[Matt G]

This popped into my head while I was reading, and eventually posting to the Show me your carry rig (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=139349) thread on this forum. I finally posted this post (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=1797235#post1797235), which falls only slightly short of a rant. Friends, there's no shame is honorable wear on your holsters, pistols, and even magazines, so long as they're kept functional. Do I love a beautiful example of the gunmaker's art, complete with fancy stocks, engraving, and gorgeous leather accoutrements? You bet! But I love to see a gun carried.

I love to see the marks of service without abuse.

Let me see your examples of Honorable Service Wear on your pistols, your rifles, your shotguns, your mag pouches, your holsters, even your gun belts. Let it hang out a little here. :)

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26419

[Marshall]

I'm ready to see the battle scared! :D

[saddlebum]

this ones my most used leather. kydex more often than not.

[saddlebum]

this one just shoved in a pocket or the waist band.

[cobb]

this one just shoved in a pocket or the waist band. :what:

[Matt G]

Pikers! :) Those guns look NIB! Plus, let's see some closeup WEAR! Show me that pitting on the left side of your carry gun, where it rests against your sweaty hip...

Show me the heavy wear marks on the pistols from your holsters. Let's see your leather with wear marks where the leather rubs on your car seat.

[armoredman]

Can't - my polycoat CZ 75 PO1 shows NO wear. Even in the AZ summer heat, I have no problems. I did find a tiny spot of runst in the lanyard loop - didja want a pic? Posted another holster on that other thread, my OWB open carry rig - it has plenty of wear, being used when I got it! My Orca nylon IWB doesn't show any wear either....sorry.

[Khaotic]

That sounds almost... kinky.. :eek:

The only thing I got with 'heavy wear' is my old, battered Ka-Bar.
She might be old, and she ain't pretty, but she's a true and trusted friend.
(If I can find my digital cam, we'll see about pics..)

-K

[geekWithA.45]

I gotta get a pic of my bladetech IWB.

I found that my 1 yo puppy (GSD/whodunnit) spent an hour diligently gnawing away, but was only able to put some superficial scratches into it.

It's still my daily use rig.

Kydex: it's puppy proof. :)

[XavierBreath]

http://www.bayourovers.com/SmithWessonM38.jpg
S&W M38.
It's worse than it looks in the pic.

http://www.bayourovers.com/coltofficersmodelfinishready.jpg
Colt Compact 1991
This one got refinished.

[Matt G]

Very nice examples, XavierBreath.

[dasmi]

Keep them coming.
I know more people have to own less than perfect carry guns.
If I get around to it, I'll post some pictures of my open carry setup.

[Matt G]

Remember folks, you can use your scanner to photograph your rigs, too.

[chenzzo]

I've only had this one about 3 months or so, but I wear it ever day. If I'm not at work (no weapons allowed on premises) I'm wearing it.

It's a Safariland IWB for a SW 5906 9mm.

I'll probably be replacing it with something a little more havy duty soon, that is if I don't replace the pistol with something a bit smaller (overall size, NOT caliber....that needs to go higher in my opinion)

-chenzzo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/chenzzo/carry.jpg

[crucible]

My Dan Wesson and it's well worn-in Milt Sparks W6 modified to use j clips from Comp-tac. (Sorry for the poor photography-both are worn lots and show it more than the photo. While I do have plans on having the DW hard chromed at some point in the future, I've come to like the worn blued look it gives more and more.)

Chris

[TechBrute]

Dang, I just Duracoated the Glock that had the tenifer finish worn down to the metal on the front of the slide from holster wear.

[Rembrandt]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/ConcealedCarry.jpg

"Is that a Pistol in your pocket....or are you just glad to see me?" (Mae West)

[Pietro Beretta]

:what:

[Dirty Bob]

Too much information, Rembrandt! :what:

Dirty Bob

[bytor94]

:D Just watch out for unintentional discharges there Rembrandt! :what:

[Matt G]

:rolleyes:
Heh. Compensating?
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26561

[Rembrandt]

....might be compensated, but it's still six inches and doesn't shoot blanks.... :D ....wasn't yours only 5"?

[thereisnospoon]

I really like my glock 23 and I use it both for CCW and for competing in IDPA and other competitions...but more often than not, I'll just grab this little beauty and shove it in my waistband for a little piece of mind.

