The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: billt on October 24, 2011, 01:29:33 PM
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Have any of you guys carried a gun long term in one of these type of holsters? If so do they scratch up a polymer framed weapon? They just don't seem to forgiving in that department. I like some of the SERPA models, but I've often wondered how a Tupperware frame would hold up with constant use?
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Have any of you guys carried a gun long term in one of these type of holsters? If so do they scratch up a polymer framed weapon? They just don't seem to forgiving in that department. I like some of the SERPA models, but I've often wondered how a Tupperware frame would hold up with constant use?
Dittos to that question.
FQ13
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Only when they are dirty. No give so any sand embeds in one side and becomes sandpaper to the other.
Great for a bump in the night holster, slap the paddle on and go. But not a great design for crawling through the mud or sandbox.
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Short answer: It depends.
I can only speak for the fobus and I've had mixed results. I got really blessed (spoiled really) when I purchased my first pistol 5.5 years ago. I bought a used glock 19 from an individual for an awesome price. It came with a fobus holster and a couple of others. I usually keep it in another holster but carried it (up until a year ago) in the fobus. It shows very little wear over all and most of that is on the slide.
I liked the holster a lot an have a tendency toward brand loyalty (maybe a bit ocd); so, I purchased one for a Walther P22. That gun was pretty much brand new when I started using the holster and it pretty much stripped the slide. I don't recall any frame damage, but the slide was in poor enough shape that my brother ended up removing all of the factory coating and duracoating it. To my knowledge, that gun hasn't been put back in that holster.
I've started using a crossbreed for normal carry on my glocks, but still use the fobus if I owb.
On a related note, I have a kydex pocket holster for my g26, and it has polished the edges in under a year. Bottom line, if you're going to carry a gun; it's going to get a little worn.
Hope this helps.
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I've been carrying my G27 in a SERPA for almost three years. I remove/replace the gun several times per day, every day, and the holster itself has more wear showing (and it's external cosmetic wear) than the gun.
In fact, in my case it received more "holster wear" on the side of the slide from my leather holster before I went to the SERPA. The frame is good. (of course, YMMV)
*Now, I will note that my SERPA for my 1911 did wear the parkerizing off one tiny spot on the trigger guard of my Commander. That was from about three months of carry last winter.
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Short answer: It depends.
I can only speak for the fobus and I've had mixed results. I got really blessed (spoiled really) when I purchased my first pistol 5.5 years ago. I bought a used glock 19 from an individual for an awesome price. It came with a fobus holster and a couple of others. I usually keep it in another holster but carried it (up until a year ago) in the fobus. It shows very little wear over all and most of that is on the slide.
I liked the holster a lot an have a tendency toward brand loyalty (maybe a bit ocd); so, I purchased one for a Walther P22. That gun was pretty much brand new when I started using the holster and it pretty much stripped the slide. I don't recall any frame damage, but the slide was in poor enough shape that my brother ended up removing all of the factory coating and duracoating it. To my knowledge, that gun hasn't been put back in that holster.
I've started using a crossbreed for normal carry on my glocks, but still use the fobus if I owb.
On a related note, I have a kydex pocket holster for my g26, and it has polished the edges in under a year. Bottom line, if you're going to carry a gun; it's going to get a little worn.
Hope this helps.
When you say polished, do you mean down to bare metal?
The Glock slide it Tennifer treated and is infused into the metal and should be harder than any holster. The slide also has a "coating" over the Tennifer finish and that can suffer wear, but should only expose the Tennifer beneath. If you see bare metal, I'd be checking to be sure your g26 has a Glock slide.
Some folks offer a "melting" of the Glock slide. This is actually a machining/grinding/filing of the slide to round the edges more. This will remove the Tennifer treatment from the edges since it actually removes metal from the slide. You will loose the rust/corrosion protection of the Tennifer if you have this done.
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When you say polished, do you mean down to bare metal?
The Glock slide it Tennifer treated and is infused into the metal and should be harder than any holster. The slide also has a "coating" over the Tennifer finish and that can suffer wear, but should only expose the Tennifer beneath. If you see bare metal, I'd be checking to be sure your g26 has a Glock slide.
Some folks offer a "melting" of the Glock slide. This is actually a machining/grinding/filing of the slide to round the edges more. This will remove the Tennifer treatment from the edges since it actually removes metal from the slide. You will loose the rust/corrosion protection of the Tennifer if you have this done.
Yep.... To carify my earlier statements, the wear from the leather belt-slide holster I used to use is really only a minor "smoothing" of the side of the slide. It looks more like a smudge than wear.
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When you say polished, do you mean down to bare metal?
The Glock slide it Tennifer treated and is infused into the metal and should be harder than any holster. The slide also has a "coating" over the Tennifer finish and that can suffer wear, but should only expose the Tennifer beneath. If you see bare metal, I'd be checking to be sure your g26 has a Glock slide.
Some folks offer a "melting" of the Glock slide. This is actually a machining/grinding/filing of the slide to round the edges more. This will remove the Tennifer treatment from the edges since it actually removes metal from the slide. You will loose the rust/corrosion protection of the Tennifer if you have this done.
Sorry for the confusion. I bought the 26 brand new; it's real. What I meant by polished is that it just took the black off. It's not damaged at all. Although now that I think of it, there is a difference between texture of the 19 and the 26. They're both gen 3, but I don't no if they changed it a little over time or not. My 19 is a lot smoother to the feel than the 26, but it's not just over areas that are holstered.
