80's-era leather 1911 holsters for low-viz, concealed carry, and practical comp.

[RAM Engineer]

What were the hot stuff leather 1911 holsters (OWB preferably) for low-profile carry, concealed-carry and practical competition from back in the day before kydex became so prevalent? I've got a message off to Larry Vickers asking about what they used in his Unit for low-profile missions, but haven't heard back yet.

The photo shared by Pat McNamara below is what got me thinking about the history of the state of the art in carry leather before the rise of Kydex. I wouldn't mind if Larry Vickers were to make a Vickers Guide book of legendary holsters to go along with his 1911 book.

https://gastatic.com/digest/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Pat-McNamara-photo-Delta-with-1911-used-with-permission.jpg

Thanks in advance,
Jason

[MDFA]

I would say the Bruce Nelson/Milt Sparks 55BN and the Summer Special of one type or another as others copied those designs.

[Chuck Whitlock]

I would say the Bruce Nelson/Milt Sparks 55BN and the Summer Special of one type or another as others copied those designs.

Also:

https://www.kramerleather.com/

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1312.R1.TR11.TRC2.A0.H0.Xre d+ni.TRS1&_nkw=red+nichols+holster&_sacat=0

http://www.frontiergunleather.com/index.php/gunbelts-holsters-i/contemporary-holsters

[vcdgrips]

Vintage Alessi holsters with pull thru snaps had a following as well. Fairly retentive and faster than a thumb break.

[Rick R]

In my mis-spent youth as an LEO in the 80’s I mostly saw guys carrying “Mexican” when off duty or plain clothes with a 1911. Second most popular was some version of a Summer Special and a few Yaqui Slides. Competition shooters where I shot used the Chapman High Ride.

I found that a 5” 1911 was quite comfortable to carry in the top of a pair of cowboy boots as the muzzle went to the sole beside my instep, but usually carried in a W.M. Davis #455. It’s an IWB Summer Special clone that I’ve worn out a couple pistols in.

Then somebody figured out how to make pancakes...

[Croesus]

Don't forget the Milt Sparks #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) . Still a great holster.

Gordon Davis made the Taylor Omega -- kind of a #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) variant as I recall.

The Sparks 55BN and 1AT are still valid for use. Just get them sized for a 1 3/4 inch belt.

[Wayne Dobbs]

And don't forget the Gordon Davis Taylor Thunderbolt and his 453 and 4532 Sparks 55BN clones. I wore a 4532 (had about a 10 degree FBI cant) lots of days in a plain clothes deployment team with a Colt LW Commander. Good times!

[JHC]

Here are a couple from Milt Sparks. The 55BN owb and this early '80's vintage Summer Special I bought new then and continue to use extensively.

47226

47227

The 55BN is really nice and secure. It's not my favorite because it carries sort of high and this makes the draw stroke quite different from the IWB position of the SS.

[RAM Engineer]

Don't forget the Milt Sparks #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) . Still a great holster.

Gordon Davis made the Taylor Omega -- kind of a #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) variant as I recall.

The Sparks 55BN and 1AT are still valid for use. Just get them sized for a 1 3/4 inch belt.

Looks like the 1AT isn’t listed on his website any more. Rats...

[kwb377]

This thread just made me go find my box of old holsters and dig the 1911 from the back of the safe. I need to puts some rounds through 'er soon...

Just after I turned 21 and got my permit, I bought a Star PD and started carrying it CCW. I carried it in this Desantis Yaqui slide I found at a gunshow that was made for a S&W Model 39/59.

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308195.jpg

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308196.jpg


A few years later I bought a customized Series 80 and started carrying it off-duty in this Elmer McEvoy/Leather Arsenal IWB. I didn't carry it for long...I decided a G19/OWB was much more comfortable.

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308199.jpg

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308200.jpg

In 2008, I went to an agency that allowed single action for duty and carried my S&W1911 for a couple of years, using this Galco Concealable when working plainclothes (I carried it in a kydex 5.11/BladeTech ThumbDrive holster in "uniform", which was polo/5.11's)

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308197.jpg

https://pbase.com/kwb377/image/170308198.jpg

[Erick Gelhaus]

Recollections from late 80s and early 90s - from the recesses of my brain - Bianchi, Sparks, Bruce Nelson, Gordon Davis/later Galco training holster. For similar holsters these days it'd include Kramer, C Rusty Sherrick, Sparks/BNCL, and I imagine more.

One of the more books I've read lately is: 47255

Published in '78. Really started to drive a holster mounting, carry, wear idea in my head.

[Croesus]

Milt Parks will still make a #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) . Just give them a call. I just got a new one (cause one is none, two is one) a few months ago.

[Hambo]

And don't forget the Gordon Davis Taylor Thunderbolt and his 453 and 4532 Sparks 55BN clones. I wore a 4532 (had about a 10 degree FBI cant) lots of days in a plain clothes deployment team with a Colt LW Commander. Good times!

Didn't Davis make a drop leg holster as well?

A buddy gave me a Rogers-Safariland paddle holster that was plastic/kydex? and leather lined. Retention was a leather strap that kept the split edge of the holster pinched tight. It didn't take long to figure out why he gave it to me: it fucking sucked.

My favorite holster of the era was the 55BN or any of the clones. I had them for my 1911 and 92F.

[Wayne Dobbs]

Didn't Davis make a drop leg holster as well?

A buddy gave me a Rogers-Safariland paddle holster that was plastic/kydex? and leather lined. Retention was a leather strap that kept the split edge of the holster pinched tight. It didn't take long to figure out why he gave it to me: it fucking sucked.

Don't know about a drop leg from Davis, but he did lots of stuff not in his catalog (Bolke has more insight on this). As for that Rogers holster you mentioned, I had one of those for a K-frame snub and I was also very underwhelmed by that holster.

[theJanitor]

Pancakes with reinforced thumb straps were great. And somewhat fast

Here’s my old-school combo: nickel Combat Commander with an Alessi IWB

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200115/753b3e611cbb892956c663a5cca13f06.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BobM]

The Bianchi Pistol Pocket was a 90s favorite of mine. (I didn’t own a 1911 then but used them for off duty carry of 4” revolvers or my issued 5906. It had a thumb break and a cant-adjustable belt loop.

[JodyH]

Summer Special for a Glock 17 was my first concealed carry holster back in '91.
I switched to a Kramer #3 a few years later.

[RAM Engineer]

https://youtu.be/zB0y_eCJOxg

[ranger]

I think it is appropriate that I just came up from the basement after loading 200gr LSWC 45 ACP to look at this series of postings!

[Greg]

Looks like the 1AT isn’t listed on his website any more. Rats...

You STILL have to call Milt Sparks to order a holster and they will make you a 1AT if that is what you want.

Do it!

[1911Nut]

One can still get Gordon Davis holsters. See the link here for Davis Leather Company in Ash Fork, AZ:

davisleathercompany.com

I have on of their 15450 Gunsite Omega holsters for 1911's.

Top quality workmanship.

Dave Cox is a great guy to work with.

[FNFAN]

One can still get Gordon Davis holsters. See the link here for Davis Leather Company in Ash Fork, AZ:

davisleathercompany.com

I have on of their 15450 Gunsite Omega holsters for 1911's.

Top quality workmanship.

Dave Cox is a great guy to work with.

He really is! I ordered one of their L2000S which is the same design as the Alessi DOJ and picked it up on the way out to Vegas. Excellent quality leather with outstanding stitching.

[Dagga Boy]

Pre Internet, this was very regional. For the high speed/dedicated gun guys...Sparks was always sort of the go to. Bruce Nelson, Ken Null were also seen with the dedicated folks.

Regionally, in SoCal we did a lot of stuff from Gordon Davis. Tex Shoemaker, Ted Blocker and some others were also popular. Bianchi, Safariland, and Galco on the production side.

