You know, when I hear people say, 'It isn't easy telling the truth,' I often wonder just what they're thinking. Then, every once in a while, I'm granted the opportunity to assume a rather more introspective viewpoint.

The other day, I posted a 'Freetagh' for a used, modified, Milt Sparks Summer Special II holster to fit a 5-inch 1911. In my subsequent email correspondence with the 'winner', Gary G, it became evident that he had been pining for one of these holsters for some time.

I can understand that.

I...*COUGH*..."grew up" reading the likes of Cooper, Keith, and Skelton (a.k.a., The Holey Triumvirate), so you know there never was much 'hope' for me.

But I digress...

This photo shows the SS2 from my Freetagh post. This holster is 'current production.'

Now, if you're asking yourself, "Who would do that to an SS2?", I would have to answer, "Why not do that to an SS2?"

Allow me to explain. (Using pictures!)

Here, we have a current-production SS2 for a Commander (L) next to a mid-1990s vintage SS2 for a Government Model (R). (Note that the Commander holster is shown for comparison because it, too, is unmodified.):

(Which one looks 'better made' to you?)

This photo shows the interior of the current-production SS2:

Note the sight track is a bit too narrow and somewhat off-center. In my experience, this is typical of current-production Milt Sparks holsters having sewn-in sight tracks.

This photo shows the interior of the mid-1990s vintage SS2:

Note the sewn-in sight track is much wider and well-centered in the holster body.

(Which sight track do you think works like it's supposed to?)

To make a long story short, I now think it was wrong of me to post a Freetagh for my used, modified, SS2 holster. It really isn't worth even that. Moreover, I think this is probably doubly true for someone like Gary G who has been so looking forward to having one.

So, in addition to telling 'all', I am here to make public amends.

I will still be sending my beat-up SS2 to Gary G as promised, but I will also be sending him the near-new-condition, mid-1990s vintage SS2 shown here.

That way, he will at least get what he bargained for (not to mention a holster that actually works as designed and intended).

Respectfully,
FOG

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In case anyone thinks I harbor some undue prejudice against the Milt Sparks 'Summer Special' holster, I hope this is sufficient to convince you otherwise.

(I just prefer the 'older' ones...)

Here are my three favorites by Milt Sparks:

(L to R): Commander (1¾" single sewn loop), Commander (1¾" single loop), Government Model (1½" split loop)

The Commander holsters came from forum ads; I found the Government Model holster at the 'local gun show' (a.k.a., LGS). I don't know their exact vintage, but all are marked "Idaho City" so they predate the company's move to Boise in the early 1990s.

The Government Model holster actually shares the same fault with the newer ones that I lamented above: The front sight channel does not function properly.

This can be a real problem if, say, your front sight has a Red Ramp insert. Which mine does. Er, did...

In any case, I think the ultimate rendition of the classic Summer Special holster is probably the "ISP-NR"
by Matt Del Fatti. Not easy to get, though, and I am very lucky to have found one.

I will otherwise let the photos of mine speak for themselves...

No, I'm not exactly 'destitute' when it comes to holsters.

Either.

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FOG,
a good story and a very generous thing to do...many blessing to you Sir!

Good on you.!! I have a bunch of Milt Sparks Holsters, all work great . My first was from Milt himself, a summer spl. Could you look and see who signed your messed up summer Spl?? I would send it back to Sparks , I`am sure they would make it right to you. Been carrying my Les Baer super Tac for over two years in a Milt Sparks Versa-Max-2 a very good well made holster that fits me well.. I like their 200 AW for carrying my Revolver`s best regards Frank

I just looked at a couple SS-IIs that I have, one I got about two years or less ago, the other a year or two before that. Both of the sight tracks look like your 90s production one. I also looked inside a couple of my Sparks EXs, they don't have a sewn track at all for some reason.