Material to line holsters

[klutes]

You often read where people are using a suede type leather to line a holster. Correct me if I am wrong but isn’t suede leather chrome tanned? Always was taught to not line knife sheaths and holster with anything that’s was chromed tanned due to causing it to rust. What do you use. 

[JLSleather]

That seems to be getting more wide spread, too.  If I was a guessin', I'd say that's partly because suede tends to be cheap (compared to tooling leather), and because new guys ('n' gals) see others doing it, so they follow suit.

I don't care for the use of suede leathers in a holster.

• It does not form, does not harden.
• Some will say it's softer, and somehow better for the finish of your gun -  I'm not one of them, but it's out there.  Like a carpet, it collects stuff that falls in - harder to clear out.
• It doesn't burnish.  You can make allowances so that it doesnt extend to an outside edge, but why?

So when I make lined holsters, I usually use tooling leather.  Instead of 8 oz leather, I might use two layers of 4 oz, or a 6 and a 2 oz.  Or if I want to make something heavier (say, for large revolvers) I might line with a VEG TANNED split.  This is useful, for instance, if I want to dip-dye the holster, but don't want the inside dyed.  Just dunk the main holster, then line with the split.  End up with the same finish on the inside that you would have had frm using the single layer, but the inside is not dyed and the edges burnish well.

[JLSleather]

Oh, and keep in mind that some really aren't interested in crisp detail.. they actually WANT their work a bit out of focus.   Suede lining is a favorite of some who want to hide a wrinkle or a lining that isn't smooth.  So sometimes it's simply for speed - smaller wrinkles and spots that aren't smoothed out are less conspicuous.  You'll notice that many of the higher volume manufacturers use a suede liner.  

But no, not all suede is chrome tanned.