East Coast...Alessi, and some dedicated custom guys in NY. Production side DeSantis was big.

As far as drop legs...yes Davis did stuff, as well as Ted Blocker. A place in England that did the actual SAS was also available. Eagle was really what most used for drop legs in the 80’s.

[RMF]

Great thread here. Here my Idaho City Sparks Yaqui slide,


4730147300 47302

[Gary1911A1]

I wish Sparks would still make the Yaqui Slide. Maybe I would have to ask for that too?

[RAM Engineer]

As far as drop legs...yes Davis did stuff, as well as Ted Blocker. A place in England that did the actual SAS was also available. Eagle was really what most used for drop legs in the 80’s.

Do you have any info on the SAS holster? I think it was Paul Evers or Price Western Leather (PWL). I'm looking for a mid-ride, dropped/offset best holster for a 1911 currently.

[SeriousStudent]

Look at what you people have gone and done.....

47313

I had to go upstairs and root through the tub of 1911 leather for a Milt Sparks holster and mag carrier, then grab my Austin Behlert 1911 out of it's safe.

I gotta wear that to work tomorrow, natch. Which means I have to go eat BBQ as well, since I'll be toting a 1911.

P-F always costing me money - grumble, grumble, grumble.......

[RAM Engineer]

Look at what you people have gone and done.....
I had to go upstairs and root through the tub of 1911 leather for a Milt Sparks holster and mag carrier, then grab my Austin Behlert 1911 out of it's safe.

I gotta wear that to work tomorrow, natch. Which means I have to go eat BBQ as well, since I'll be toting a 1911.

P-F always costing me money - grumble, grumble, grumble.......

But you’re just out the cost of some BBQ though. ;)

[SeriousStudent]

Pancakes with reinforced thumb straps were great. And somewhat fast

Here’s my old-school combo: nickel Combat Commander with an Alessi IWB

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200115/753b3e611cbb892956c663a5cca13f06.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had a tuned Lightweight Commander that I really miss. That thing was awesome.

[SeriousStudent]

But you’re just out the cost of some BBQ though. ;)

But the minions will ask "Hey, where you going?"

Then it's buying BBQ for a dozen or so nerds at Hard 8 BBQ. That adds up quick.

And if they bring their laptops and camp out on the wifi in the bar .. (shudder). You know how many bacon-wrapped shrimp and beers a bunch of computer nerds can put away in an afternoon?

I do - sigh.

[theJanitor]

.....then grab my Austin Behlert 1911 out of it's safe.



We're still waiting for the scoop on that Behlert. Maybe Hilton Yam could provide some reference

[SeriousStudent]

We're still waiting for the scoop on that Behlert. Maybe Hilton Yam could provide some reference

I love me some Hilton Yam - I think we were separated at birth. We have the same dry sense of humor. :)

Some people watch movies on NetFlix - I watch Hilton Yam DVD's on how to tune 1911's.

PM inbound.

[JodyH]

But the minions will ask "Hey, where you going?"

Then it's buying BBQ for a dozen or so nerds at Hard 8 BBQ. That adds up quick.

And if they bring their laptops and camp out on the wifi in the bar .. (shudder). You know how many bacon-wrapped shrimp and beers a bunch of computer nerds can put away in an afternoon?

I do - sigh.
I've spent $50 at the Hard-8 in Brady, no alcohol just meat. By myself.
:p

[RAM Engineer]

Don't forget the Milt Sparks #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) . Still a great holster.

Gordon Davis made the Taylor Omega -- kind of a #1AT (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1AT) variant as I recall.

The Sparks 55BN and 1AT are still valid for use. Just get them sized for a 1 3/4 inch belt.

I’ve never used a 1.75” leather belt, just a Wilderness one. All my previous leather belts have been 1.5”. Do you think there’s that big a difference?

