redrick

I opened up my Sparks box today, Merry Christmas to me from me.
I received them last Wednesday, but I felt to bad to take pictures and break them in, so I just waited until Christmas to open them.

I was disappointed in them, one is for a 4" 1911 and the other is for a J frame. I can not hardly snap the belt loops shut with it on a belt, whether I have the belt on or off.

The one for the 1911 looks like I have been wearing it, it has a few marks on the front.

Fit, is very tight, the tightest off any new holster that I have bought.

The reinforced mouth is very good and they would be excellent if the loops would snap easily, the little scratches on the one doesn't bother me that much because it's going to get them anyway.

I am going to call them on Monday and see if they will take them back.

If anybody here wants either of them let me know before Monday, they are $135.00 each.

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Thumper

Wow... I can't believe you'd sent them back. I have several and never had any problems like you described.

The snaps are one way snaps, if you look at them you'll see a tab at the that bottom has to go on first, The straps will stretch so just snap the loops closed and slip your belt through them until they're broken in a little. Same for the fit, give 'em a chance to break in to your weapon. You wouldn't want everything to come loose would you?

If you do sell them I'll take them both! Please PM me.

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deadeye72

I agree with Thumper. With a little use, they should loosen up some. They look way too good to send back.

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T Bone

Redrick, there should have been a paper with the holsters that discussed the break in methods. It discusses if the holster is tight, to make several (maybe 25 to 100) presentations from the holster with an unloaded weapon. This is all that has been necessary with my four VM2's (I typically do the 100 draws whether needed or not).

If this doesn't do the trick, their next instruction states to place the unloaded firearm in the bag the holster came in (4 mil plastic) and insert it into the holster. This procedure is called blocking, and lightly stretches the leather to fit. The time needed will be from a few minutes to overnight according to the paper (you want to be sure you don't over do this procedure).

Thumper had the snaps covered, as to the loops, I'd discuss that with the folks at Milt Sparks. They may give you a procedure to loosen them slightly. As for the scratches, I am a bit surprised (mine all arrived looking great) but I suspect they can make that right somehow. I'd give them a call.

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Regards, T Bone.


"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety". Benjamin Franklin

Juggernaut

What width is the belt? I ask because I had what I thought was a 1.5" belt (different brand) and couldn't figure out why the 1.5" loops couldn't be snapped closed until I measured the belt and found out it is 1.75".
Also, I recall the Sparks site used to have some use instructions stating the loop snaps are supposed to be used only for removing the holster from the belt and the belt should be slid through closed loops. I think it was on the same page as where the holster should be taken off if there was not going to be a gun in it for an extended period, whether the mouth was reinforced or not. On the FAQs maybe?

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Matt Del Fatti

Ridick:
Is the outside face of the 1911 holster horsehide by any chance? Horsehide can have a wide range of marks and stripes that can look like light scratches. Just a thought.

The marks show a little easier in brown. Kinda like this:

agonza7543

Will the J frame holster accommodate an S&W M&P 360...it's a j frame with a 1 7/8" bbl with a hammer
Thanks,
Al

redrick

Thanks for the input on this from all of you.

Yes, the belt is 1.5 and they will slide through the loops and I can sometimes snap them on 1 of the holsters after a fight. On the 1911 I can snap 1 of the loops. They snap fine off of the belt. I think it has more to do with how thick the belt is and not the width. I took my flimsy work belt that is 1.25 wide and folded it in half, which made it a little wider than my Rafter and I could not snap the loops.

Yes, it has those grain lines in it and there are 4 small scratches on the right side, 2 of them you can feel if you run your finger over them. They do not really bother me, I just wished the loops would snap. Wearing it, it's going to get scratched anyway, that's just adds character.

Yes, it will fit a 360 and the loops are 1.5", Horse and Shark.

jtmo3

redrick, most all of my holsters with belt loops do that. Just wear it for a while sliding the belt through the loops and they will eventually stretch and loosen enough that they will finally snap on the belt. You will notice the loops expanding after you've worn it for a while.

John

xrmattaz

The snaps certainly can be a bear at first, but with many snappings/unsnappings they'll loosen up just a bit. Rub a bit of bar soap on the innards of the snap, that has worked for me, slicks it up a bit.

My four VM2's (and three more on the way!) now snap easily.

As Matt stated, horsehide has a bit more "character" than cow....the two horse/shark VM2's I received last month did indeed have a few small "scratches", for lack of a better word. That's just horse!

Check out this pic, two brand new/unused/unworn horse VM2's...notice the character marks on the 1911 holster? The snaps on both of these newest ones now snap/unsnap like butter!

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