View Full Version : For Jmart..the Sparks #1AT Holster
toddackerman
09-13-07, 10:32
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/toddackerman/Sparks1ATAdjustableTensionWelt.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/toddackerman/Sparks1ATBack.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/toddackerman/Sparks1ATandMagPouches.jpg
This was a classic design as both Jason and I have mentioned here. Jmart asked to see it.
These are 3 Pictures of a holster that is no longer made with some 1982 vintage Mag Pouches.
The one holster with the engraving was an "Awards Holster" for ranking 2nd in Colorado in IPSC in 1982. The other is what was then called a "Fancy Stich" design. I have a matching belt, but it's too big to put on the screen! :)
The proprietary "Adjustable Welt" allowed the welt to be tensioned against the bottom. front portion of the slide and then locked down via the screw that you see. It only contacted about 1" of the slide so once you cleared that 1" of tension the pistol would "Fly" out of the rig. It was, and still is a great innovation.
These holsters also had internal sight channel Cut Out of the inside layer. They were 2 layers thick, and the welt was actually a
3rd layer to accommodate the moving welt that was the tension adjustable portion. Brilliant!
If you look at the edges of the areas where the belt goes through on both sides of the holster (the pics really only show this on the right front leading tab) , you'll see some white areas. This is the tacky side of Velcro. Milt would make his belts with the fuzzy side of velcro on the inside of the belt. Once you positioned the holster on your body and cinched your belt...it was Rock Solid. Again, back in those days it was am innovation.
The "Boxy" looking pouch was the first attempt at a true "Speed Pouch. It was lined with plastic, and internal plastic tabs added tension to the Mag. Until then, all pouches were leather, and we know how leather can bind, especially when moist. That pouch was designed and built for Ross Seyfried initially. Ross was the 1979 IPSC World Champ. Very, very few of these are in existence. Milt made mine on special request while at the NW Regionals in 1982, in Boise.
The quality of these rigs is still something that is unique. I have never seen one fail as far as stitching or wear. There were other top leather makers back then like Gordon Davis, who was the first to integrate a layer of metal between 2 layers of leather in his "Practical Rig Holsters". Talk about something that was as strong as a tank! I also have one of those which Gordon doesn't make anymore woithout a special request.
Milt Sparks has since passed away, as many of you know. He was a very good man, and I miss him.
Tack
Thanx. All I see are red "X's" but I believe that's the block at work. I'll check them out at home.
toddackerman
09-13-07, 13:49
Thanx. All I see are red "X's" but I believe that's the block at work. I'll check them out at home.
Let me know if you need them sent to another address. I just looked at them on the forum, and they're coming up OK.
Tack
Neat stuff!:cool:
It's cool seeing some pieces from history. Thanks for posting those.
I love the 1AT. I bought the first one in 1986 and shot a bunch of IPSC then USPSA matches until the late 90s.
I always wanted the Rogers Hackathorn holster, only a few hundred were made and was discontinued. Years of patience paid off around 2000 when Ken Hackathorn handed me one of his well worn rig.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/470753.jpg
Fast forward a few years to around 2004, I wanted a newer version of the 1AT. Apparently, Tony Kanaley had the same idea. He took the original 1AT and put it on a diet. He used thinner leather, molded/boned it tighter to the gun, and redesigned the belt loop tunnel. I quickly ordered this one below, with a straight drop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/RichardTouch/Holster-porn004.jpg
It hugs my waist closer than the original, so it became more concealable for street carry. I also used it in IDPA and training gigs. After a year or so, I realized that the straight drop design while good for the range and as well made as it was, it was not optimum for comfort while seated in a car and not as concealable as a slightly canted holster. I've tried a few custom rigs from Matt Del Fatti, Lou Alessi and Josh Bulman throughout the years and came to the conclusion that about 10 degrees of forward cant is ideal for me in term of comfort and concealability.
So my third 1AT(or the 1RT as Ken Hackathorn called it) was ordered from Tony with 10 degree cant. This is the ultimate 1AT in my opinion. Ken Hackathorn saw mine and placed an order for an identical rig.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/RichardTouch/1AT002.jpg
toddackerman
09-13-07, 21:01
I love the 1AT. I bought the first one in 1986 and shot a bunch of IPSC then USPSA matches until the late 90s.
I always wanted the Rogers Hackathorn holster, only a few hundred were made and was discontinued. Years of patience paid off around 2000 when Ken Hackathorn handed me one of his well worn rig.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/470753.jpg
The Hackathorn Special (Built by Gordon Davis Leather) was also an innovative design, because up until then no holster was worn ahead of the hip bone. This holster was worn (like many today) in the appendix area of the body. Made it tough as hell though for National Champs like Mike Plaxco to find the right garment for conealment stages.
