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Lined or Unlined?
- Thread starter tybochip
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Watchdog
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I prefer lined, especially on holsters using a retention strap that snaps. I don't want any metal that could cause finish damage in contact with my gun.
howiema
Member
+1 for the lined also, I have one from Snubby that isn't lined and it is worn alot. I carry a Stainless revolver in it. The lining helps with the blued guns IMO.
Petre
Petre
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I'd be concerned about leaving a gun in a lined holster in a humid environment since the lining may retain moisture, but since a gun shouldn't be left in a wet holster I suppose that is not really a concern.
I pretty much carry only stainless for CCW and my holsters are Kramer horsehide unlined, they have no retention straps so contact with snaps is not an issue. In the field my blued guns are carried in suede lined Bianchi holsters to protect the finish.
bamabiker
Member
Lined holsters look nicer and more finished and the smoother surface may be a little easier on a gun's finish but if you put a gun in a holster regularly it's going to wear the finish eventually.
You want a holster that fits the gun tight and does not allow it to move around.
You want a holster that fits the gun tight and does not allow it to move around.
Always lined. Smooth lineing at that. I wouldn't subject a fine firearm to the roughness of an unlined holster. Smooth leather lined because it won't harbor dust and grit like a suede lineing will. Smooth can be cleaned with a damp rag and a little saddle soap and allowed to dry. As stated previously don't store your firearm in the holster.
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I learned a lesson many years ago. Lined holsters actually attract and hold small particles that actually scratch the gun which is exactly opposite to why people buy them in the first place!
The best holster that causes the least amount of abrasion and will hold the least amount of contaminants is a properly fitted, high quality smooth Cowhide leather or Horsehide holster.
Not only does Suede tend to pick up and hold powder, carbon, lead and whatever is blowing around, but it also adds to the thickness and bulk of a holster. When I was a novice I too bought Suede lined holsters and rapidly learned that they were not beneficial and actually had the opposite affect of what I was trying to achieve.
12 years ago I also discovered that a high quality Horsehide holster that has been properly fitted does not need retention straps, snaps, screws, velcro, etc. 12 years ago I bought a Kramer Horsehide Rig for my M60 and it still snaps when I insert the weapon, it still retains it when positioned upside down and still has not scratched my gun.
Well that's my opinion on Suede - even though some may disagree. I learned the hard way and would never use a suede holster on any gun I really cared about.
The best holster that causes the least amount of abrasion and will hold the least amount of contaminants is a properly fitted, high quality smooth Cowhide leather or Horsehide holster.
Not only does Suede tend to pick up and hold powder, carbon, lead and whatever is blowing around, but it also adds to the thickness and bulk of a holster. When I was a novice I too bought Suede lined holsters and rapidly learned that they were not beneficial and actually had the opposite affect of what I was trying to achieve.
12 years ago I also discovered that a high quality Horsehide holster that has been properly fitted does not need retention straps, snaps, screws, velcro, etc. 12 years ago I bought a Kramer Horsehide Rig for my M60 and it still snaps when I insert the weapon, it still retains it when positioned upside down and still has not scratched my gun.
Well that's my opinion on Suede - even though some may disagree. I learned the hard way and would never use a suede holster on any gun I really cared about.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Many people have strong preferences and simply will not consider any holster without their preferred lining. For years I have offered both suede and smooth linings for this reason.
Personally, I prefer a smooth lining because the smooth top grain does not share the tendencies of suede for collecting dust, grit, and debris over time.
I recommend holster lining for polished and blued handguns, nickel plated, and anodized aluminum. Some of the more modern handguns have applied finishes (manganese phosphate or similar) that are much more resistant to abrasion or holster wear.
Personally, I prefer a smooth lining because the smooth top grain does not share the tendencies of suede for collecting dust, grit, and debris over time.
I recommend holster lining for polished and blued handguns, nickel plated, and anodized aluminum. Some of the more modern handguns have applied finishes (manganese phosphate or similar) that are much more resistant to abrasion or holster wear.
I will not put one of my blued revolvers in an unlined holster, just to easy to mar a nice finish. With my stainless revolvers I don't worry to about using an unlined holster. As Ray stated I prefer smooth leather Vs. suede, for the reasons listed.
I'm fine with unlined holsters, provided they are made from quality leather and are properly blocked to hold the pistol securely.
