Holster Lining

[1Man]

Hi, so this is my first post even though I've been hanging around for a while. The couple of holsters that I've made so far are unlined but are polished and finished to be relatively smooth. I have been thinking, though, of changing the way the inside of the holster looks. I am going to try and make one that is smooth lined but, I'm curious if anyone uses something other than leather to line their holsters. I could imagine that a holster lined with a plaid fabric would look interested. Maybe not everyone would like it but it would be different. I'm just wondering if it would hold up and exactly how I would finish it around the mouth of the holster. I can't have the ends just glued/sewed there. I would probably have to put some sort of mouth band around the inside made out of 2/3 oz leather. Any ideas/examples or am I just crazy?

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Any lining that isn't stiff will eventually roll in and work loose from the body of the holster, due to repeated usage. The other problem I see is the same issue I have with suede lining: it looks great when it leaves the shop, but with use sweat and debri will build up and prematurely damage the finish of the pistol.

Personally, I believe that pistols are tools that should be used and it doesn't matter if they get lots of wear , as long as that doesn't detract from their functionality. The thing is, anyone who would buy a lined holster probably doesn't see things that way, since the point of lining is to prevent wear.

So far, the only good lining in my experience is veg tanned leather.

[Lobo]

There are at least as many reasons not to line a holster as there are reasons to consider a lining. Linings were popular for many years because they were thought to reduce holster wear on a polished and blued handgun. Allow me to address some of the linings in common use:

1. Suede: sueded leather provides a lovely and soft feeling lining for a holster, in great demand. Unfortunately, there are several problems with suede linings: (a) sueded leather has far more surface area than veg-tanned leather, meaning that there is a far greater tendency to absorb and hold moisture (moisture, held in close proximity to a handgun, equals more tendency to induce corrosion); ( almost all sueded leather available is chrome tanned, meaning that the salts used in the tanning process remain in the finished leather, and these chemical salts can AND DO cause damage to blued guns, hard surface coatings (like manganese phosphate, very popular right now), and even so-called stainless steel; all can be etched indelibly by these chemical salts.

2. Glove leathers and other soft-finished leathers are almost always chrome tanned, with the same chemical salts that are harmful to a fine finished firearm.

3. Chamois leather has been used by some makers. Also very nice to look at, and very soft to the touch, chamois is chrome tanned and contains the same chemical salts; also chamois is WELL KNOWN for its ability to attract and absorb moisture.

4. Felt, and other fabrics, have been used by some makers. It only takes a moment to think about how easily these materials attract and hold moisture!

My advice to customers, based upon over 40 years of carrying a handgun and 37 years of making holsters, is this:

A. Never, ever store a valuable handgun in a leather holster or case!

B. Get into the habit of removing the handgun at the end of every day and wiping it down with a lightly oiled cloth, store it overnight separate from the holster (this also allows the holster to shed any moisture that it has absorbed during the course of the day).

That said, I'll be right up front here: I have customers who demand linings, and I provide holsters lined with either suede or glove leather to meet these demands. I even charge those customers extra for the linings! I have a few lined holsters myself that I use with old heirloom blued steel pieces, but I follow the guidelines (see item B. above) to truly protect those fine old pieces.

You want to try some fabric linings? Go ahead! Invite the moisture in, hold it next to your prized and valuable sidearm! Keep your handgun wrapped up in that environment all day, and all night! Hopefully, should you ever need it, it will do what you expect it to do (maybe).

Most of my production (about 100 units per month) is for concealed carry applications, vegetable tanned cowhide, finished with neatsfoot oil compound (provides lasting protection, filling the voids in the leather fibers, provides good flexibility to avoid cracking or splitting) and surface sealed with Fiebing's Bag Kote (old saddle-maker's recipe for weather protection).

I'll keep doing things my way. Please feel free to try any new thing that grabs your interest. Best wishes to you.

[ChuckBurrows]

Personally, I believe that pistols are tools that should be used and it doesn't matter if they get lots of wear ,

Jeff - Thad Rybka's advice to folks who didn't want wear on their gun - "Leave it in the box!"

Always thought that hit the proverbial nail on the head........

[Shorts]

I'm a no-lining fan here.

My input echos the guys above. Best 'lining', the veg tan that the holster is made with. If want the smooth in, do it.

[1Man]

Well, thanks. I appreciate everyone's input. I have a question though regarding chrome tanned leather...why is it not a good material for holsters? I've read the response above and I've read it a thousand times that the tanning process uses chemicals that are harmful to metal. But, I have to wonder, do people just keep repeating this because it's what everyone else says? I'm sure the chromium salts would react in a negative way if applied directly to the metal but, (now, I'm not a chemist by any stretch of the imagination) aren't these chemicals used to initiate a chemical reaction that "tans" the leather? And, then they are neutralized. Also, how much of these chemicals remain in the leather that would transfer to the surface of the metal?

I guess what I'm hoping for is some evidence that it is truly harmful for use in a holster. Has anyone used it and had negative results? Or, can someone provide some sort of reference that gives clear evidence of the negative effects?

I'm not trying to be a pain in the rear, I'm just curious. And, no, I'm not going to try it myself and find out.

[K-Man]

You're just going to have to trust those of us who have worked with this type of leather and know of it's harmful effects first hand. I have personally seen what chrome-tanned suede can do a gun's finish, on more than one occasion. I would not recommend using any leather of that sort for a lining on a holster. I won't do it for a customer, and I've lost a sale or two because of it. That's fine with me, as I'd rather lose a $75 sale than have to pay for a refinish job on a handgun.... But there are some who would rather take that gamble and make the sale of a holster. That may or may not affect your reputation as a competent holster maker. Word spreads pretty quickly as to who knows what they're talking about and those who do not.

[Dwight]

So far, I have never had a customer who demanded a lining for his/her holster, . . . not saying there never will be one, . . . but if there is, . . . I would probably do it the way the Bianchi way: two layers of veggie tanned leather glued flesh side to flesh side.

I've made several holsters this way, . . . and I like the effect, . . .

I haven't yet used them for a two tone effect (dye one one way, . . . and the other another color before the gluing process), . . . but it is something I've given a bit of thought to, . . . just haven't gotten there yet.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Lobo]

So far, I have never had a customer who demanded a lining for his/her holster, . . . not saying there never will be one, . . . but if there is, . . . I would probably do it the way the Bianchi way: two layers of veggie tanned leather glued flesh side to flesh side.

I've made several holsters this way, . . . and I like the effect, . . .

I haven't yet used them for a two tone effect (dye one one way, . . . and the other another color before the gluing process), . . . but it is something I've given a bit of thought to, . . . just haven't gotten there yet.

May God bless,

Dwight

Dwight: I can tell that you are an artist at heart! I would love to see some of your stuff, anytime you can photo and post.

Me? I'm just a hack, turning out a couple of dozen orders every week, trying to keep the paying customers happy and giving their filthy lucre to me instead of some other guy! I couldn't allow myself to spend the time necessary to do a veg-tan to veg-tan rig, with each layer dyed a different color, UNLESS SOMEONE IS PAYING ME BY THE HOUR to make something like that happen.

Again, I value your artistry and talent, and I wish you all the best. Now, I'll get back to work on the 40-plus items I have in production right now and try to have half of those ready to ship by mid-week.

[Dwight]

Nahh, Lobo, . . . artist is something I don't aspire to, . . . just another leather worker.

This is one of my favorites I have ever done, . . . cross draw rig for a Ruger Super Blackhawk, 44 mag.

Working on a native American style fringed gun bag, will have USMC beaded patch on top corner.

Really enjoy different things in leather, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight