Kydex Holsters

[rednichols]

This is a more multi faceted question than it seems. Not all plastic holsters are made from Kydex which is an alloy created for hospital walls and aircraft interiors so that it won't catch fire. It becomes molten instead and emits poisonous gases! First used in holsters by my friend Bud Watson in 1970, later claimed by Rogers several years later who then added a thin suede lining because of complaints from the FBI (after he had left the agency when the Draft ended).

Today such as Safariland have stopped using Kydex and the thin leather lining inside it, and switched over to injection moulded nylon of a special formulation that the company claims is softer on finishes. That suggest that scratching was a genuine problem for their customers who are basically EVERY police force in America and the world. Rogers' original claim to fame was as an injection moulding man.

Plastics do have the advantage of no absorbing water. Easy answer to that, don't wear your leather holsters inside your waistband in summertime Florida! "This holster is not for you".

 

[Coverdog]

Sticky holster. It won’t retain moisture, it’s so comfortable in the pocket and will not come out with firearm

 

[Onomea]

I am a longtime revolver guy, but bought a P365 for CCW last spring. I tried a Sticky pocket holster, which is soft, but did not like it. I have been using this Vedders pocket holster when I pocket carry.



I find it comfortable. When in the pocket I can't tell if it is a soft or hard holster unless I touch it with my hand. (But I am not a skintight jeans guy either...)

For my Colt DS I have a Mika pocket holster, which I preferred to one by Mitch Rosen. I also carried a 640-1 in a Kramer but preferred Mika.

For the P365, I've been using Kydex and hybrid leather/kydex OWB holsters while I wait for a Lobo leather pancake to show up. I like OWB better than pocket carry when practical. I do like how Kydex needs no break in, has adjustable retention, and makes for very smooth drawing and reholstering.

I think the problem with grit getting into a holster and scratching it is more acute with a leather holster because it can stick to the leather. (A good reason to avoid suede lining, by the way.) Not sure if there is much of a difference between leather and Kydex when it comes to rubbing the finish off.

But I also agree with the poster above who says he would not carry a classic revolver with a nice blued finish in Kydex. Just feels wrong to me.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Plastic = Blasphemy. Dead cows & horses = good. Any questions? Yeah, I'm a geezer.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Plastic = Blasphemy. Dead cows & horses = good. Any questions? Yeah, I'm a geezer.

Very funny!!! But I disagree..............somewhat........*

In light of the many guns on the market today that have frames that are made from - HORRORS!!!! - polymer/plastic - it seems only fair that the gun public should have the option of matching plastic with plastic.

As noted above, I can't imagine a Kydex holster being comfortable in my pocket, but some folks disagree, and that's YMMV every time. Not counting a couple of Walther P-22s (with hammers), I only have one polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol and it's a Walther CCP. I pocket carry it in a Remora holster which works perfectly. Soft, flexible, and easy to draw from. In the unlikely event that the holster comes out of my pocket with the gun (I've had that happen with other pocket guns and holsters) a quick shake and it's gone so it ain't any kind of an issue.

BUT!

When I belt carry the CCP it is in Kydex IWB or a Galco TAC-slide hybrid OWB, both of which work perfectly.

The gun doesn't seem to have picked up any scratches from those holsters but why would I care? It's a fighting pistol, not a work of art.

*My pretty guns only go into leather or another soft material. Those guns are called revolvers....