I literally remember guys like Mike, and John Shaw sewing a large section of chicken wire into the right, inside portion of their concealment jackets from the zipper area, to about the center of the back so the weapon wouldn't print, or be visible with this rig. Outrageous, but these were some really good guys none the less. Plaxco won the nationals in 1981 using the Hackathorn Special.
That was about the time I got out of the International PRACTICAL SHOOTING Confederation (IPSC) shooting because it wasn't "Practical "anymore. It was "Gamesmanship". IDPA was a step forward I think to get back to the roots of some practicality in a competition format. Even then, I still see a lot of guys run IDPA, that would get "Creamed" in a real life scenario if they used the same tactics in real life.
Tack
The Hackathorn Special (Built by Gordon Davis Leather) was also an innovative design, because up until then no holster was worn ahead of the hip bone. This holster was worn (like many today) in the appendix area of the body. Made it tough as hell though for National Champs like Mike Plaxco to find the right garment for conealment stages.
My Hackathorn Special was made by Bill Rogers. I think I know and have seen the Gordon Davis rigs, which were rear raked and meant to be worn ahead of the hip. The Rogers Hackathorn holster has a slight forward cant and meant to be worn on the hip or even slightly behind the hip, just as Ken specified it. Bill Rogers also made a similar holster and named after J. Michael Plaxco, it was a rear raked design like the Davis rigs. BTW, Davis made a model called the Taylor Omega (after Chuck Taylor) that had similar cant as the Hackathorn holster. It appeared that those two former Gunsite instructors had similar holster preference.
toddackerman
09-13-07, 21:27
My Hackathorn Special was made by Bill Rogers. I think I know and have seen the Gordon Davis rigs, which were rear raked and meant to be worn ahead of the hip. The Rogers Hackathorn holster has a slight forward cant and meant to be worn on the hip or even slightly behind the hip, just as Ken specified it. Bill Rogers also made a similar holster and named after J. Michael Plaxco, it was a rear raked design like the Davis rigs. BTW, Davis made a model called the Taylor Omega (after Chuck Taylor) that had similar cant as the Hackathorn holster. It appeared that those two former Gunsite instructors had similar holster preference.
Ya know Sam....you're right. It was Bill Rogers who did the first iteration of the Hackathorn Special. My apologies. But I do remember specifically John Shaw was a "Davis Leather" guy with a similar rig to the Hackathorn special.
I have a picture in my scrapbook of Mike Plaxco and the rig you described. I could scan it, but I'm not sure how we could post it. Doesn't matter.
What's really funny though is the fact that Ross Seyfried beat all of these guys for several years using a "Behind the hip", FBI cant Pratical Holster. The Sparks #1AT.
Thanks for the correction.
Tack
No problem Tack.
I do remember Shaw using Davis rigs, then again, so did most of the top guns from that era. Mickey Fowler, Mike Dalton, a couple of youngsters named Leatham and Enos were some of the other. Then they discovered Ernie Hills and they left their Davis rigs in their holster box for the newer, faster steel lined scabbards. I read what Milt Sparks said about IPSC shooters, to paraphrase Milt, he said they were finicky and would go from one type of rig to another to find that holster that give them that extra edge. Milt was right, IPSCers didn't use Ernie Hill's stuff long after they discovered plastic and aluminum skeletonized contraptions pioneered by Safariland.
Sam,
Thanks for adding on.:) :cool:
Anyone have any experience with the Galco Training holster? (http://www.usgalco.com/ViewLargePic.asp?ProductSKU=GS212) Kind of looks like a current version of the 1AT.
The Galco Training Holster formerly known as the Gunsite Training holster is a good range and training holster. It's a little heavy and bulky due to the steel reinforced body. You can't really conceal it, unless you wear a trench coat.
Jason Burton
10-03-07, 23:43
Man am I late to this party...
RT – One of these days I’m gonna’ have to get one of those improved versions of the 1AT... the 1RT. In fact I should probably call the boys at Sparks and get one added to my current order.
Tack – That’s great stuff... especially those old mag carriers.
The 1AT is one of those genius designs that is relatively simple in premise and so elegant in execution. The holster works so well and solved (and still does) a tension “issue” that many shooters encountered. Were I to make a list of the 10 greatest holsters the 1AT would certainly be included. Great pictures from both of you... thanks for posting them. :)
a flash back for me. I used a Rogers/Plaxco for a few years in the mid '80s that a friend gave me. I wanted a Rogers/Hackathorn, but never could find one. I ended up with a Davis/Taylor Omega which was an excellent holster. I let that one get away though. That 1RT with the 10 degree cant looks like a nice set-up. Thanks for sharing.
Billy
Jason:
Thanks for your comments. I know you're a fan of fine leather holsters. There are a few holsters in your collection that I would love to have. :)
Billy:
The Taylor Omega is a fine design and well constructed holster, it's a classic.
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