Holsters
- Thread starter JBob
- Start date
aarondhgraham
New member
Avoid suede lined holsters,,,
Avoid suede leather as a liner,,,
It seems like it would be soft and non abrasive,,,
But what happens is that dirt and grit embed in the suede nap,,,
Eventually (unless you clean it religiously) it will act like sand paper on your gun.
Suede leather (and most all garment and upholstery leather) are chrome tanned,,,
This means that the leather is tanned using chromium salt solutions,,,
If your holster gets wet and stays in contact with your gun,,,
The salts react badly with blued steel,,,
Corrosion will be the next result.
The best lining for a holster is smooth vegetable tanned leather,,,
That's the same type of leather used for the outside of quality holsters.
Look at the cut edge of any leather,,,
If it has any gray-ish color to it,,,
Chances are it's chrome tanned.
Aarond
Avoid suede leather as a liner,,,
It seems like it would be soft and non abrasive,,,
But what happens is that dirt and grit embed in the suede nap,,,
Eventually (unless you clean it religiously) it will act like sand paper on your gun.
Suede leather (and most all garment and upholstery leather) are chrome tanned,,,
This means that the leather is tanned using chromium salt solutions,,,
If your holster gets wet and stays in contact with your gun,,,
The salts react badly with blued steel,,,
Corrosion will be the next result.
The best lining for a holster is smooth vegetable tanned leather,,,
That's the same type of leather used for the outside of quality holsters.
Look at the cut edge of any leather,,,
If it has any gray-ish color to it,,,
Chances are it's chrome tanned.
Aarond
The ''Best" is all leather, . . . a custom holster made with and for that exact gun you are putting in it, . . . made by a custom holster maker.
If it is properly molded, there will be a lot of contact points on the weapon, not just the wear points you get with ALL of the plastics. The more wear points, the less overall wear on your finish.
May God bless,
Dwight
If it is properly molded, there will be a lot of contact points on the weapon, not just the wear points you get with ALL of the plastics. The more wear points, the less overall wear on your finish.
May God bless,
Dwight
If you carry the gun, you will wear the finish -- regardless of what type of holster you choose. If you're very concerned about the finish, go buy a different gun, one that doesn't matter as much to you, and carry that.
Kydex creates more intense wear on fewer wear points. It's easier to keep clean.
Leather creates an overall worn patina. More wear overall, but the touch points are less noticeable. Harder to keep clean -- and lined leather even harder still.
Either way, you're not going to keep that gun shiny new if you carry it.
pax
Kydex creates more intense wear on fewer wear points. It's easier to keep clean.
Leather creates an overall worn patina. More wear overall, but the touch points are less noticeable. Harder to keep clean -- and lined leather even harder still.
Either way, you're not going to keep that gun shiny new if you carry it.
pax
SauerGrapes
New member
Finish wear? Who worries about that in a carry gun??? Buy a holster that works best for your needs and forget about it.....
I'm with Pax, go buy a Ford and leave the BMW at home.
I'm with Pax, go buy a Ford and leave the BMW at home.
Kreyzhorse
New member
The least amount of wear will likely come from a leather holster. All holsters will cause wear however. Find a holster that works for you and don't sweat the finish wear.
I too do not worry about the finish on my CCW piece (hell, I have a few nicks on it where I accidentally dropped it on the concrete basement floor while cleaning it and I just used a black marker to touch up the finish). Suffice it to say, with my CCW piece, I solely worry about the mechanics of the gun.
That being said, I am anal about some of my collection pieces.
-Cheers
That being said, I am anal about some of my collection pieces.
-Cheers
I have an MTAC for my Kimber Ultra CDP II. Very shortly after starting to carry it very large and bad looking marks developed on the top right hand side of the slide. I said oh well, it's a carry gun. The next time I cleaned it though, the marks disappeared with a little bit of No. 9. Ten months later of daily carry and still no permanent marks.
riggins_83
New member
I have the CompTAC Infidel and love it. In fact it's the only holsters I've ever owned that I don't feel could be improved. Any gun will holster wear.. it's just a matter of time.
This guy makes a kydex holster with a leather lining. Maybe that's what you want. Here: http://www.giholsters.com/
I carry often / but not every day ...( although I do have a gun in my office / that is handy ) ....
I use all Kramer horsehide leather holsters - because they work really well - hold the gun firmly, molded to fit a specific model of gun - and they reduce wear on a nice gun. He offers a cowhide holster as well - but the horsehide is a much more durable product / gives you less wear on a gun.
I don't baby my guns / but I don't subscribe to the idea that because its a carry gun, it should be abused either. My primary carry gun is a Wilson Combat 1911, 5", CQB model, in .45 acp ....but I ordered it with their Armor Tuff finish on it - and its held up very well. I have a 2nd Wilson, CQB model - in my desk, in my office - in .45 acp as well ( I bought it used / but its a great gun as well).
Other guns that I carry occasionally - like a Sig 239 - with an alloy frame ....seem to wear quite a bit, despite a good Kramer holster. So part of it depends on the finish on the gun / as well as the holster.
I carry the gun I shoot the best ...and for me that's a high grade, well tuned, 1911 ...and if it means it costs me $2,500 to replace it ...then that's what it costs. I don't leave it at home / just because it costs a few bucks...
In the one in a gazillion chance I need a gun / I don't want to reach for a gun and not have exactly what I want there ...and I want it in a Kramer rig ...
I use all Kramer horsehide leather holsters - because they work really well - hold the gun firmly, molded to fit a specific model of gun - and they reduce wear on a nice gun. He offers a cowhide holster as well - but the horsehide is a much more durable product / gives you less wear on a gun.
I don't baby my guns / but I don't subscribe to the idea that because its a carry gun, it should be abused either. My primary carry gun is a Wilson Combat 1911, 5", CQB model, in .45 acp ....but I ordered it with their Armor Tuff finish on it - and its held up very well. I have a 2nd Wilson, CQB model - in my desk, in my office - in .45 acp as well ( I bought it used / but its a great gun as well).
Other guns that I carry occasionally - like a Sig 239 - with an alloy frame ....seem to wear quite a bit, despite a good Kramer holster. So part of it depends on the finish on the gun / as well as the holster.
I carry the gun I shoot the best ...and for me that's a high grade, well tuned, 1911 ...and if it means it costs me $2,500 to replace it ...then that's what it costs. I don't leave it at home / just because it costs a few bucks...
In the one in a gazillion chance I need a gun / I don't want to reach for a gun and not have exactly what I want there ...and I want it in a Kramer rig ...
My carry gun is matte SS and synthetic. Unless it's a major ding, it's not noticeable. Guns that are used/carried get marked up and that's a fact of life. Expect it and go on. That doesn't mean you should not use care in handling but don't get a broken heart over some blue loss or a scratch. Most any type of holster will leave marks if the gun moves inside it or is drawn and reholstered often.