:D :eek:

[Brass Balls]

This one is broke in, but holding up nicely. It's been carried nearly everyday for just over 2 years, typically 12-15 hours per day. The horsehide and sharkskin combination work well at wearing well.


http://home.comcast.net/~1911brass/Cust_CDP_VM2.jpg

This shows a little muzzle wear and wear on the front of the frame, however considering the amount it's been used I still think it looks to be in great shape. The matte stainless is a great finish for the slide of a carry gun imho.


http://home.comcast.net/~1911brass/Cus_CDP_out_VM2.jpg

[armedcitizen]

all it does is work. 5-6 days a week, 16-18 hours a day!

http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/album//00001552/MVC007F.JPG

[Dirty Bob]

I just received my CHL today in the mail! I made this pocket holster for a different revolver. Until now, it's seen a lot of use at home and in the yard. You can see the darker areas where the rough-out leather has become polished by sitting in my pocket.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

[ulflyer]

ArmedCitizen and his Kramer holster.......now thats a holster! Love it. :D

[JERRY]

cant post a pic here, says file is too large?????? dont how to fix that so i'll just live vicariously here.

[Tamara]

The grip safety on my Pro shows that: A) It's been carried and shot some, and B) Even Black T isn't invincible.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26657

The wear around the edges of the slide at the muzzle is a giveaway that it's been drawn and reholstered a time or two.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26658&stc=1

The Galco Summer Comfort I carried it in for two years shows a bit of wear. The snaps finally broke a month or so ago, so I bought a Royal Guard to use until I get the snaps replaced. Note the worn Kimber muzzle peeking out.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26659&stc=1

[Tamara]

Although not immediately visible in this photo, it's pretty obvious where my fingers go on the frontstrap of this ol' Clackamas Kimber.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26660&stc=1

The beavertail of the gun, which is my "beater" gun, for use when I plan on getting dirty, sweaty, or muddy, is shaded from a lovely light gray to an eye-catching bare metal in a gentle and harmonious gradient.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26661&stc=1

The edges of the slide (whose high nickel content has caused the bluing to age to a nice plum color) provide pleasing silver pinstripes to contrast the otherwise unrelieved matte color of the gun.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26662&stc=1

[MLH]

There seems to be a bit of dust in that first pic. :scrutiny: Worn is one thing. Dirty is a shame on you! :neener: :D

[Tamara]

There seems to be a bit of dust in that first pic. :scrutiny: Worn is one thing. Dirty is a shame on you! :neener: :D

Unlike some other guns in "Show Us Your Carry Guns!" threads, I actually pulled that one out of the holster on my hip thirty seconds before the photo was taken. ;)

I apologize for not toting a can of compressed air with me everywhere I go. :rolleyes: :p

"Hang on, Mr. Goblin! I need to blow the lint off before I shoot you!" :D

[SLCDave]

Looks more like lint than dust to me. Any carry gun that's being carried concealed will pick it up.

[XavierBreath]

Well I have to say I admire Tam for just whooping out her carry gun and snapping a few pics. I admire her so much that I did the same. Here's the M38 straight out of my pocket.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26663&stc=1
Muzzle wear from years of being jammed into a pocket holster.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26664&stc=1
Yoke, left side. HydraShoks peeking out.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26665&stc=1
Yoke, right.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26667&stc=1
The real wear is on the backstrap, from ankle carry and items accidentally being tossed into the gun pocket.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26668&stc=1
These grips are home crafted by an old cop. They were meant for a Centennial type gun and have a "Coke bottle" profile, but they feel so good I use them. Who cares if they look a bit funky! :neener:

[XavierBreath]

I'm gonna up the ante a bit. I pulled out my tacklebox gun. This Ruger is still as accurate for popping snakes in the head as it was on day one. It's a carry gun, I suppose, as it travels with me fishing.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26669
Yep, it's grungy, whaddaya expect?

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26670
Banged about muzzle.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26671
Worn down backstrap.

Now if we were to pull out the home defense shotguns, you would really see some wear!
Actually, I do own a few nicer guns too. :o

[Matt G]

NOW we're cookin' with grease! :D :) By far, armedcitizen takes the cake, so far.

MLH, you ever find lint in your belly button? I sure have in mine, and I like to think of myself as a really clean person. Anything that gets shoved into your pockets, under your shirt, inside your waistband, and under a vest (I've seen Tamara carry in all those methods, as well as in her Dangerous Purse Of Doom, over just a long weekend) and then carried with you all day will be gathering lint and dust. That's a fact. That's also why I generally laugh at many people's concerns for reliablity with guns that will NEVER see such dust, dirt, mud, rain, sweat, etc. I also laugh out loud when I hear or read about how KelTecs are cheap POS's that are bound to be unreliable, when I consider how little I've cleaned and how much I've carried my two KelTecs concealed over the last few years, always concealed.

