What's the best way to protect from holster wear? except...

[the ringo kid]

............by not putting the dern gun in a holster to begin with?

Reason im asking is because after a few delays (not on my part) I finally got my LTC card in and will eventually get around to carrying one of my guns-settled on a .1911 .45 for now. Im in no hurry to go out in public and carry but its nice to know im fully legal to do so if I so shall please.

Anyway, one of our good friends here is going to make me a nice holster and a fine price and when he's done-hopefully he'll show off his work of art so the rest of ya can see what his gimpy hands can manufacture.

We are keeping it simple--not because of price-sake-just because I cant think of anything fancy-schmancy to put on it.

If y'all are willing? show off yer carry holsters and maybe that'll give me ideas in the future for giving our friend a bit more business.

Im a leather-ONLY person-don't want that other stuff-though not against it.

Oh and, one of the delays was due to the fact that they got my eyes color wrong-which got fixed-then got my hair color wrong-which will remain unfixed as I already reported it to a few Law-types-and they said it didnt matter. Matter unless--I have brown hair and the I.D. said I have white hair etc.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Don't worry about it. Holster wear is earned. Just don't carry a collector piece.

 

[gman51]

You might try lining the holster with felt. For me I don't worry about getting holster wear on my daily carry. It isn't for show anyway. As long as it goes bang when needed then I am fine with some holster wear. Safe queens aren't usually carry guns either.

 

[the ringo kid]

Its a new Auto-Ordnance .45-and Wayne's going to insert some softer leather inside. I just dont want to give any wear on it-unless earned. But many thanks for the reply.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Yes, I would not want eye color to be incorrect but hair color does change so it is less important.

I don't have a lot of holster pictures despite having a lot of holsters so here are two - I use the Dave Workman with my 686+ 4" but I don't even own a Python - I have several of those, no clue where I got them from. Have to get them to a Python guy some day.

If you carry a gun in a holster for any length of time you run the risk of holster wear. If that bothers you then you should not carry an all time favorite, collectible gun in your holster. But a carry gun is designed to be carried. In my world the wear it gets, from whatever, is honest wear and of little importance.

Long term storage should NOT be in leather, obviously, but guns routinely carried, well, they get removed from time to time for other reasons, like cleaning, so they don't get into trouble from long term metal to leather contact.

When you get to your house you can remove the gun from the holster to avoid additional wear. I usually store my carry guns in their holsters. Again, I don't worry about the holster wear.

 

[Iggy]

Not much you can do to prevent it. Smooth side of the leather against the gun rather than the unfinished side helps..

Unfinished side can catch dirt and stuff and act as an abrasive.

 

[the ringo kid]

You might try lining the holster with felt. For me I don't worry about getting holster wear on my daily carry. It isn't for show anyway. As long as it goes bang when needed then I am fine with some holster wear. Safe queens aren't usually carry guns either.

I was also thinking in that line-or even corduroy as ive had a Walther P-38 holster from WW2-that had it as lining.

 

[the ringo kid]

Yes, I would not want eye color to be incorrect but hair color does change so it is less important.

I don't have a lot of holster pictures despite having a lot of holsters so here are two - I use the Dave Workman with my 686+ 4" but I don't even own a Python - I have several of those, no clue where I got them from. Have to get them to a Python guy some day.

If you carry a gun in a holster for any length of time you run the risk of holster wear. If that bothers you then you should not carry an all time favorite, collectible gun in your holster. But a carry gun is designed to be carried. In my world the wear it gets, from whatever, is honest wear and of little importance.

When you get to your house you can remove the gun from the holster to avoid additional wear. I usually store my carry guns in their holsters. Again, I don't worry about the holster wear.

That's what I was thinking. The only real collectable handgun I have is my early-made WWII Walther P-38-and its "retired'. The rest are all modern. Ive multiples of my Auto-Ordnances, my Rough Riders and soon will of my Cimmarron "1873 Custers, so I guess it wouldnt "kill" me-to have some-I just hate changing condition of anything I get new. I have a Baretta I also may start carrying-that one I dont mind if it gets wear-but have no leather for it yet.

BTW--those any nicely done holsters...

 

[ContinentalOp]

Any holster use is going to cause some wear.

Probably the best way to minimize wear is to make sure the holster fits the gun properly. If there's any kind of wiggle room the gun's finish will wear faster.

Smooth leather on the inside will help, either as a lining or in a rough-out holster, as will cleaning out the inside of the holster regularly. The problem with soft linings, like suede or rough leather, is that they can trap dirt, which can wear on the gun's finish, and can absorb moisture, which can lead to corrosion.

Another option that I've never tried but have heard helps is to apply a wax coating to your gun. Holster friction will wear on the wax and offer some protection to the gun's finish. Rennaissance Wax is probably the most recommended one I've seen.

I use a Side Guard Holsters Quick Clip IWB holster. It's a simple design, but well-made. Smooth-side leather on the inside. I clean it out periodically and let it air out overnight.

