[et45]

I’ve got this vintage Gordon Davis that I really like! View attachment 1761437

Vintage Davis holsters pop up on the bay often.Great holsters

 

[awmp]

TT Gunleather if you don’t want to wait for Milt Sparks.

 

[Dwvalor]

Palmetto
TT
Sparks
Nightengale
Wrights
Tucker
Warbird
They are all good but I think everyone should own a Sparks . I like Nightengale alot as well .
Carrying a Palmetto today . No wrong choice but if I could pick only one it would be a Sparks I have at least one from all of the above and I have been happy .