Holster wear

[Georgia Gunner]

I was wondering if any of you guys had some tips on how to slow down or prevent holster wear from a kydex holster. I have one and its giving my revolver a beating ( I think the gun has enough character ). Also it is a fobus holster if that makes a difference. Thanks.

 

[Black Majik]

masking tape along the high spots

 

[Markbo]

Switch to leather.

That is an honest answer. That is what I have done with my Kimber Pro CDP because the Kydex holsters I tried were VERY hard on the finish.

 

[Car Knocker]

At best, leather will slow down wear. Any contact between a holster and a gun will result in wear; blueing wears off, stainless gets polished.

 

[dfariswheel]

ALL holsters will wear the gun's finish.

Kydex will quickly wear the areas where the holster makes contact with the gun, but the wear is self-limiting. It wears just so much, then pretty well stops.
In addition, a GOOD Kydex holster will wear ONLY the contact points.

Leather seems to wear the finish less, but what's actually going on is, the leather is stretching and forming to the gun, and actually wearing a larger area.
As the holster forms to fit, the entire finish is worn, not just some contact points, and the wear continues as long as you use the holster.

There are one or two Kydex makers who line their holsters with a synthetic "suede" to help limit wear.

Bottom line, ALL holsters will wear the finish.
Kydex will quickly wear the contact points then stop.
Leather will wear the entire finish off.

 

[BlkHawk73]

I gotta agree about changing to leather. That or simply don't holster the gun. Otherwise, you gotta live with it. Kinda like not wanting your tires to wear out so you don't drive your car.

 

[Erik]

Don't ever, ever put them in or draw them out. Short of that, you just have to learn to accept holster wear on working guns. Better yet, start admiring it.

 

[nwilliams]

It used to bother me a lot now I think holster wear is actually something to be rather proud of, it shows the gun is well loved.

Check out this thread it may make you feel better, at least it worked for me.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=352928

 

[Markbo]

Well how about a little character then!?

An original First Generation Model P in .32-20 on top of modern Berreta and Taurus replicas. That first gen has been in the wife's family since it was made in the 1870's... 1876 if I remember the Colt letter correctly. Has some historical history that we are waiting on a book to document it.

As you can see it has virtually no finish left. You can go here to see an extreme closeup: http://www.svt-enthusiast.com/modules/gallery/Revolvers/SAA_s_001?full=1

The finish is not as bad as the closeup make it look since it is liberally coated in more than one brand of rust preventative. The gun is suprisingly tight and I would not hesitate to shoot black powder loads in it. There is a lot of polishing around the muzzle but the bore is bright and shiney. That old man may have carried in the deserts of West Texas every day and wore the finish off of it, but he new how to take care of it.

 

[rcmodel]

It's actually not so much the material the holster is made of.

It's the dirt inside it that is abrasive and causes finish wear.

Keeping the Kydex clean of dust & grit as best you can will help a lot.

And a wipe-down inside with Armor-All doesn't hurt either.

rcmodel

 

[Markbo]

Whew.... took me a few minutes to get the tears out of my eyes.... wheeew... Armor All... yeah.. that's the ticket. That's what I want all over my gun in the case a fast draw is needed...



*Fliiiiing*.... "Uh... excuse me... could you toss that back to me please?"

Oh... wheew... man that hurt my ribs.

 

[CWL]

It's like looking for clothing/shoes that never wear out, it ain't gonna happen, everything wears.

Perhaps you can limit it, but not by much.

btw, FOBUS isn't even real kydex.

 

[Georgia Gunner]

Well, I looked at the holster wear thread and it made me feel better. I'll try to keep the holster extra clean until I can find a better one. Thanks to everyone for the help! P.S Markbo those are nice even if they have some wear.

 

[rcmodel]

That's what I want all over my gun in the case a fast draw is needed...

Inside the plastic holster!
Not on the gun!

Thats why I said

And a wipe-down inside

Mercy!

rcmodel

 

[VHinch]

Stop unholstering and reholstering would be my short answer. If it's kydex, you don't worry about moisture buildup, so just take the holster off and leave the weapon in it.