Stainless Steel in a Fobus holster - holster wear?

[iafirebuff]

Can anyone advise how a stainless steel pistol (S&W 3913) would wear in a fobus holster? I know with blued finish sometime the Fobus scuffs up the gun. Just curious how stainless fairs. THANKS!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It would, over time, "burnish" or polish the edges and corners that contact the holster. It would appear as shiny spots on the matte finish.

For those concerned with the inevitable (if you carry, practice with and shoot a lot) holster wear that will appear on a handgun, I refer to this FAQ on High Noon Holsters' site.

[T]he act of drawing your pistol from a holster creates friction at the points of contact, and eventually those points will begin to show signs of wear. For that reason it would be unfair to expect that your personal sidearm will remain in new condition forever.

 

[Sam1911]

L.H. got it right. Stainless guns wear a lot less noticeably than blued guns, but all guns will show their use if you're using it enough.

The Kydex holsters (Fobus & others) will wear at very precise points were the stiff material touches the gun in exactly the same spot every draw.

Leather holsters may wear a little "softer" as the more flexible material gives a bit more and may brush against a wider surface area on the gun than the kydex's rigid touch points. Slower wear over a larger area, maybe.

It is not something to care about. Marks of pride, actually. Honest character earned through honest use.

-Sam

 

[David E]

First thing I'd do is chuck the fobus and buy a GOOD holster.

.

 

[RedAlert]

Gee David! Tell us what you think; but, don't stop unless you provide an alternate and your reasoning.

Kydex is an excellent material for a holster when used properly and it will not retain moisture like "animal skin" holsters. It won't lose its shape, securely retains the weapon and at an affordable price.

True it isn't as pretty as "animal skin" but, it is practical and after all a weapon is only a tool.

Red

 

[Ron James]

But the only way to keep a gun looking new is to put it away and never ever use it.

 

[senior]

kydex

Read somewhere that spraying inside of those holstes with silicon spray will delay wearing away the bluing on handguns. Ordered myself one and think i'll try it, cant see it hurting the gun

 

[David E]

Gee David! Tell us what you think; but, don't stop unless you provide an alternate and your reasoning.

Kydex is an excellent material for a holster when used properly and it will not retain moisture like "animal skin" holsters. It won't lose its shape, securely retains the weapon and at an affordable price.

First of all, Fobus is NOT, repeat, is NOT kydex. It is a different sort of polymer.

That said, not all kydex holsters are created equal. Some suck, some are "good," while others are pretty damn nice.

Fobus sucks for a serious holster. Surely, you've seen the quick "disarm" by the role-player twisting the Fobus off the paddle. The new ones add a metal strip to prevent or at least slow down that action.

Evenso, the fobus holds the gun wrong. IE; it brings the butt in too close to the body for the wearer to obtain a good firing grip. If you come straight down on it, for a right hander, it'll point to the right once you get it out. Also, if you pull it straight up, the gun will engage the triggerguard indent even harder, making the draw herky-jerky at best.

What happens in my classes is that the wearer does what I have dubbed the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" draw. A right hander leans heavily to the left to obtain a proper firing grip. It takes time and requires a standing position.

Leather holsters can have this shortcoming as well. I recall watching gunsmith Richard Heinie do a "Leaning Tower of Pisa" draw from the holster HE designed and had executed in leather. I smoked him on that stage, as well as the match, my first shot always besting his. The funny/sad part was, he didnt' realize how hampered he was by using that holster. Then again, few people do.

The better holsters, such as made by KyTac (www.kytac.com) eliminate these serious downfalls in holster design.