Milt Sparks Holsters: Model 1B Belt
HEY! Before you order a belt, be sure to read below on the correct way to measure and select the belt for you! ALSO, make sure you read up on the proper way to test fit the belt you receive to make sure you don't inadvertently damage the belt (and make it so you can't return it if it does not fit correctly)!
Your average gun belt has to pull something off that your run-of-the-mill belt doesn't: it has to rigidly support a lot of additional weight without bending or sagging, while still staying on your waist and not falling down, taking your pants with it. Oh yeah, it has to do all that while staying comfortable, too! You might not THINK that is all that hard, but you would be wrong. Try supporting the weight of a fully loaded pistol, holster, spare mags and carriers on a run-of-the-mill designer belt and see how quickly it lasts. In the equation "strong + comfortable", Milt Sparks tackles each aspect to make a truly remarkable - and comfortable - belt.
Each 1B is constructed from two layers of premium cowhide, sturdily stitched together. This double-layer design gives you additional rigidity to hold the extra weight demanded of it, while the leather itself remains pliable and soft to the touch. This eliminates any hard corners or hot spots you find on thinner belts, spreading out any pressure points while being soft against your body's angles. In regard to comfort, have you ever looked at your favorite leather belt and noticed that it no longer lies in a straight line? That is from years of molding to your shape as the leather stretches and curves to go around your body. Each 1B is cut on a contour from the get-go to immediately match this 'broken in' profile, to be comfortable from the start, and to keep the strength to hold up all the gear years down the road by already being in the shape it needs to be. So when you get your belt and see that it curves, don't worry! The cross-eyed cutter wasn't in the shop the day it was cut; it's just been tailor-made to be comfortable and strong as soon as you get it.
To top things off, each Milt Sparks holster, belt, and mag carrier is cut to perfectly fit each other. From the thickness of the belt to the size of the slots in each holster, you will get a snug, locked-in (but still easy to don and doff) setup that is comfortable and secure. When everything is brand new, it can all be a little snug, but don't worry! After wearing the setup for a few days, the leather will start breaking in and settle at a point where everything stays in place but is not too hard to snap loops or slide on holsters. This doesn't mean that your Milt Sparks gear won't work with another maker's gear, but keep in mind that everyone uses different dimensions and styles, so when mixing and matching makers, your mileage may vary.
These Model 1Bs feature a double smooth-out construction with 1-inch hole spacing. A sturdy keeper is looped near the buckle, and each buckle can be removed and replaced.
For more information on Milt Sparks Holsters and gear, check out our article featuring Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision.
HOW TO CORRECTLY MEASURE FOR YOUR NEW BELT:
Milt Sparks measures their belts using the length from the center hole on the belt to the end of the leather where the buckle attaches. If you think you should just order whatever your normal pants size is, don't assume that's correct! Don't worry, though; determining the right belt to order is pretty easy if you follow these steps:
- The most accurate method of selecting the correct length is to take a measurement with the actual gear you will be carrying in place. Gather all the gear you already have that you will be wearing around your waist. If you do not already have an IWB holster, you can always tuck your unloaded pistol into the waistband where you intend to carry it. Ditto for any other pieces of gear you plan on having on your waist (knife sheaths, etc).
- Get any normal belt you own, The more broken in, the better.
- With your gear "on", take your belt and put it on. With your belt in place over the gun and other gear, take note of which hole you are now using and remember it.
- Take off your belt, lay it flat on the ground, and measure in a straight line from the belt hole you selected to the point where the belt buckle is attached to the belt. That length is the size of the belt you will need to order. Round up to the nearest size that best accommodates your build and needs..
Keep in mind, if you do not yet have the gun, holster, or other gear to accurately measure with at this point, you will need to add additional length to your final measurement to accommodate the additional length the belt has to wrap around. Though there is no perfect way to know the exact additional length you will need, Milt Sparks says "up to 2 inches of extra length will usually suffice for an inside-the-waistband holster.". Due to the number of variables involved with fitting a belt, it's very important that you read and follow the following test fit procedures when you receive your new belt.
HOW TO CORRECTLY TEST FIT THE BELT YOU RECEIVE:
As soon as you thread the belt through the buckle, or insert the buckle post into a hole, it is considered “used” and unable to be returned, period. BEFORE YOU TRY THE BELT ON, read this entire notice first, and then test fitment the following way:
Thread the belt through your belt loops, but DO NOT thread the belt through the buckle. Once pulled around your waist and at about the correct 'tension' that you desired when buckled, overlay the tail end over the buckle to see where the holes sit in regard to the buckle. Compare the holes on the belt with the point where the tip of the post meets the buckle. This will give you a close gauge of how the belt is going to fit once buckled and what hole you will be using. Optimally, you want this to land close to the middle hole, which will give you several adjustment points in either direction to accommodate for wearing the belt with and without other gear. REMEMBER, if you plan on wearing that belt with accessories (such as IWB holsters or gear threaded on the belt) you will need more length to go around them. To measure this, you can tuck your holster and/or UNLOADED pistol into your waist and go around them with your belt. Remember: as soon as you thread the belt through the buckle, or insert the buckle post into a hole, it is considered “used” and unable to be returned, period. If you do it even once, it will mark and/or bend the belt, and you will not be able to return it. Please read our policies regarding ordering, handling, and if it comes up, returning leather goods.
Notes on Leather:
What do leather items and underwear have in common? In both cases people don't want to buy one that somebody else has tried on. When someone wants a nice piece of leather, they want to get that new leather goodness that has not yet been worked over by some other chimp. That being the case, we have special rules regarding ordering, handling, and if it comes up, returning leather goods. So if you are thinkin' about buying some leather gear, you should REALLY read our Leather Guidelines and Return Policy so you don't monkey something up and find out you can't return it.
Leather comes from animals and every animal has it's own hide that will have its own unique character representative of its origins. Some variaton from pictured should be expected.
- Double layered premium cowhide construction
- 1.5 inch wide
- Made in Boise, Idaho, USA
