I'm getting ready to order an EPS Tanker holster and am torn between lined and unlined.
will a lining noticeably improve the holster's form?
what's the pros/cons of this?

Lined are for sissies.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

A well lined holster has a softer interior and will reduce wear of the finish longer.

I have been using leather holsters w/ my blued and stainless steel revolvers for 30 years. I have always used holsters lined either with suede as typical of Bianchi or else horsehide such as used by El Paso Saddlery. I have been very pleased with the way these holsters have fit and the protection which they have afforded to my revolvers. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

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TRUE, HOWEVER LINED HOLSTERS ALSO WILL RETAIN MOISTER LONGER THAN UNLINED....DEPENDS ON YOUR CLIMATE...

We are talking about holsters here Mr Sipowicz, not underwear.

Depends on what it's lined with.

Suede, which seems to be the favorite of commercial holster companies (like Bianchi and Safariland), and sounds like it would be quite soft on your gun, can hold dirt and grit with all its soft little fingers, and you sandpaper your gun every time you holster it.

I have several that are lined with pigskin. Smooth leather. Don't hold dirt.

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I always take precautions

I use both.........Ain't much difference.

Lined holster jest look more finished,

Kinda like dress boots vs work boots.


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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Trapped moisture was one concern actually.

one other thought was that a tanker holster is a very plain and simple rig. would lining this be like putting lipstick on a pig?

given the texture, wouldn't unlined leather have the same effect as suede?

Most mine are lined if I get the choice. I also am confused. I heard the same about lined holsters can trap grit, however I would think it would be the opposite that the rough leather would trap grit worse. At home I seldom leave a gun holstered out of reading not to do it. However I have never had a problem with a gun rusting. I have mostly lived in the west in dry country though. Years ago I worked 35 years as a guard. Our guns were company guns. Most of them lived in holsters and would only see daylight when one guard gave his gun to his relieveing guard every shift. Out of hundreds of guns and hundreds of different officers handeling them I NEVER seen a rusted company gun!!! Besides that very, very seldom, almost unheard of, did I know of someone getting on a detail to clean them! Most only got shot when we requalified, and for me I always used my personal gun for the range except a few times when I first hired in. How do you explain that? Guns handeled by many, never cleaned and still no rust? Thats why I get a charge of the many questions here about cleaning like they think its going to rust while they are looking at it the minute its shot!
The guns I chose at work were mostly colt offical polices that were made around 1950. We also had 586s and stainless speed sixs but I stuck with the old colts most of the time. Never did see a speck of rust!!!

Lined holsters eventually get torn up with front sites particularly causing the initial wear from drawing and holstering.

Most mine have a sight track.

I've wondered about the durability of a lining, not so much its tearing (good point btw) but more on the extra added stitching and how that would hold up over time.

Exactly right. Also, I've found that over several years and lots of use, the lining in some holsters starts to wear. Looks tacky after awhile with little bits of leather hangin' up. Doesn't happen with unlined holsters. I guess it just depends on much much use and abuse you plan on giving that particular holster.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I have a dozen Bianchi & Safariland suede lined holsters. And probably a Galco or two. Suede is treated with different chemicals than the outer leather , holds silicone well too , repel moisture. Get suede lined , spray it with a good, food-grade silicone spray every so often and you will never have rusting problems and you'll have a nice draw too.

I recently purchased a lined pancake holster from Lobo Gun leather. I carry my 2.5 inch 686 in it. I ordered it suede lined and couldn't be happier. It seems like the lining just gives it a "snug" fit.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Put a stainless steel S&W in it and don't worry if it's lined or not. If I was going to use it out in the elements that's what I'd do.

I think the right type of lining actually protects against holster wear versus unlined. Doc44 carries some of his prized possesions in lined holsters and you cant tell they've ever been carried.

Lined holsters can be a finishing step. A suede is just split leather and smooth leather is the skin side with the hair removed the other side is called suede or rough side. to get two smooth sides gluing or stitching is required. When I line a holster I use a thin pig skin and use a water base leather glue the hold the two suede sides together and then switch them as a finial step . The Holsters are then wetted and formed fitted with a sight channel. All leather will hold moisture if they get wet; humidity plays a small part in rust of the firearm I try to keep mine coated with silicone (silicone it less likely to hold grit then oil). yes suede can cause more wear on a blued finish. If a leather holster gets wet never use heat to dry them let them air dry and don't use a leather cleaner that will soften the leather, the holster will lose it tightness. I have had holsters get wet, I wipe my gun down and oil it and place it in a plastic Ziploc baggie and put in the holster and let it air dry over night , then I clean and oil the firearm again.

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Carpriver.

I believe so. That's why the ones I have had made, that are not lined, are made inside out. "Rough out". The smooth side of the hide is inside next to the gun.

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I always take precautions

Just being a ordinary citizen, I have holsters purchased in 1990 which have held up over the years. In fact some look brand new.

Of course I have never drawn my weapon, just a little practice now and then, so wear and tear doesn't come into play.

For LEO's, I am sure this would not apply.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Lined holsters are easier on the finish of a nicely blued gun but for stainless or other finishes, it don't much matter. I like unlined for concealment, they are not as thick and are lighter in weight.