Holster Wear: Which holster material is the hardest on blueing?

[KansasTrapper77]

This is NOT a which is the best retention material question. This is NOT a which material looks better question. This is NOT a which material should a gun not be stored in question.

The question IS which quality made holster material is “worse” “quicker” “more like to” wear a handgun’s finish or blueing in normal carry?

I’m personally asking this as I am looking at buying a quality leather holster for nice but not rare or perfect revolver to carry during deer season. And I am concerned about holster wear, I know it’s going to happen but I don’t want to expedite it either.

Thanks for the input fellas.

 

[.38 Special]

I have used mostly leather, and some Kydex. Very little nylon; not enough to have learned anything about wear. I would say that leather tends to wear the gun more evenly whereas Kydex tends to really attack certain areas, like the edges of a slide.

I personally prefer the wear pattern caused by leather. To me, a gun which has spent time in leather says "Hard use, but well taken care of", while a gun worn from Kydex just says "Used". So my nice blue-and-walnut revolvers are carried in leather, and my Glock lives in Kydex.

 

[Terry G]

I have found that nylon gives the least wear by a great margin, however better holsters for concealed carry are leather which I use. Kydex is not a material I like. Nylon for hiking and woods carry, leather for OWB concealed carry.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I have a Nylon holster now but it’s poorly made and has a seam that catches the rear sight when you draw the gun.

 

[JTQ]

I would say that leather tends to wear the gun more evenly whereas Kydex tends to really attack certain areas, like the edges of a slide.

This is my take also.

I will add, in my experience, kydex will cause the wear very fast on those spots. It may not progress to the whole gun, like leather can, but you may get some wear with just a few presentations from a kydex holster.

I'll also add, it may also depend on the kydex design. My Raven Concealment Phantom, a kydex pancake, caused quite a bit of wear from the ejection port to the muzzle on a blue slide 1911, very quickly. My Dale Fricke Gideon Elite, a "taco" style holster, doesn't seem to have the same contact points as the Raven Phantom does and the wear is less noticeable.

For leather, most makers recommend smooth leather lining which is less likely to trap debris rather than a suede lining that may trap grit and contribute to wear.

For the OP, is seems as if you know this, but I'll include this from the Milt Sparks "Questions" page https://www.miltsparks.com/questions/#1649974376412-751e4331-93a1

The act of drawing your pistol from whatever container you choose to carry your weapon in creates friction at the points of contact. Eventually those points will begin to show signs of wear. For that reason, it would be unreasonable to expect that your personal sidearm will remain in pristine condition forever. It does not matter whether your holster is lined or un-lined, as a lined holster simply delays the inevitable. If you carry and use your gun, the finish on your gun will wear. We prefer to call it “character”. A pristine gun in a pristine holster is not a tool that is being used.

 

[trackskippy]

I always found leather caused the most, "overall" wear due to how they fit the gun. Its especially noticeable on guns with blued finishes, as it starts to look faded and washed out before long. Rust was also a major issue. Once that holster is wet, it stays wet until you let it dry out, and thats not an overnight thing.

I switched to Kydex as soon as it came out and never looked back, at least for my daily carry holsters. You do get wear in a couple of specific places, which often arent even noticeable, depending on the finish, but other than that, the finish overall looks new, with no wear from the holster on it. The rust issue is pretty much eliminated and non existent too.

One big plus with Kydex too is, it doesn't embed dirt and abrasive crap into the material, and you can clean the holster under the kitchen tap, and dry it off with a couple of paper towels, and its ready to go. You cant do that with leather.

Leather holsters arent cleanable, at least inside, at the fine abrasive level, and you dont get those abrasives out of the leather, which is one reason I think the finishes get to looking worn and washed out, and more overall, due to the leather being molded tight to the gun.

The other big difference between the two is price. Decent leather holsters are salty! Where Kydex is usually very affordable, and last forever. I still have the first Blade Tech Kydex holster for my Commander I bought back in the 90's, and its as serviceable today, as it was the day I bought it, and it was used on a daily basis, in a harsh environment, for over a decade before it was retired.

