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When Jeff Cooper first started competing at Big Bear, Calif., the shooting sports took on a whole new look. That look was based on defensive or combat shooting and courses took on a practical orientation. Eventually, that style of shooting became IPSC, which has also evolved into several other variations.

In those times, everybody did their shooting “from the leather.” More often than not, the leather was real leather and the most prolific holster maker was Milt Sparks.

Milt had his shop in a rough ‘n ready little town in rural Idaho. I recall visiting that shop to do a story almost 25 years ago. Several years back, Milt passed away, but his partner Tony Kanaley moved the shop to Boise and continued their work.

Many of the old designs—such as the immortal Summer Special—are still in the catalog, but there are also a passel of new ones. I’ve had the privilege of visiting the Idaho shop on a couple of occasions and watched two different holsters progress from a cowhide blank to finished rig.

The Sparks crew uses the best possible materials and time-honored techniques to build as fine a leather holster as is made anywhere. I have some fine rigs made by other makers, but Milt Sparks holsters are some of the best. They have my unqualified endorsement.