Will Kydex wear HK "Nitro Carburized finish" faster than leather?

[JLStorm]

I know kydex usually wears at the finish of weapons more quickly than leather and I was wondering if this holds true for the HK Nitro Carburized finish as well? I normally wouldnt even consider kydex, but blade tech is the only company that makes a holster for my gun/light combo, and since I will be doing a training class using the setup I thought it would be nice to carry occasionaly using this configuration, if I can actually somewhat conceal the blade tech holster, but I will not risk the finish on my HK to do it. I know that any holser will eventually wear on the finish, but I would rather not expidite the process

Any opinions?

 

[mete]

Yes it still holds true but the carbo-nitrided surface is very wear resistant. You can help the situation by occasionally cleaning the inside of the Kydex holster.

 

[HSMITH]

The black portion of the finish will come off quickly in Kydex or leather. There isn't anything you can do about it, if you holster that gun much the black will come off. The real value to the nitro carb finish is IN the outside of the metal, it will be extremely hard and corrosion resistant even after all of the black is worn off.

Buy the Blade Tech, it is an extremely good holster. Don't worry about the finish of the gun, it really doesn't matter.

 

[Onmilo]

I have a Blade Tech thigh holster for my USP Elite that gets used regularly since it is the only holster I own for the monster and it hasn't rubbed any finish off the gun so far.

 

[JLStorm]

Im usually not worried about finishes, but I got this finish specifically because I need it NOT to reflect light. Has anyone had to refinish their HK? Do I actually have to send it back to HK to get it done right or are their good armorers around who can do a good job? I cant imagine the gun is that hard to refinsh, its doesnt have many complex curves or angles to it.


By the way I emailed fist to see if they make a gun light setup for this weapon as I have heard the blade tech is not at all concealable, and I am worried about it clearing a vest, it does look like it rides that high, but I may have to go with it either way.

 

[Onmilo]

DSA Firearms offer an all metal 'Picatinney'/Weaver adapter that allows any light using this type of mounting system to be installed on the USP line of pistols.
USP pistols are designed to work with the Factory UTL,(Universal Tactical Light), a monster of a tactical weapon light.
Surefire produces a couple of relatively compact weapon mounted lights designed for the USP series but they are ungodley expensive, even more so than the Factory UTL.
Depending on the Model of your handgun Blade-Tech may produce a weapon light combo holster as long as the UTL is used.
These holsters are duty style.
I do not know of a holster that will effectively conceal a USP with a light installed.

 

[JLStorm]

DSA Firearms offer an all metal 'Picatinney'/Weaver adapter that allows any light using this type of mounting system to be installed on the USP line of pistols.
USP pistols are designed to work with the Factory UTL,(Universal Tactical Light), a monster of a tactical weapon light.
Surefire produces a couple of relatively compact weapon mounted lights designed for the USP series but they are ungodley expensive, even more so than the Factory UTL.
Depending on the Model of your handgun Blade-Tech may produce a weapon light combo holster as long as the UTL is used.
These holsters are duty style.
I do not know of a holster that will effectively conceal a USP with a light installed.

I already have the mounting system in place and blade-tech does make a paddle holster with SR loop for the setup I have (usp 45, GG&G railmoun, TLR2). As far as concealment, I can conceal the gun light setup with the Bianchi tac light 6500 tactical rig under a thick coat and over a III-A vest, so I have to disagree with the effective concealment, although it certainly has its limitations! The Bianchi holster however is a universal type system and it is extra thick nylon, and just not a great holster, however, it is nice when used as part of a tactical thigh rig for tactical training, but really very unefficient for belt use, even though it is designed for that as well. However, I am hopeing the blade tech is more easily concealed than the Bianchi, take a look at this monstrosity: http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum1580.php

So I dont expect something that can be concealed under a tshirt, but a large coat or very oversized shami or cordoroy shirt would be nice.

Does that make sense?

 

[HSMITH]

When the finish starts to show the wear you can touch it up easily with some flat black spray paint. Clean ALL oil from the finish, mask off the shiny parts, spray, let dry and re-oil. Total time spent is less than 15 minutes until it is ready to go back in the holster. $4 will carry you years and years down the road, it won't look great but it won't look bad either if you are careful. Having the gun refinished every time it gets a shiny spot will cost a LOT more, and you will be without the gun for several weeks at a time each time it is refinished.

 

[JLStorm]

When the finish starts to show the wear you can touch it up easily with some flat black spray paint. Clean ALL oil from the finish, mask off the shiny parts, spray, let dry and re-oil. Total time spent is less than 15 minutes until it is ready to go back in the holster. $4 will carry you years and years down the road, it won't look great but it won't look bad either if you are careful. Having the gun refinished every time it gets a shiny spot will cost a LOT more, and you will be without the gun for several weeks at a time each time it is refinished.

Well the HK and any maintainence are paid for by my company, I dont know about refinishing though...As long as I wasnt without a gun it would be covered...I might just have to expalin to my wife in a few years why I need another one just like it!!

I am curious to see how the finish wears over the next 2 years with everyday use. It will be carried mostly in leather, but also in kydex if I go with the blade-tech. The only other non SS finish gun I ever carried was a Glock for 2 years of every day use and repeated drill, and after 2 years I didnt see really many signs of holster wear. The Glock was ONLY carried in high quality well fit leather though, no kydex, and I was even able to sell it for a good price when I went to a 1911. Im hoping the HK finish holds up at least as well as the Glock since the price was a bit more and they make a big deal about their protective finish, but hell even if it doesnt, the way it shoots makes up for it!