Restored Post 25: Refusing to Copy Makes Innovators

25 refusing to copy

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The original blog post (above) focused on the evolution of the paddle holster as an example of how NOT copying the earliest leather ones led to truly high-performance polymer paddles during this century.

We innovators see copying most everywhere we look. The most egregious example is the Summer Special, claimed by Bruce Nelson but derived from Paris Theodore who got his from Bob Angell; copied 'with permission' by Milt Sparks; and 'tribute' versions made by the likes of Galco and others. This image contrasts the Sparks version with the DelFatti version. Did Matt 'innovate' by changing a bit at the backside? Really, to the point where one doesn't have to look for the maker's mark to know which is which? No, not really. Change everything! Or a maker is simply wanting to transfer the money from the innovator's pocket, to his/her own (yes, even our lone gal maker was a copyist in her time).

Where's the adventure in copying?! Come up with your own damned stuff, kids.

One could not mistake my Berns-Martin Australia IWB for a Sparks. Looks different, works better (but n/a today, I'm retired 2 years now):

Read more about Milt Sparks' place in holstory in my book titled "Holstory -- Gunleather of the Twentieth Century -- the Second Edition" available at www.holstory.com .