Milt Sparks 55BN Holster: Full Review

It’s difficult to review a leather holster without first mentioning the late, great Bruce Nelson, doubly so when the holster bears his initials. Competitor, cop, instructor, and pistol-­shooting pioneer, Nelson was also a holster maker until his death in February 1995. Nelson learned the basics from gunleather-legend John Bianchi and built a small business. At the same time, Nelson was a career peace officer, worked as an instructor for Jeff Cooper at the American Pistol Institute (now Gunsite), and helped found the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). His real-­world experience and proximity to the great combat pistol philosophers of the 1970s and ‘80s allowed him to elevate the design and construction of hard-­use holsters. Wearing many hats, it’s no surprise that demand for Nelson’s holsters exceeded his ability to produce them. As a solution, he worked with other makers to ensure his customers received the equipment they needed. Among those, Milt Sparks was a trusted colleague and talented leather worker. 

Like Nelson, Sparks also passed in 1995, but his eponymous Idaho-­based business has been building premium gunleather for more than 50 years. Among the catalog of original designs are Nelson’s Summer Special inside-­the-­waistband (IWB) and 55BN “Professional” outside-­the-­waistband (OWB) holsters. They remain best sellers. 

The Professional is one of the most imitated leather holster designs extant. It was notable for its single-­sheet leather wrap molded to the dimensions of the firearm. For on-­body retention, it incorporated both a wide belt loop, i.e., “tunnel,” stitched to the holster’s backside, and a punched-­out belt slot on the rear wing. The result is a stable holster that — given a sturdy gunbelt — can securely support the weight of a heavy pistol. Too, the rear wing and belt slot draw the gun (particularly the grip) close to the body, aiding concealment, even while worn with a light cover garment.

Of course, the Professional has evolved since it was first conceived by Nelson. The Milt Sparks 55BN features a metal-­reinforced holster mouth to ensure the pocket does not collapse after the draw. Inside, two narrow leather rails are stitched in parallel to create a protected channel, accommodating the path of a pistol’s front sight. As well, all Milt Sparks holsters are hand molded with great detail. Looking at the holster’s molded contours, it’s often easy to identify the specific firearm it was tooled for.

In terms of fit, the 55BN is a pistol holster. Milt Sparks Holsters can accommodate most popular semiautos, but customers can confirm available options by phone or online. As far as options, the 55BN can be had with an FBI-­style cant or a straight-­drop configuration. Leather selections include cowhide ($170, natural tan or black) and horsehide ($175, black). Exotic trims such as shark ($205) and elephant leather ($280) are available upgrades. 

Milt Sparks is a small shop operated by skilled craftsmen. Each job is a custom piece fulfilled by an individual holster maker. As of this writing, lead time for a Milt Sparks holster is around 10 months. When you see the stitching and feel the burnished and painted edges, it is understandable why these holsters are in such high demand.

Kimber, Meet Milt Sparks holsters

Guns & Ammo’s review of the 55BN resulted from an introduction I facilitated between Kimber and Milt Sparks. Of course, there are many Kimber pistols — particularly 1911s — already carried in Milt Sparks’ gunleather. The complementary brands enjoy a high degree of customer crossover, and those discussions quickly produced a series of holsters for the Kimber KDS9c, including the 55BN, reviewed here.

30-­Day Carry

I ordered a 55BN for the Kimber KDS9c in cowhide with a natural finish and a slight forward rake. It proved ideal for carrying just behind the strongside hip. Fit was perfect; friction with the holster provided enough retention to hold the gun, even when turned upside down. Yet, the pistol could be drawn fast and smooth, as you’d expect from an open-­top leather holster.

The KDS9c I carried was not equipped with an optic or a dustcover rail. (However, the pistol is designed to accept slide-­mounted optics, and railed models are available.) If you plan to run a firearm with a red dot, know that the 55BN holster is not compatible. However, Milt Sparks does offer several OWB and IWB optic-­ready holster models, including the OM-­1 and VM-­2, respectively.

Naturally, concealed carry using an OWB holster requires a bit more cover and consideration than a typical IWB rig might. For that reason, my 30-day evaluation was conducted over an extended period from early May to late June. Some days were simply too hot — and my clothes too light — for effective concealment. However, every time the weather permitted a light cover garment, I appreciated how close-fitting and concealable the 55BN can be. I primarily wore an unbuttoned shirt or a lightweight zip-­front hoodie as my cover garment. The KDS9c disappeared beneath the loose-­fitting outerwear. A standard sport coat or vest would work, as well.

The 55BN was comfortable, as OWB holsters tend to be. Without the need to loosen the belt or find extra room inside the waistband, the 55BN simply slid into place. I opted for 11/2-­inch belt accommodations and cinched it down behind my hip. The setup rode snug and secure all day. When called upon during my range evaluation, the holster remained where I put it, and it presented the pistol grip to my hand for a quick, clean draw.

There’s really nothing like carrying a nice gun in premium leather. If you are interested in an elevated carry experience, I can’t recommend the products from Milt Sparks Holsters highly enough.

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