I have to admit that I find it hard to believe that a lot of the rigs even in this thread are carried every day. I suspect that the photos on some (like Brass Balls') were taken early on, if they're getting carried as much as is claimed.

Even horse and mule and shark and elephant hide breaks down; it's organic. Rub marks in the boning and subtle changes in the finish of the hide are expected with daily carry. My holsters tend to develop highlights over the corners in the boning after less than 6 weeks of carry.

Maybe I'm hard on my gear. I wouldn't deny it. ;) But think about how worn out a pair of leather shoes worn every day for 2 years will look. Think how bad a leather belt worn every day for 2 years will look. At that point, it's about time for a new one. I managed about 4 years with my duty holster at work before I absolutely had to get a new one. Oh, it still worked and all, but there was really no way to keep it presentable. Yes, that was out in the open, and that presents its own set of problems, but I was also putting more effort into keeping that holster up, too.

JERRY said: cant post a pic here, says file is too large?????? dont how to fix that so i'll just live vicariously here.That'd be a shame! Do this: Open the pic in Paint (Start/Programs/Accessories), and go to, um, "Image", I believe (I'm on a machine without Paint right now, but 90% of Windows machines will have it). Click on "Stretch/Skew image". Type in "50" for percentage change in both Horizontal and Vertical, and hit Enter. Your pic should reduce to 1/4 size. Keep adjusting until the whole pic will fit onscreen, and then save it to your desktop under your filenamesmallerpic.jpg. Then upload it here! We need more evidence that Real People Carry Real Guns In Real Holsters, Every Day!

I swear, sometimes this place is like reading a magazine from the dentist's office, where all the people are utterly beautiful, have about 4% body fat, and perfect teeth. Gosh golly-- why do our expectations become unrealistic, do you think? :confused: :)

[blackhawk2000]

All my old stuff that I carry daily. The belt is new so no pics of it. I don't know if you can see it or not, but there is dust in the frame where the trigger goes in. Holster is by Mark Walden. Carried daily for the past 3 years.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26678&stc=1

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26677&stc=1

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26679&stc=1

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26686&stc=1

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26683&stc=1

[saddlebum]

Matt, i carry a gun every day, but they don't get to worn because i tend to trade them for something else. i've never owned a gun for two years :D i'm a tradeaholic. saddlebum

[mattw]

heres my main shooter.. i don't carry (yet) but this one has alot of the finish worn in the usual places due to many days of enjoyable range use and the ocasional snake or dog dispatch.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/mdw1016/MVC-033F.jpg

you can't see the front strap or the frame rails but the finish is just about transparent on the front strap and non-existant on the frame rails.

[Balog]

What kind of knife is that Blackhawk2000?

[blackhawk2000]

It is a Cold Steel Voyager 4" clip point blade. I like cold steel because they are fairly cheap, and they do what I need them to do. No high speed stuff, just general utility use, and a back up for the gun.


http://www.coldsteel.com/folding-knives-voyager-series.html


The double mag holder is Uncle Mike's(I think) 2 G22 mags 1 G23 mag in the gun(all full cap) and I use 155g Gold dots.

[Brass Balls]

I have to admit that I find it hard to believe that a lot of the rigs even in this thread are carried every day. I suspect that the photos on some (like Brass Balls') were taken early on, if they're getting carried as much as is claimed.

Nope, it was taken last week. Keep in mind that this holster is worn inside my pants with a cover shirt over the top. That and the hosrehide/sharkskin is pretty tough stuff. Furthermore I've never done anything to preserve the holster. What can I say, Milt Sparks makes a durable holster.

As far as "if they're getting carried as much as claimed" sounds suspiciously like you don't believe me. Whatever Matt.

[Matt G]

Easy there, Brass B-- I don't mean to get feathers up. But some folks trade out guns for variety, so when they say "everyday carry gun," which I would take to mean Every Day, they mean "regular carry," and it gets 1 or 2 carries a week. You're saying that you do not have other pistols that you trade out with? There's no variety?

It's topping out at around 98 degrees in the shade with 70% humidity around here right now, and I'll admit to downsizing on the concealed carry on such days, so that I can dress lighter. Hence P3AT or M37 in pocket holsters. If it cools, the clothing can increase, and the pistol gets bigger, for me and a lot of people I know.

Because honestly, I don't know how in the world you're preventing denim from abrading horsehide over time. I assume you're carrying at 4 or 5 o'clock? How tight do you cinch your belt? What kind of belt? How close-fit are your pants? What kind of work are you doing with 'em on?