 

[the ringo kid]

Not much you can do to prevent it. Smooth side of the leather against the gun rather than the unfinished side helps..

Unfinished side can catch dirt and stuff and act as an abrasive.

I think Wayne's going to line it with some pig skin? so hopefully that will be of great help. I looked at some at Academy and Wally World yesterday-neither place had anything desirable. WW-stuff felt like rough cheapo-plastic-which is off my list. Anything at Academy was just too expensive for what it was.

 

[the ringo kid]

Any holster use is going to cause some wear.

Probably the best way to minimize wear is to make sure the holster fits the gun properly. If there's any kind of wiggle room the gun's finish will wear faster.

Smooth leather on the inside will help, either as a lining or in a rough-out holster, as will cleaning out the inside of the holster regularly. The problem with soft linings, like suede or rough leather, is that they can trap dirt, which can wear on the gun's finish, and can absorb moisture, which can lead to corrosion.

Another option that I've never tried but have heard helps is to apply a wax coating to your gun. Holster friction will wear on the wax and offer some protection to the gun's finish. Rennaissance Wax is probably the most recommended one I've seen.

I use a Side Guard Holsters Quick Clip IWB holster. It's a simple design, but well-made. Smooth-side leather on the inside. I clean it out periodically and let it air out overnight.

I never thought of the wax angle, and thank you. Is there any such thing as -a wax-wipes? like Rem-wipes?

There is a local gun show this weekend and ill be looking for products for things like this.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I never thought of the wax angle, and thank you. Is there any such thing as -a wax-wipes? like Rem-wipes?

There is a local gun show this weekend and ill be looking for products for things like this.

I don't think so. Like I said, it's not something I've used before. If you do a search of the forums I'm sure you'll come up with plenty of threads on the specifics of how to apply it. It's been discussed many times. Check in this forum or the gunsmithing forum.

 

[BE Mike]

The less you draw and re-holster, the less wear to the handgun, but isn't proficiency more important than appearance?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

BTW--those any nicely done holsters...

Thanks. I can't speak to the black one but Dave Workman made the brown one a couple of years ago for my 686. Dave is probably still on this Forum but he isn't very active. He writes for some gun magazines and he is the inventor of the "Workman" made by Mitch Rosen and often copied by other holster makers.

Inside the Waistband Holsters | Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather

(c) Mitch Rosen 2017

 

[rednichols]

Many of the responses skirt around an actual reply to your query. For some reason it is little known that the purpose of detailed hand moulding, aka boning, is to eliminate holster wear. Retention is a secondary bonus. So, look for a holster that is precisely moulded enough that you can recognise the pistol from the outside, when it's empty.

The concept has always been to eliminate the high spots of the pistol, especially revolvers, rubbing inside the holster. I had to explain this to Tony at Sparks, something an 'immersed' maker would have known.

 

[Arik]

Unless you plan to holster/unholster at least twice a day it doesn't matter. You will get wear anyway. It's like asking how to drive without wearing your tires. Can't! Accept it! Move on!

I'd worry more about proficiency then perfect appearance

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Rpg]

Under no circumstances would I have a holster lined with felt, corderoy, suede or any soft material.

Not only do these materials gather abrasive material and produce abrasions, but they tend to bind and catch on your pistol's high points and interfere with drawing and holstering your pistol.

The only proper lining is leather, smooth side facing the inside of the holster.

Keep in mind that your holster is part of a system.

You should practice extensively with your presentation from the leather (drawing your pistol from the leather). This will inevitably produce wear on the high points of your pistol.

If you can't live with that, leave your pistol at home in a drawer.

 

[crazyphil]

As has been said, smooth leather inside, and a perfect fit, both help to
protect finish from wear. A good polymer finish like Wilson's Armor Tuff,
or Karl Sokol's Mountain Tuff will protect your finish through a lot of draws
and re-holsters as well as frequent carry.
Karl finished my 1911 Colt Gold Cup 10 or 15 years ago. I don't see any
wear on it. The holster is by David Keith, here on the forum as keith44spl.
There are others who can give you smooth leather inside, but I happened
to have this picture handy.
BTW the knife is a Case.

 

[Walkingwolf]

I made my own for my 1911, and Star Super. I used 7/8 ounce latigo, and then the finished holster was immersed in hot wax. After it absorbed enough hot wax the gun was inserted into the holster with a plastic bag. When finished the holster is formed to the gun, and the gun will get very little wear against the waxed leather. At first use their is some wax on the gun, but that goes away with time. The waxed holster prevents leather salts from corroding the steel. It is also not affected by wet weather, the holster does not retain moisture to cause problems from the wet leather, and salts that then leach onto the gun.

 

[REM 3200]

Ringo,
If holster wear bothers you that much, put that pistol
with your other collectables and get a stainless steel pistol.
They will still wear but it's not as noticeable.