Dont get me wrong, I like a nice leather holster, just for the looks alone, but beyond that, I dont see them as a hard daily use item, especially if you care about the gun, and your body for that matter. Other than maybe a BBQ type gun, nobody ever gets to see it anyway.

 

[.38 Special]

@JTQ I hadn't read that Milt Sparks piece on wear, but I completely agree with it.

Coincidentally, the Sparks 200AW is my all-time favorite holster for hunting and woods walking.

https://www.miltsparks.com/outside-the-waistband/200aw/

 

[FL-NC]

I would say leather is the worst. This can be exhibited on older handguns from the period when leather was pretty much the only option. A well made kydex holster doesn't contact the gun that much and also gives it room to breathe. I have seen leather sheaths do no favors to high quality knives too. One collector I know refuses to store his knives in a leather sheath.

 

[trackskippy]

I'll second the Kydex sheath as well. Better for the knife, and safer for you.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

For my conceal carry I actually use a Srossbreed so half leather half kydex.

But I’ve only seen something like that offered by the Kenai Chest holster guys. And while those are cool I was looking for something on my belt.

 

[JR24]

In my experience leather seems to be the worst, but I haven’t used nylon in years.

I prefer kydex and don’t worry about wear anymore.

 

[JTQ]

For my conceal carry I actually use a Srossbreed so half leather half kydex.

But I’ve only seen something like that offered by the Kenai Chest holster guys. And while those are cool I was looking for something on my belt.

What is it you are looking for? What is the connection to Crossbreed and the chest holster from Kenai?

 

[KansasTrapper77]

Sorry. To clarify I’m looking leather holster but would be willing to try a belt mounted kydex holster.

 

[JTQ]

To clarify further, are you looking for a concealment holster or a field holster?

Are you looking for an Inside the Waistband (IWB) or Outside the Waistband holster?

Or does it even matter, and you're just looking for something that won't wear the finish on a blued gun?

 

[JTQ]

... for nice but not rare or perfect revolver to carry during deer season.

You also may be limited in your choices by what revolver you are carrying. There are kydex holsters for revolvers, but kydex holsters are much more common for auto loaders.

If you get into a relatively odd revolver, you may even find your leather options limited.

Garrett Industries and Tucker Gun Leather both offer leather lined kydex, in a variety of options, if that is what you are looking for.

Garrett https://www.giholsters.com/default.asp

Tucker https://tuckergunleather.com

 

[KansasTrapper77]

This is open carry purely for field work. I actually have two I’m looking for both Rugers. A Security Six and a Flat Top 45. Neither one of those have many or any kydex options.

 

[James K2020]

I've read in a couple of leather holster making guides that the flesh side of the hide is much easier on your gun's finish than a finished smooth or lined side. In my experience too, a stiff fully lined and tight-fitting leather holster will certainly wear the muzzle and cylinder high points before long.
Not so quick in a soft, looser fitting design with the flesh or suede on the inside. You can lightly burnish the flesh to keep down the dust.
I agree that Kydex is possibly the most forgiving but as mentioned above they aren't available for all models.

 

[Rule3]

For the relative limited time you will be carrying it (hunting) a Kydex would be my pick, Leather gets dirty, retains moisture.
Now if you can find a leather holster lined with cashmere, that would be the bomb!

I have been pocket carrying a gun in one of those nylon sticky holster for ever, No wear on the bluing that I can see,

 

[JTQ]

I actually have two I’m looking for both Rugers. A Security Six and a Flat Top 45. Neither one of those have many or any kydex options.

You are probably going to be very limited with kydex options.

Regardless of wear, Simply Rugged and Lobo Gun Leather are two holster makers often recommended for Ruger revolvers.

Simply Rugged https://www.simplyrugged.com

Lobo https://lobogunleather.com

 

[.38 Special]

Now if you can find a leather holster lined with cashmere, that would be the bomb!

Back in the olden days I would occasionally come across leather holsters lined with fleece. At one point I had the silliest holster I have ever seen: a floral carved belt holster with fleece lining, for an over-and-under Derringer.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

Went to a local gun show today and found a local gentleman that made some very nice leather holsters what I thought was a fair price. Might see him about a holster. I’m interested in Kydex but my options seem to be limited and I’m not against using a leather holster.