View Full Version : Why use a leather holster?
I always use Blade tech and Black hawk holsters. I was curious what the advantages of a leather is? Why do people that use them, prefer them?
I saw a nice Galco for my 1911 that caught my eye, but it did not catch my wallet for $92.00. I did kinda like it though.
theJanitor
08-13-09, 19:06
leather is generally more comfortable for IWB use. It's normally easier on finishes than kydex. and for me, and my custom 1911's, just feels and looks "right".
i have three Alex Nossar holsters coming at the end of this month, all made with thin horsehide and sharkskin trim. once you stick a great 1911 in a quality leather holster, you never want to stick it in anything else again.
to add: my M&P goes in a kydex CCC looper:D
freakshow10mm
08-13-09, 19:48
I like leather because it's more comfortable than kydex. It's also quieter on the draw. I've had to slip my gun out of my holster without being detected. With leather it was virtually silent. Kydex is much louder and I've tried a lot of kydex.
Cost is about the same for production leather. My OWB is Aker Flatsider for 1911s. I paid about $45 street price.
Comfort, quiet, longevity.
Got me thinking? If you were to buy just one leather, what would it be? Price is not so much of a concern.
way easier to conceal- No. 1 reason, for me, and by a long shot
theJanitor
08-14-09, 00:01
Nossar IWB's
http://www.nossargunleather.com/images/002a.jpg
http://www.nossargunleather.com/images/066b.jpg
Jason Burton
08-14-09, 00:53
As others have mentioned I too find leather far more comfortable than kydex, especially for an IWB. For me leather also has the advantage of being more workable and easier to conceal/wear in that it will conform to a users body. But overall leather is my first (only?) choice because kydex just has no soul, no character, no allure... one of the great things about a nice custom leather rig is the craftsmanship and work that goes into designing and making a functional piece of concealment gear. Not to say there is not work or some level of craftsmanship to make a kydex holster but that it just doesn’t seem to apply as easily to something that is just heated up and folded.
Got me thinking? If you were to buy just one leather, what would it be? Price is not so much of a concern.
Too many good rigs and functional variations to pick just one... do you want IWB or OWB?
freakshow10mm
08-14-09, 01:22
Got me thinking? If you were to buy just one leather, what would it be? Price is not so much of a concern.
I carry all my handguns in Aker Flatsider OWB holsters. Never saw the need to change.
IWB and OWB leather holsters are much easier on your clothes, gun, and belt, not to mention much more comfortable against the skin. IWB Kydex is a clothing destroyer.
I like leather because it's more comfortable than kydex. It's also quieter on the draw. I've had to slip my gun out of my holster without being detected. With leather it was virtually silent. Kydex is much louder and I've tried a lot of kydex.
Cost is about the same for production leather. My OWB is Aker Flatsider for 1911s. I paid about $45 street price.
i have a comp-tac infidel for my SA operator and my SA XDm.
and neither make much noise. if i draw slow enough there is zero noise.
Leather is more durable. While kydex is very hard, it is also brittle and if torqued the wrong way can crack. A quality leather holster can easily last a lifetime of hard use. Kydex holsters, over time, tend to break down. On the other hand, kydex is pretty much impervious to a lot of environmental challenges that wreck leather. Leather also absorbs water, so a wet leather holster is going to subject your gun to possible corrosion significantly more than a wet kydex holster.
I've never found the comfort benefit of leather to be a big deal. A comfortable kydex holster is certainly possible, it just needs to be designed and manufactured properly. Uncomfortable leather holsters are also pretty common ...
Kydex holsters are demonstrably faster. However, they're usually "faster" by very small fractions of a second. As much as I care about the speed of my draw, I wouldn't choose kydex over leather based on this difference.
Kydex can be thinner than leather and still maintain the rigidity that most folks want in a practical carry holster. In particular, kydex holsters never collapse at the mouth.
Leather is infinitely more artistic and, if crafted with a concern for aesthetics, leather holsters are much nicer looking. There is no such thing as a "classy" kydex holster.
For equal quality of design and manufacture, kydex is going to be less expensive.
I agree with the others but will add that leather done by the right craftsman is elegant and beautiful and has a nostalgic aura about it. I love leather!
Started to post some leather photos, but I guess this is the M4 website and I'll control myself:D
freakshow10mm
08-14-09, 10:24
i have a comp-tac infidel for my SA operator and my SA XDm.
and neither make much noise. if i draw slow enough there is zero noise.
Never tried Comp Tac. I've used Sidearmor, G-Code, Blade Tech, and had a Fist hybrid (leather wrapped kydex). The only kydex I have is a Blade Tech IWB for my H&K P7 PSP.
