Milt Sparks Holsters

B

brianidaho

New member
I'm looking for an IWB holster for my Witness compact. I don't have any experience with concealed carry, but like what I see in the Milt Sparks Versa Max Two and the Watch Six Dual Talon. The idea of having 2 mounting points offset from the gun makes sense to me, seems like it would be stable and thin. Both of these offer clips that allow you to wear a tucked-in shirt. Does anyone have experience with either-I'd like to get a little feedback before plunking down the money.

Thanks in advance.
Brian

Also someone had mentioned Lou Alessi holsters to me in an earlier post. Has anyone got a link to his web site?

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I will choose a path thats clear-I will choose freewill-Neal Pert

I swear-by my life and my love of it-that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine-Ayn Rand

[This message has been edited by brianidaho (edited October 03, 2000).]
 
I have the Sparks' Versa-Max 2 for the Hi-Power and I have been extremely happy with my purchase. It is practically the only holster I have ever been 100% satisfied with.

It conceals the Hi-Power very well and works well with even full-size guns as long as they have a slim profile. It also keeps the holster in the same place with the same profile so that the butt of the gun is always in the same location.

I generally prefer to carry it with the loops attached and an untucked shirt instead of the Kydex clips though. The Kydex clips are rock solid in anchoring the holster. Make sure you get it clipped on where you want it because these things do not move.

I have only had two problems with the tuckable use of the holster.

One is that the all-steel Hi-Power loaded with 15rds. of 9mm is a pretty hefty pistol to be held up by just the waistband of your pants and a belt strapped outside of the clips. I occasionally see a little sag if the pants don't fit just right (helps if you have a CCW-friendly tailor).

The other problem is that when you carry a gun tucked inside your shirt - the shirt is constantly getting pressed between the gun and the back of whatever chair you sit down on. After about 2 hours of this - it looks like somebody has gone mad with an iron on one side of your shirt. I don't think 99% of the people in the world would ever notice it; but I guarantee that anyone who has carried a gun like this would. This is a problem I have had with all of my tuckable holsters - including the Galco Deep Cover.

The only solution I have found for "gun creases" is to either wear lightly starched all-cotton button-down shirts (so that they wrinkle pretty much all over when you sit down) or wear shirts that are highly wrinkle resistant like sweaters and polyester-blend or wool polo shirts.

Cotton polo shirts and starched cotton shirts are the absolute worst. They resist normal wrinkling well enough but can't stand up to getting "ironed" by your carry piece - leaving you with a series of 3-4" horizontal creases, on just one side of your lower back area.
 
Milt Sparks Versa Max two is an awesome holster. I purchased two. One for the 4513 and one for the 3913. This is as total concealment as one can get. Very comfortable, and concealable. I expected to the best, i received better than best.It compliments the pistols very well. Don't waste your time or money on second best. It will be the second greatest investment you will make besides your pistol. You will not be disappointed by a Milt Sparks holster.
:cool: :cool: :cool:
 
My first concealed carry holster was a Milt Sparks and I have been very happy with the company. I don't have experience with the Versa Max Two, but I like what I have seen and read. I'm especially fond of the fact that the clips that bite into the pants are covered up by the belt. FWIW, my next holster will be a Versa Max Two.
 
I find the best IWB holster on the market to be the YCS by M/D Enterprises. If you must have the tuckable feature then the VM2 may be your only choice. Tony does make a pancake similar to the YCS that I am very fond of called the I-BAK.
 
I own 2 vm2's and am very satisfied. The 1911 works for the High Power as well. If you like the tuckable function, check out Derry Gallagher at dgallagherholsters.com - I think you might like it. I am going to get one, just don't know which gun I am going to get it for.
 
Might want to look @ Lou Alessi's Talon Plus also. I narrowed my choices down to the Sparks VM2 and Alessi Talon Plus and then decided to order both...Dan in GA
 
I ordered a VM2 for my HK 45 Compact, (not the world's slimmest pistol) I use IWBs almost exclusively, and after using Milt Spark's VM 2, I ordered a VM2 for my HK P7M8, Sig 228 and Sig 226. It is absolutley the most comfortable IWB I have ever worn. (I have tried holsters from Mitch Rosen, Alessi, Glaco, FIST and a host of others, but the VM 2 is my favorite) You can't go wrong with a Milt Sparks VM 2, but the time to deliver can be a bit long (6 - 10 weeks)
 
Brian

I have carried concealed for nine years with Milt Sparks. Great Holsters. I wore out three. 2 - Summer Specials, and one Heritage. Also carried for 20 years prior to that and have many former holsters in "Holster Heaven"

Now I am into the Mitch Rosen (ARG & USD). They are even better but you need an equity loan to pay for them.

I carry a full size P226 and spare mag, and the rest of the normal "stuff."

The gun is heavy but the holster held it well (Rosen does it better). I am very tough on holsters, I have sweated through the leather, had them restitched, bent the metal shank during a disagreement with an unsatisfied customer (making an arrest) and I also used the same Sparks holsters for IDPA.

I got my money's worth out of all of them.

One other thing. Don't scrimp on a cheap belt. Get a good thick solid well made belt or you will have sag (and I don't mean your midsection) like you won't believe after a couple of months when the leather stretches and get soft.

Be safe and keep the brass flying.

Terry Peters
http://www.pt-partners.com

You get what you pay for front end or back end
 
Thanks for all the input. I think I'll go ahead with the VM2, based on the good input here. I've written Milt Sparks, he doesn't havea gun line mine there, I'll have to get it to him to build around. Will give me a reason for a trip down to Boise, I haven't managed to get there yet. Thanks again.

Brian
 
Brian:

I have a VM2 for my Kahr MK9. Works fine. Only problem is that attaching it to your pants and tucking in your shirt is kind of a pain. You do have to blouse your shirt with a bit of care. It's pretty comfortable.

I have several IWB holsters from Rusty Sherrick which I find more comfortable than the VM2, but they aren't tuckable. My MK9 is easily concealed with the VM2, but then it is a pretty small gun, smaller than your Witness compact.

M1911
 
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