Rub any blued revolver or pistol with a silk cloth enough and you'll wear the bluing. It's not the surface that matters as much as the movement. Consequently, lined or unlined doesn't matter - if the holster does not hold the handgun snugly, it'll eat the finish.
Lined holsters actually become a liability when they are not blocked as accurately to the handgun as an unlined holster.
Rub any blued revolver or pistol with a silk cloth enough and you'll wear the bluing. It's not the surface that matters as much as the movement. Consequently, lined or unlined doesn't matter - if the holster does not hold the handgun snugly, it'll eat the finish.
Lined holsters actually become a liability when they are not blocked as accurately to the handgun as an unlined holster.
Pisgah
Member
Whether you buy lined or unlined, always make sure the holster fits -- really fits! What puts wear on the gun is not so much the leather finish but the constant, tiny motions involved when a gun is carried in a poorly-fitted holster, rubbing-rubbing-rubbing constantly. If the holster fits, and you keep the inside clean, lined or unlined doesn't make much difference, if any.
rednichols
Member
Those are all good comments and valid when taken together 
When we pare back our objectives, which is that a smooth grain next to the pistol fits better, wears better, and releases better, we know that a lining per se is not necessary. It's why rough-out appeals: the hair or grain side of the leather is next to the pistol. Rough-out was used for other reasons that don't concern us pistoleros, too.
The suede linings we have experienced are all chrome tannages. Cheap, thin, strong when thin, and the sueded finish is common. Hides are huge, so cutting economy is outstanding. Whether it's true or not that they collect grit, it certainly is true that they add bulk and that the moulding of the veg face is far less satisfactory.
The solution, if one wants a smooth outer for the holster, is to use two layers of veg layer. If they're both of roughly equal thickness, and the total is about the same as an unlined holster (let's say 10 oz) that means that a pair of 5s m/b used. That has negatives for the maker. So we tend to want to use 8 oz for the face and a very thin liner. The latter is v uncommon in veg cowhide, tho it's what is used to do bullet looping. Very papery and tears like it, too.
Personally I solved this dilemma by using falconry leather. Others have used veg pigskin, which is also excellent. And I put the grain side next to the pistol, for all the reasons I've mentioned; and yet have had buyers wondering why the lining is not sueded.
Perkins at Safariland has always given himself credit for inventing suede lined holster, and John Bianchi ditto. But turnerriver and I can confirm that Heiser was using thin suede linings long before either of those men; I've a Heiser-Keyston "Sportsman" range holster with the thinnest damned suede lining I've ever seen -- and glued not stitched.
So: make up your mind what it is exactly that you'll get from a lining. A luxurious 'feel' of a sueded leather, or a brisk release of the pistol. You'll end up with chrome sueded for the former, and with a grain side veg for the latter.
When we pare back our objectives, which is that a smooth grain next to the pistol fits better, wears better, and releases better, we know that a lining per se is not necessary. It's why rough-out appeals: the hair or grain side of the leather is next to the pistol. Rough-out was used for other reasons that don't concern us pistoleros, too.
The suede linings we have experienced are all chrome tannages. Cheap, thin, strong when thin, and the sueded finish is common. Hides are huge, so cutting economy is outstanding. Whether it's true or not that they collect grit, it certainly is true that they add bulk and that the moulding of the veg face is far less satisfactory.
The solution, if one wants a smooth outer for the holster, is to use two layers of veg layer. If they're both of roughly equal thickness, and the total is about the same as an unlined holster (let's say 10 oz) that means that a pair of 5s m/b used. That has negatives for the maker. So we tend to want to use 8 oz for the face and a very thin liner. The latter is v uncommon in veg cowhide, tho it's what is used to do bullet looping. Very papery and tears like it, too.
Personally I solved this dilemma by using falconry leather. Others have used veg pigskin, which is also excellent. And I put the grain side next to the pistol, for all the reasons I've mentioned; and yet have had buyers wondering why the lining is not sueded.
Perkins at Safariland has always given himself credit for inventing suede lined holster, and John Bianchi ditto. But turnerriver and I can confirm that Heiser was using thin suede linings long before either of those men; I've a Heiser-Keyston "Sportsman" range holster with the thinnest damned suede lining I've ever seen -- and glued not stitched.
So: make up your mind what it is exactly that you'll get from a lining. A luxurious 'feel' of a sueded leather, or a brisk release of the pistol. You'll end up with chrome sueded for the former, and with a grain side veg for the latter.
