Milt Sparks Summer Special for J-frame - won't stay put!

beanbird05 · Apr 11, 2015

I purchased a Milt Sparks Summer Special for my J-frame carries. First off I know Milt Sparks has a sterling reputation. Secondly, the holster is beautiful, and the metal reinforcement, plus the tight fit and retention, are absolutely perfect.

BUT, the snap is on a swivel, so the cant doesn't "set" unless I really cinch up my belt. Does anyone else have that problem? Maybe I need to get a VMII if I want to have the cant really totally "set" without cinching up my belt too much...

Doug M. · Apr 11, 2015

A quality belt is a non-discretionary part of a system. If you are not using a real, honest to goodness made for carrying a pistol gunbelt, you will continue to have problems. My recollection of that design (and this is vague and imperfect at best) is that the slight amount of movement/flex in the cant is intentional as part of the means of improving concealment.

beanbird05 · Apr 11, 2015

Doug M. said:
A quality belt is a non-discretionary part of a system. If you are not using a real, honest to goodness made for carrying a pistol gunbelt, you will continue to have problems. My recollection of that design (and this is vague and imperfect at best) is that the slight amount of movement/flex in the cant is intentional as part of the means of improving concealment.

Yep, I understand the "slight amount of movement" ability. It just seems to be a bit excessive in this case, because it moves even under mild tension. Maybe b/c my j frame is so "butt heavy" it makes it worse. I feel like heavier handguns would benefit from the two tabs, but this holster just has the one.

bronco45 · Apr 12, 2015

Heavy grips, short bbl does not bode well for IWB! Contact the Sparks company in Boise and see if they will modify to the two strap Summer Special? I've dealt with the Sparks company since 1972 and found them to be reasonable and helpful, they endorse and practice concealed carry.

LOBO · Apr 14, 2015

I agree with bronco45 100%!

Milt Sparks didn't gain their reputation overnight. Contact them, and I'm sure they will be able to help.

Goblin · Apr 14, 2015

Sounds like you have the single belt loop model. I have the SS2 with two loops and my 37 stays rock solid in it. Same story with my Kahr CW9 in a SS2. I'd try to swap or modify as bronco45 suggested.

Dot_mdb · Apr 15, 2015

I also carry my J frame, Model 640, in a Summer Special 2. I don't understand the snap being on a swivel. The loop on my holster is screwed on in two places. It can't swivel. Also, Sparks makes the loops very tight specifically to avoid movement. Can you post a picture of this holster?

Bill

ContinentalOp · Apr 15, 2015

I have a IWB clip holster for my 642. By necessity the clip is larger than the belt so it does have a tendency to shift cant as I move around. However, what I've found is that it settles in place after a while. It doesn't affect my ability to draw and concealability isn't compromised so I live with it. Maybe the same situation occurs with your holster. Have you worn it a while without adjusting it using normal belt tension to see if it settles in place? You may also want to try tweaking the placement of the holster. For example, if you wear it at 3:30 you may want to try it at 4:00 or 4:30.

ContinentalOp · Apr 15, 2015

Dot_mdb said:
I also carry my J frame, Model 640, in a Summer Special 2. I don't understand the snap being on a swivel. The loop on my holster is screwed on in two places. It can't swivel. Also, Sparks makes the loops very tight specifically to avoid movement. Can you post a picture of this holster?

Bill

He said it's a single strap, so it sounds like he's using the Summer Special, not the Summer Special II.

Dot_mdb · Apr 15, 2015

The difference between the Summer Special and the Summer Special II is that the Summer Special doesn't have removable loops to allow for different belt sizes. The loop is sewn in place. With the Summer Special II the loops are removable by taking out screws inside the snaps.

I don't know what holster the OP has but with the IWB holsters from Sparks that I am familiar with the only way it could move around is if the wrong loop size was being used on a narrower belt.

Bill

Dot_mdb · Apr 19, 2015

In doing some research into this I found that Milt Sparks mentioned at their site that they produce the Summer Special with one loop for certain small autos and revolvers. My holster has two loops for my 640. I also saw at the A.E. Nelson website that they produce a Summer Special with one loop on a swivel. I would definitely like to see a picture of the original poster's holster and find out more about it.

Apparently Sparks improved on the original design for most guns when they added the second loop and eliminated the swivel.

Bill

Milt Sparks Summer Special for J-frame - won't stay put!

beanbird05

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