With all of the modern holsters on the market, made from Kydex and nylon, is there still a market for leather?
Absolutely, and leather holsters are still, in many ways, the superior option. This short post will break down all of the main points.
Why Leather Holsters Are Better
Leather holsters offer a variety of advantages over their modern counterparts, including the following:
- Comfort: Leather is naturally softer and more comfortable than hard synthetic alternatives, and it only gets more comfortable with time.
- Support: There are many different types of leather holsters out there that support many different methods of carry, from IWB and OWB to shoulder carry.
- A custom-like fit: One of the biggest selling points of leather is that it conforms to the contours of the gun over time, offering an unmatchable custom-like fit.
- Secondary-retention features: While Kydex and nylon may offer better primary retention, many leather holsters are made with straps and snaps that secure the gun, preventing it from being unholstered except by a deliberate action.
- Better protection: Leather is a naturally soft, supple material that will cushion the gun, providing better protection than modern synthetics.
- More class: For better or worse, leather has “cool factor” cornered. It just looks way better than nylon, Kydex and other alternatives.
A Note on Break-in
One thing you will need to be aware of with leather holsters is that, unlike Kydex and nylon holsters, leather will need to be broken in.
The best way to break in leather is simply to use it, but there are things you can do to speed the process up.
One is to put the gun in a plastic bag, then place it in the holster, and leave it for a day or two. Check the gun every day because the bag can trap moisture.
There are special conditioning oils you can use to soften the leather to speed up break-in, but this is controversial because you want the leather to be relatively stiff in order to facilitate easy re-holstering.
Otherwise, the best advice is simply to carry the gun. After a few weeks, the holster will be completely broken in, and the holster will only get more comfortable with time.
Special Leather Holster Notes
While there are many selling points of full-grain leather holsters, there are a few conditions you should be aware of anyway.
- Don’t leave your gun in the holster for a prolonged period of time when you’re not wearing it. Leather can trap moisture which can accelerate rust.
- Leather will need to be conditioned periodically (say, once per month) in order to keep it supple. If you never condition leather, it will dry out and crack, resulting in irreversible damage.
- You must take care when re-holstering a gun, so as not to “muzzle” yourself when doing so.
- Leather has a propensity to trap water (and oil) so make sure to periodically check your gun for signs of flash rust.
Where to Get a New Leather Holster
Here for a new leather holster? Get it online at SARCO. They carry 1911 leather holsters as well as leather revolver holsters, with tons of variety in the mix. Check out their inventory and get in touch with them at 610-250-3960 if you have any questions.