As others mentioned, leather tends to be more resilient. During a gun retention exercise, the standard clips on my Comp-Tac broke, although I managed to keep the gun from being taken away.
Never tried Comp Tac. I've used Sidearmor, G-Code, Blade Tech, and had a Fist hybrid (leather wrapped kydex). The only kydex I have is a Blade Tech IWB for my H&K P7 PSP.
i highly recommend them.
great customer service and high quality products.
You might find this thread (http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=18975) of interest.
Then, again, maybe not.
Nossar IWB's
http://www.nossargunleather.com/images/002a.jpg
http://www.nossargunleather.com/images/066b.jpg
mmmmmm I'd take either one, but prefer the black.......to bad i would have to wait forever.
Those Nossar Holsters are seriously wicked. I have an Ed Brown with Bob Tail on my wish list, when do- Nossar just got added. Maybe if i bought the Holster first.............amazing how the mind works. haha
Tinman, I was in Fayetteville last week for the first time. I was working, but almost got a chance to stop in that Gander Mtn you got. Got a smoking deal on a Winchester model 70 Featherweight at a Gander in Amarillo last year.
Living in South Texas I have to be careful not to leave kydex in the sun, it will change the shape of the kydex when it heats up, especially in a 120 degree car. Kydex needs to be clean or dirt will scratch the gun. I have a G30 that is scratched due to this. I have had several different kydex and kydex/leather holsters. The next I buy will be all leather.
I have not found a kydex holster that is comfortable enough for me to carry IWB for long periods of time. My Milt Sparks holster, on the other hand, is probably as comfortable as I could hope for a holster to be with a full-sized 1911. I liked the hybrid leather/kydex holster I tried (Crossbreed Supertuck) for a small & light gun, quite a bit in fact, but I'm skeptical about how well the hybrid type of holster would carry a much heavier gun.
-B
I have not found a kydex holster that is comfortable enough for me to carry IWB for long periods of time. My Milt Sparks holster, on the other hand, is probably as comfortable as I could hope for a holster to be with a full-sized 1911. I liked the hybrid leather/kydex holster I tried (Crossbreed Supertuck) for a small & light gun, quite a bit in fact, but I'm skeptical about how well the hybrid type of holster would carry a much heavier gun.
-B
I used the Comp-Tac MTAC IWB carrying a full size 1911. I wouldn't say it was comfortable, but tolerable. Like all the IWB hlsters I have worn it takes some time getting used to. After wearing it for a couple of hours I got used to it and it didn't bother me. I was carrying a Para 14.45, being a full size 1911 with 15 rounds of 45 that gets quite heavy. The holster did well, but I think I will buy an all leather holster next time to see if it feels any better. I would like to try the Milt Sparks VM2 if I can get my hands on one. I sold my Para to buy my Colt AR, it will be next year before I buy another 1911 so I have some time to find a good holster.
Sharkskin
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/jsandi1201/PICT0013.jpg
Love the leather holsters with kydex mag holders to me I prefer some leather in a kramer IWB 3 over a chunk of kydex but thats me
Stranger45
08-17-09, 14:03
Sharkskin
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/jsandi1201/PICT0013.jpg
Who makes?
theJanitor
08-17-09, 15:27
sure looks like a wilsoncombat holster
It is, Wilson Combat Paddle in Sharkskin
Comfort, quiet, longevity.
And there you go, in order.
I prefer horsehide from Sparks and Kramer.
Those Nossar Holsters are seriously wicked. I have an Ed Brown with Bob Tail on my wish list, when do- Nossar just got added. Maybe if i bought the Holster first.............amazing how the mind works. haha
Tinman, I was in Fayetteville last week for the first time. I was working, but almost got a chance to stop in that Gander Mtn you got. Got a smoking deal on a Winchester model 70 Featherweight at a Gander in Amarillo last year.
where is there a Gander Mtn in Fayetteville Ga? please do tell I want to go. (googling now)
A lot depends on the application. I find leather easier to conceal IWB, but I sweat like a pig...so during the summer months if I'm carrying a 1911 I'll go kydex. If I'm carrying a Glock I'll go leather.
Leather does last longer...I've got a Matt DelFatti ISP for a 1911 that is going on nine years old now and still going strong. Unfortunately, If I'm out all day long I'll sweat through it and the result last year was mucho rust on my favorite 1911. Went kydex after that for summer carry.
On the other hand I've broken several kydex holsters. Going to try a Raven concealment next as a change from Blade-tech.
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