[Croesus]

For me, a 1 3/4 makes a big difference vs a 1 1/2 belt. Just more surface area to distribute the weight and tension. I get dress pants that fit a 1 3/4 belt, or modify pants at the tailor as needed. The wider belt also holds the holster more securely — prevents flopping or sagging.

I prefer leather belts for gun carry. I’ve used a lot of nylon belt variants — Wilderness, a few riggers belt variants, first spear agb, etc etc.. I,ve just never found nylon to be as comfortable over time as leather/ horsehide.

Nowadays — I only use 1 3/4 belts from Sparks or Kramer.

You may have different results, but this is what works for me.

[vcdgrips]

With many custom belt makers, one can have the best of both worlds. One can order up a 1.75 inch belt throughout the bulk of the body and have a taper to 1 1/2 where it buckles. My go to leather belt is set up the same way, albeit 1.5 tapering to 1.25.

[okie john]

A little later than the period you requested, but in the early 90s, I carried my 1911 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special, a Milt Sparks Executive Companion, and a horsehide Kramer Vertical Scabbard.

The Summer Special was a great rig. It was comfortable, easy to reholster, and it concealed very well. The same things were true of the Executive's Companion but I developed a rash from something in the leather and stopped using it. The Kramer Vertical Scabbard has all the advantages of an OWB holster plus it conceals far better than you'd think from looking at it. I liked it so much that I bought a spare, but horsehide is so tough that I never needed it and I gave it to my then father-in-law for his 1911.

This is what it looks like after 16 years of daily use. The fit is a little loose, but I could return it to Kramer and have it re-blocked.

http://i.imgur.com/GBOWjZh.jpg?2 (https://imgur.com/GBOWjZh)

This one is a straight drop, but with my body type it rides with the muzzle slightly to the rear, so it's essentially an FBI rake.

I carried a Browning Hi-Power in a Milt Sparks Yaqui slide on two occasions before I decided that it was better in theory than in practice. It's great when you're standing up, but when you sit down the muzzle can catch on a chair and push your pistol out of the holster and let it fall to the floor. It also doesn't conceal well for my body type and retention is sub-optimal, but it's the hot ticket if you need to look like a studly Orange Gunsite instructor.


Okie John

[CLaw]

Why, as I get older, do I want to sell/trade in all my Kydex and Glocks and just get three 1911s, a Milt Sparks Summer Special, and a Milt Sparks 55BN. I have no practical reason other than facing my own mortality I'd rather spend time with things that I enjoy more than things that are just practical... Then, I think "#OKBoomer!"

[LtDave]

I'm partial to the Alessi DOJ, this is a RH for a SIG P228:
47495

Another one I've used a bit, the Bianchi Askins Avenger. Took Gunsite 250 with one of these for a 1911. This LH one is for a Detonics:

47496

[TDA]

I'm partial to the Alessi DOJ, this is a RH for a SIG P228:
47495

Another one I've used a bit, the Bianchi Askins Avenger. Took Gunsite 250 with one of these for a 1911. This LH one is for a Detonics:

47496

I’ll just assume you’re running a Combat Master as your second backup left handed gun. I’ll check my holster bin for whatever lame ass shit I was running back in the Don Pendelton era.

[LtDave]

Had a Detonics Mark I that I carried off duty.

[entropy]

Had a Detonics Mark I that I carried off duty.

Channeling your inner Crocket? Those things were the schnizzit back in the day!

[PD Sgt.]

Back in the day, and before I discovered Kydex and appendix carry, it was either a Milt Sparks VMII or a Brommeland Max Con V. Brommeland could be hard to deal with, but man those holsters made pistols just disappear on me.

That was a little later than the 80’s though....

[TDA]

I’m sure I have another bag of holsters floating around that has some 1911 leather in it- I remember an IWB holster with a thumb break but can’t find it. Basically 80s designs, even though it was the 1990s. Those were still the days when gun stores stocked a zillion leather holsters that sat there for ever.

47717

That Alessi Talon was a favorite for a while.