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I have seen rubs from both my Fobus and Serpa Holsters on my Glock. Not worried about it at all. The tenifer finish will last. ;D
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I've seen more wear with my leather holsters. I mountain bike with my XD in a sherpia and hasn't affected the pistol.
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The only FOBUS I can attest to owning and using, is for my full size S&W 1911. It "clasps" it at the trigger guard, and is a Yaqui style not completely enveloping the barrel and frame.
It is the SS finish pistol, and after two years, shows no sign of wear to the pistol or holster. (I do not carry this pistol everyday in the swamps of S. Fl.), but have noticed no marks.
I would offer that a daily carry sidearm, in such a holster, with another type of finish, would inevitably show signs of "holster use as some leather, even Nydex holsters can produce. My P3AT in a Nemesis holster, does have slight wear marks on the slide, and is just a pocket holster.
But not SS...I do not own a SERPA, but think the results would be the same over time.
Are you concerned with the blemish? Or the function?
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Are you concerned with the blemish? Or the function?
I'm sure they work well based on how many of them are in use. I just wondered based on the fact they appear to be solid plastic on the inside. I can see where it would not effect a steel framed gun because of the hardness of the metal itself in comparison to the holster material. But with polymer it becomes a different story. I've never seen a gun, or photos of one that has been carried for any length of time in either type. So that is why I was asking.
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I'll try to take one of my XD when I get home from work and my bike ride
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I have a plastic holster for my G23 w/light. I don't have a lot of hip time with this new one but I think you would have to literally roll in sand every day and never clean out the holster for any frame wear to occur.
I worry more about grit get embedded in the leather strip Safariland uses to cover the metal hardware inside the rig.
Even if some scracthing occurs, the gun starts out ugly and just gains character. ;)
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There is that. If you're worried about a Glock becoming ugly, well, you have some strange tastes. ;D
FQ13
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I shot a Serpa for about 6 years...2 years with a Para 45, and the remaining with a G17 or G34... for both 3 gun and USPSA competition typically 3 matches a month, but don't do much practicing or dry firing any more...neither holster contributed any identifiable wear to the pistols... recently converted to a BladeTech DOH WRS as the Serpa did not cover the muzzle/front sight of the longer G34
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If it's a gun that uses one of the painted/enamel type finishes I wouldn't do it. A Serpa totally ate the finish off my S&W 337ti that had the black finish they're doing on the newer revolvers, same stuff they use on the nightguard series. On the otherhand I've had Glock's carried in Serpa's filled with mud, sand and god knows what else that look like any other Glock, no wear, maybe a couple spots that aren't quite as matte as others. Funny story, I was working in a foreign country that was quite cold and had a Glock 19 in a Serpa on my vest. We had a tire blow out on our crappy Soviet built SUV. In breaking the spare loose we spilled a pool of water on a tarp all over us. I guess enough got trapped in the serpa that by the time we got back to our destination the pistol was frozen solid inside the Serpa with the button encased in ice.
Luckily I found this out in the safety of our location and not out on the road. I could've let it thaw naturally but I was curious to see if I could release it quickly in case I would've really needed it. Obviously I didn't want to run a torch over it even though that's what one of the brilliant guys we were there to train suggested. I took off my vest, laid it on a log and picked up a hatchet that was laying there. I used the back end, like a hammer and gave it a couple light whacks right on the area where the button was. A few ice crystals went flying and with a little wiggling (muzzle pointed safely into the wood pile) and it slipped right out. Even though the pistol had some ice left on it the slide racked just fine and once I verified the barrel was clear of any ice I geared back up and went on with my day. We put a memo out to give your holsters a little shake and wipe if you got into any water while out in the cold.
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Any holster will, over time, wear or alter the finish of any pistol. If you have a collectible gun that you don't want scratched, don't carry it. All of my handguns are carry guns. I think a bit of wear to the finish, gives a pistol a certain amount of character.
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I think a bit of wear to the finish, gives a pistol a certain amount of character.
Tell that to your ageing wife about her wrinkles. ;D
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Have any of you seen the wear marks at the muzzle and the forward outer edge of the cylinder of a blued revolver? That's called "holster wear" and come from the inside of an unlined leather holster. Have any of you worn Dyer mocassins with out socks? (Some of the old time smoke pole shooters will know what they are.) That is a really good source of blisters from the rough side of the leather. That stuff is abrasive. Kydex is smooth and much less abrasive. Don't worry about it. Carry a gun enough and it get worn! Live with it or don't carry!
Pecos
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Don't worry about it. Carry a gun enough and it get worn! Live with it or don't carry!
Pecos
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It's called patina. Patina is like a scar. You know what a scar is don't you? A scar is a tattoo with better stories. Enjoy the patina!
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Leather on steel produces "holster wear". Plastic or metal on plastic will produce deep scratches.
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Leather on steel produces "holster wear". Plastic or metal on plastic will produce deep scratches.
Never has on my guns, Bill. I've used Fobus for years and I have no "deep scratches", but then I don't get crawl around in the mud and the blood and the beer.
Pecos
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Last evening I pulled out the "holster box." I have a Fobus paddle holster in there that is used for demonstration purposes only. I like the holster itself, but I hate the paddle - it digs into my rolls.
I found that I can make marks in the holster material with a little effort, but that same process with more effort does not affect my XD or M&P. With that I would say that if you don't allow dirt or other abrasives to build up in the holster it will not harm mar the gun. However, remember that if you let crud build up in leather it will mar any material there as well.