Storing handguns holstered?

[doubleh]

My dad bought a High Standard HDM pistol in 1946 or 47. It was in a leather holster when he bought it and it has in that holster to this day. Except for a little holster wear on the bluing from carrying and using it it is still just as clean as when it was bought. I also have a hunting knife that I purchased in 1960 that has been in a leather sheath all it's life and other than some use marks it's still OK. No rust on either. Got a few folders from the '70 on that live in leather cases and are in good shape. No rust at all.

I'll admit humidity in the southwest isn't the problem it is in much of the country and I'm sure that has been a factor. Also when any of these items are used they get cleaned and wax, not oil, is applied as surface protection.

PS: I have a couple of plastic fantastics with SS slides that do duty as car/truck guns. They have lived in nylon holsters for several years with no adverse effects.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Try that in Ohio, Tennessee, or Florida.

 

[DT Guy]

Cheaper holsters can be constructed with chrome tanned leather (as opposed to vegetable tanned), and that can be more aggressive to blued finishes.
So while it's best not to store a handgun in ANY leather holster, it's especially important with lower quality holsters.


Larry

 

[FAS1]

I haven't had any issues with a nylon holster.

 

[The_Guy]

I inherited a late 70's blued single six that has been stored in a leather holster the majority of it's life. There is a ton holster wear but no rust.

 

[Nick_90]

I wouldn't. My favorite arms dealer always warns his clients that leather holsters cause verdigris. However, he is ok with storing the gun in the holster but wrapped in a light cloth…

Luckily had no first-hand experience however...

 

[AlexanderA]

It really depends on the time frame. Are we storing the gun overnight, or are we putting it away for months or years?

For long-term storage, I would swab the gun inside and out with RIG, wrap it in VPI paper, and place it in a cardboard box. Actually, a molded plastic case made for the gun would be better than cardboard, but don't use cases with foam inside. No holsters -- especially not leather holsters.

(I store leather holsters separately. They all get heavy verdigris where brass contacts leather. You can imagine what this would do if the gun was in contact.)

 

[HB]

I have a system which works for me. It has been said many times that a holstered handgun is a safe handgun. If the pistol is loaded, it is in a holster. This means during deer season my Blackhawk stays in its leather Lawrence holster whether its on my hip or riding in the truck. My Hi Power spends nearly all its time in an old Safariland duty holster. I haven't seen any rust issues thus far but I shoot and clean these pistols regularly.

HB

 

[JWH321]

My 637 has lived in a Galco A619 for years and years. Its still perfect.

 

[Riomouse911]

I took the bluing off of the muzzle and part of the barrel of my 2.5" Model 19 when I left it in a leather Galco shoulder holster for far too long. (It wasn't wear from drawing/holstering, the tanning chemicals took the bluing down to the steel.)

 

[CajunBass]

I used to have a Bianchi "John Wayne Commerative" holster and gunblet set. I bought an inexpensive Mitchell Arms SAA replica to hang in it more or less for a decoration. Never fired the gun. Anyway, it hung in that holster for years...I'm not even sure how long, maybe 15--20 years. Never saw a spot of rust on the gun. It got taken out once in a while, cocked the hammer a couple of times, wiped off, and put back. Never any rust.

Having said that, I still say don't do it. Maybe I just got lucky. Maybe it was a really good holster (it was). There are a lot of better ways to store a gun. I keep mine in old cotton socks, on a shelf in my safe.

 

[Bobson]

If it's a problem to store in a leather holster, what about my EDC? I keep it holstered 24/7, and it only comes out for a couple hours when I make it to the range about once or twice a month. Doesn't everyone keep their EDC holstered 24/7? Even if you shoot it weekly. . . Is that enough time out of the holster?

 

[MICHAEL T]

I bought a new Colt Combat Commander in 1972 and a S&W lined leather holster at same time . Pistol has lived in that holster since brought home. To day of course I have other 1911 holsters but pistol sill in holster when not carried.

Never had any problems Was never told any different. My father kept a Colt Revolver in leather holster in drawer till he died . Today in safe in same holster.

Try that in Ohio, Tennessee, or Florida.

My fathers pistol spent it life in Ohio in that leather. My Commander was bought in Denver Co. then moved to Ohio and on to Ky Ohio has nothing to do with it

 

[Drail]

Seems like this thread had evolved into "I've never seen a gun rust from any type of storage so there's no problem with how it is stored".

 

[flphotog]

My carry guns are always loaded, my loaded guns are always in a holster. The ones I'm not carrying are in a holster in my safe. I don't however use leather. All of my holsters are kydex from Pantjher Concealment in Jacksonville, FL, never had an issue.

 

[Water Garden]

I don't consider it a crisis but why would someone want to "store" a firearm in a holster?

 

[sakata8242]

A Kydex holster is about the only kind I'd be comfortable leaving a pistol in for an extended period of time.

 

[hemiram]

A friend of mine recently learned a hard lesson about this, don't do it! He bought an S&W model 60 and has had it over 20 years. He CCW'ed it (Retired cop) and then bought a couple of semis to carry instead. He put the 60 into his safe, in the leather holster back in 2011, when he retired, and recently took it out and the barrel is pitted on both sides, and the cylinder and frame are too. It's sad, it was in really nice shape. He was thinking about selling it, but it's probably just a keeper/shooter now.

 

[CraigC]

While I don't recommend it, I have done it for months and months at a time with no ill effects. In Florida and Tennessee. If it's kept in an air conditioned space, the risk is minimal but it 'can' happen.

 

[Doc7]

So for carry guns when you unholster it are you guys also unloading them or just laying them in a safe or whatever loaded? Just wondering as I will be getting my first centerfire soon and I'm worried about constantly loading and unloading, causing bullet setback and also just administratively handling the firearm a lot and worry about one of those times that the firing pins sticks and fires off a round while chambering which I have read about. This is probably obscene paranoia that I need to read up more on and get over, but I have seen threads here about it.

 

[raa-7]

Try that in Ohio, Tennessee, or Florida.

Yep, living in Florida, you really have to be careful storing firearms.I have seen people put rifles/hand guns away with no control on the humidity. A young guy bought an Ak-47 and put it in his safe with no humidity control and when he came back to it only a month later and the whole rifle had a layer of rust. He said Ak's will take anything , he learned tho