Summer Comfort vs. Summer Special

[wamj2008]

Hey guys, I'm looking for comparison's between Galco's Summer Comfort:

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=3609&GunID=183

and Milt Spark's Summer Special:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9922/Product/SEMI_AUTO_SUMMER_SPECIAL_2

Let's be honest, the Summer Comfort is to the Summer Special as the LCP is to the P3AT. It's also less costly than the SS... yes I know it's "just" $20, but when you've been spending gun money like I have lately....

Anyway, is the SS that much better than the SC or are they about the same? Thanks.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A Milt Sparks holster you can have today for only $30 more? I would buy it without hesitation. Also, the Galco Summer Comfort, while by no means a bad holster, has none of these features:

Steel reinforced top always remains open for easy, one hand reholstering. Rough-side-out texture grips clothing to prevent holster from shifting. Protective backflap prevents thumb safety from snagging on clothing; keeps slide from digging into your ribs.

Those features alone make it worth the extra money.

 

[wamj2008]

Thanks Lone.

I should also mention I currently have a Crossbreed Supertuck and I carry a Kimber 4" 1911. The Supertuck is nice, if not kind of a pain to put on and take off. Just looking at expanding my options.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the Galco Summer Comfort is a copy of the Milt Sparks Summer Special built to be sold at a lower pricepoint.

Bruce Nelson designed the original Summer Special and let Milt Sparks produce it. Nelson was a working undercover narcotics officer who built holsters in his spare time. his designs are the mainstay of most non-duty holster lines...almost every holster maker also makes a copy of the Sparks 55BN.

the fact that the Galco doesn't have the steel reinforced mouth would be enough in itself to have me buy the Sparks. i've had a Summer Specal for 30+ years...i got it for $22 at a gunshow

 

[REAPER4206969]

the fact that the Galco doesn't have the steel reinforced mouth

Yes it does.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Reinforced saddle leather construction retains its shape when the handgun is removed.

i understood that the mouth is reinforced with leather

 

[REAPER4206969]

I can squeeze the hell out of my summer comfort mouth and it does not move. It has to be steel.

 

[REAPER4206969]

I just put a magnet to it and it stuck. It's steel.

 

[smartshooter.45]

ya the summer comfort opening will hold its shape. but if im wearing a holster its gonna have a pistol in it, so to me it seems unnecessary to have extra reinforcement. my 4" all steel 1911 is comfortably carried in the summer comfort. good concealment. quality leather hasnt marked the finish. good price.

 

[David E]

The reason the top of the holster is reinforced isn't to help you draw better, but to keep the top of the holster open, which allows one hand reholstering. That could be a BIG deal in many situations.

That said, I own several Summer Specials. While the steel reinforced top (the steel is sandwiched between two layers of leather) does keep it open, it rides above the belt. What happened to mine is, the holster collapsed under the belt. Granted, the top of the holster was still open, but I had to poke and prod the muzzle past the belt until it squeezed thru. It took a lot of wear to get to that point, but I believe it was this "flaw" (if we can call it that) that was specifically addressed with the Executive Companion line that placed the metal reinforcement under the belt, as well.

Get the Sparks, not the copy.

 

[wamj2008]

Thanks guys, I will be getting the real McCoy.

 

[xXxplosive]

Take a look at 5 Shot Leather's IWB Burton......much better quality holster IMO and I own the MS and Galco both.