Watch Six IWB Hoslter by Milt Sparks
First Reviewed July 18, 2010
Found in Holster Reviews, IWB Holsters, Milt Sparks Holsters
| Style |  |
| Durability | |
| Concealability | |
| Overall Value | |
Milt Sparks holsters are well known among the shooting community for producing holsters of the highest quality and craftsmanship. They are also known to be a bit pricey with the average Milt Sparks IWB holster ringing in at over $100.
In an effort to reach out to buyers looking for a Milt Sparks holster that was still functional but available at a lower cost, the company developed the Watch Six. This IWB holster was originally conceived as a joint project between Milt Sparks and Alessi Holsters. Originally, Alessi supplied talon clips for the project, but after an initial production run, both companies felt that they wanted to go in different directions with the holster platform.
The most noticeable difference between the Alessi Watch Six Holster and the one made by Milt Sparks is the belt clips. The Alessi design still uses the Talon Clips while Milt Sparks switched to more traditional snap loops.
The Watch Six is still the most affordable IWB holster that Milt Sparks makes. Production costs were trimmed by eliminating the finishing process of "boning out" the details of the gun and the removal of the steel reinforcement strip found integrated into the mouth of all other Sparks IWB holster designs.
The lack of the reinforcement strip does not preclude the ability to reholster the a drawn one handed, but special precautions need to be taken in order to ensure that the structure of the holster does not collapse. These simply steps include always inserting the gun into the holster prior to strapping it to the gun belt, never tightening the belt down on the holster while the gun is not inserted, and not removing the gun alone when sitting but rather removing both the holster and gun together if the need arises.
The attached benefit of having no metal mouth reinforcement is that the Watch Six is the thinnest IWB holster that Milt Sparks produces. It might seem like a minor detail, but to those who worship at the altar of "less is more" this is a major improvement.
The Watch Six is made of horsehide leather and is only available in black or brown color schemes. Each holster is hand made individually, so you can order one in either a right or left handed configuration.
Reviews of the Milt Sparks Watch Six IWB holster can be found below. Please write a review of your own and share your thoughts on how well the holster holds up without the metal reinforced mouth as well as any other high or low points you have come across while carrying with it.
Milt Sparks is known to make some of the finest holsters, period. They are small, only a handful of craftsmen, and are exemplary in not only their work, but also their ethics, standards, and quality control. After wasting money on junk holsters, I stick with Milt, Del Fatti, Alessi, etc. for serious holsters, and I kind of like the lvl 2 retention Blackhawk Serpa (the adjustable belt or paddle one)
Now I don’t have the Watch 6. What I have are two very concealable Versamax 2 (VM2) holsters, which are the same holsters, but with a metal strap at the holster mouth and considered better because of this. So they look the same except the VM2 has a 2″ wide leather strip sewn around the mouth, which has the metal band beneath between two layers of leather. This makes for easy one hand reholstering and consistent draws because the mouth doesn’t collapse. Has interchangeable locking snap belt loops of different sizes and color, and they come with one set installed. You can also get optional kydex tuckable clips.
You should wear this holster (like any, really) with a good heavy gun belt on tight, which pulls this IWB holster in so close that it rides flat, doesn’t move at all (provided you have a good gun belt and the proper loops –I use a double thick cowhide leather one made locally, 1-3/4″, but Milt Sparks makes a great one too –the belt is important if you want this holster to hide properly, and you need the corresponding loops to fit snug). Because of its width and spacing of the loops, it is stable, doesn’t move, rock, or otherwise change position, and has a slimmer profile because the loops aren’t on the holster. It stays put, and is quite comfortable.
First I got one for my .40 G27 with +1 pinkie ext. and Trijicon sights in 2005. A six month wait, but worth it. It is a small pistol, but sort of wide. While it practically disappears, I can only imagine how awesome this holster would be for a thin pistol like a Kahr K9 (they make them for most pistols, but recommend thinner ones for concealment; the 1911 or a thin or small auto is a good choice, but not the G21 for example). I got the black horeshide one and it looks almost like new (slight discolor in the wear marks where the belt presses the pants or shorts against it) but hey, this is a six year old holster with a good bit of wear. Like wsa said above, and goes for below, it draws very well, consistently the same draw, and reholsters with one hand no problem. THE perfect IWB, and lots people online agree.
I liked it so much, that when I got a 10mm G29 with pinkie ext. and Trijicon sights and needed a holster, I just went ahead and got another VM2. Now the G29 is more the size of the G19 in height and length, it just looks like the minis, and is also as wide as a .45 G21 or 10mm G20. You’d think it would be hard to hide, but it in fact hides almost as well as the G27. While they look very similar, they are slightly different in design, and while working the same, they are designed to exploit the shape of the pistol in order to hide it better. Amazing. Not mass produced junk. Each one is made to order when you order it. Again a 6 month wait, but again, worth it.
I suggest you seriously consider the VM2 over the Watch 6. The VM2 is, in my opinion, the superior holster. Also, while Milt Spark’s website says the cowhide they use is as good or better in some instances, a better grade, than the horsehide, I just like the stiffness and tough wear of the horsehide.
If you get one of these for your nice carry pistol, I suggest you head over to their website and look around, and place your order the 1st of the month (they only accept orders at the first of the month and stop once a quota is reached). Read everything on there, there is good information and you will either find what you need or they will recommend another quality holster maker that can do what you are looking for