[Gary H]

I've got a beautiful Model 25-3 Commemerative from 77 and I'm intent upon using it. Finding a good holster has been a bear. The Blade Tech Offset Drop holster is exactly what I want, but they have had some problems on a few guns scratching. Now, I know that dirt will scratch, but if I'm careful about keeping the holster-gun clean, will Kydex scratch?

[VictorLouis]

It's not the Kydex itself, per say, that scratches. It's all of the minute, unseen particulates that settle-in there that are ground up against your gun's finish when you insert it. Softer, suede-lined, leather holsters yield to this so that it takes far longer to come anywhere near the short-term effects you will see with Kydex. Ask the Glock owners what it does to their super-hard Tenifer finish slides.:eek:

A quality revolver like that deserves a quality leather rig.:cool:

[Gary H]

I only ask after looking around for a leather holster. I've been trying to find one that imitates the qualities of the Blade Tech. Low, strong side, form fit without hammer strap is difficult to find. Had one suggestion that I have a Bill Jordan Border Holster made, but I wanted to look into other options before parting with $165 + shipping. Besides, I'm not even sure of what constitutes a "Border Holster".

Your answer just confirms what I have been told by Blade Tech.

[Blueduck]

VictorLouis is likely right that a nice soft holster would wear less, but I will say I carry my blued 2 1/2" and 4" 19's in respective Blade-Tech holsters and have suprisingly had no wear problems whatsoever.

Now I will say the same holster that carries my snub nosed 19 just fine absolutely ATE UP my satin sinished model 65 in short order...

[Blueduck]

On the Jordan holster if it's the model I'm thinking of it has a finger strap over the top and open trigger guard as he prefered.

Bill Jordan great man, great Law Enforcement officer, BUT over the years every important idea he had about a holster for LEO's has been..... rethought ;) Might be fine for toting around the woods or the range.

[Gary H]

It is tough to find a good leather holster for a 6 1/2" N frame.

[Standing Wolf]

It might be worth your while to talk to the good folks at http://www.kramerleather.com

[only1asterisk]

I don't know of any holster that will not wear a blue finish. If it rubs it will wear.

Dave

[stans]

True, all holsters will rub the bluing. I think the gentlest holster is going to have a soft, suede leather lining. You can treat the lining with silicone to help protect the finish of the gun from corrosion.

[E357]

I have seen Kydex holsters and mag pouches with felt liners. I am sorry that I can't can't recall the makers. Maybe Google will help?

Elliot

[makarov]

Safariland makes plastic holsters with suede lining. I got one for my CZ-85 Combat because I wanted a fast holster, but didn't want to mess up the nice blued finish. So far so good. BTW I don't carry it. It just gets used for occasional pistol practice for IDPA.

[garrettwc]

I only ask after looking around for a leather holster. I've been trying to find one that imitates the qualities of the Blade Tech. Low, strong side, form fit without hammer strap is difficult to find.

I believe this is what you are looking for:

Rangemaster Holster (http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/canted.html)

Scroll down the page a little bit and check out the Rangemaster. It was designed for the 1911, but may be available for other guns as well.

Matt Delfatti (http://www.delfatti.com) also makes his holsters lower riding.

[Gary H]

Thanks for all your help.

I've had many holsters made by Matt. He gave me a referral to another holster maker and I ordered a leather duty holster that seems about as close as I'm going to get.

[mete]

It's the dirt in holster that scratches. Just wash out the holster occasionally.

[VictorLouis]

their line of kydex 'roo-skin' lined holsters.