I ask, because I'd like to know how to do it, too.

I see about 4 pieces of wear on those otherwise PERFECT pictures of yours. First, the tiny scratch on the rearward snap on the holster. Second, a fine bit of reholster wear on the front left of the frame of the pistol. Third, a possible bit of wear on right toe of the frontstrap where it meets the toe of the magazine (that may be an illusion), and finally, when I really played with the contrast/brightness values on your pics, I think I brought out some minor darkening near the muzzle-end (bottom) of the holster, as sometimes happens from sweat:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=26715&stc=1

[Brass Balls]

Where I live in CA we're allowed three guns on a CCW permit which are listed by serial number on the permit so I can't switch as much as I would like to. With that said, that gun and holster are carried 99 days out of 100. My Compact CDP and PM9, which are also on my permit, were put there to give me options, but it's rare that I carry them.

I usually wear loose cotton pants, but not denim. Not hangin' off your backside loose like the kids today, but not butt huggers either. Carry about 3:30 with a Wilderness CSM belt that's cinched, heck I don't know, snug I suppose. My job entails a lot of walking and driving.

Anyways, I just took another picture of the inside of the holster. It's darker than the outside, which I attribute to perspiration and it actually has some noticeable wear even though I always wear and undershirt between the holster and my skin. I considered taking it out and dragging it down a gravel road to show what a real carry guy I am, but I guess I don't mind my holster looking nice. :D

http://home.comcast.net/~1911brass/inside_5_inch_vm2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~1911brass/Cust_CDP_VM2.jpg

[Matt G]

Why is it abrading more against your hip than your pants and waistband? :confused:

[Matt G]

So that's it? :confused:

None of the rest of you have holsters or pistols or accessories that actually show honest carry wear? :scrutiny:

[MikeB]

Here's my normal carry. With wear marks and all.

http://www.mikespics.org/gunpics/sw340carry.jpg

[Nick1911]

None of the rest of you have holsters or pistols or accessories that actually show honest carry wear?

Nothing to see here.

I'm still new to CCW. The guns finish has held up better then expected so far and the holster still isn't worn in much. :)

[dasmi]

Post it anyway. Everyone loves seeing good gun pictures, worn or not.

[Matt G]

MikeB, I see a little wear on the back of your revolver near the hammer, and pretty much none elsewhere. The main ugliness (in my offensive opinion) is in the look of that revolver! If you don't mind me saying so, that pistol was yugly when it left the factory! :)

Not as ugly as Tamara's S&W .44 Spl lightweight, but close...

[zen_grasshopper]

My daily beater. You can see where I removed the skateboard tape from the frontstrap. (Mental note: replace skateboard tape, ASAP) Other side has a bit more wear, but it's not showing well in the pictures. Only thing still MIM is the grip safety, but that will soon change.

http://www.itctel.com/~zengrass/Kimber%20finish%20wear%20012.jpg

The concealed rig is a Milt Sparks Summer Special II. Some wear and stained on the back from sweat. It really doesn't look that bad because I open carry to work in a Safariland 5182, and carry at work in a Safariland 6280. The 6280 has really been abused, but that is at work and I really don't want to go take a picture of it. The Sparks SSII gets carried on my days off.

http://www.itctel.com/~zengrass/Kimber%20finish%20wear%20013.jpg

http://www.itctel.com/~zengrass/Kimber%20finish%20wear%20014.jpg

Jon

[Sharpie1]

Here are mine.

First is my Mak. It is carried very frequently. I just replaced that black holster with a new one.

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2749%20(Large).JPG

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2753.JPG

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2754%20(Large).JPG

Here is my Springfield that is frequently shot and occasionally carried...

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2757%20(Large).JPG

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2759%20(Large).JPG

My P32 - which I have had for a long time. I just noticed there is some rust at the rear sight. This disturbs me - and it shall be taken care of immediately...

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2770.JPG

P32 again...

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2772.JPG

Here is a Ruger Mark II of my father's. This thing is as old as the hills, as is the holster, as you can tell.

http://www.travisdyson.com/picturefiles/gunsforTHR/IMG_2764%20(Large).JPG

--tadyson

[Tamara]

Not as ugly as Tamara's S&W .44 Spl lightweight, but close...

Despite its inherent homeliness, it could sure strike a photogenic pose when it was still a newborn. ;)

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4186

It is yclept "Quasimodo", for it lives in darkened seclusion, has a hunchback, and exists only to ring bells. ;) :D