Holster Wear

by
posted on September 17, 2013
wiley-clapp.jpg (1)

What exactly is holster wear? Commonly, it means a burnishing of the steel surface that comes from taking the gun in and out of the holster, and it is a term most associated with blued-steel guns.

Contact between the blued surface of the gun and the leather of the holster tends to somewhat strop the prominent edges and corners of the gun. I have several older guns that have radically rounded edges and corners that are the hallmark of long and hard use, as well as being carried in a holster. With blued guns, the oxidation of bluing can also be physically worn off. The passivation process of finishing stainless-steel arms is much more durable.

Sometimes, visible wear on the edges and corners of a handgun comes from contact with a mildly abrasive surface other than a leather holster. Kydex holsters will polish the highlights off your new Glock in short order. And other times, fabric works its remarkable magic. I remember when a jail sergeant had the trusties cut square patches of old carpet to line the bottom of the individual gun lockers at the booking area of the jail. If you did a lot of booking, your handgun went in and out of the little steel boxes many times every day. The finish took a beating.

Also, when a revolver has true holster wear on the barrel and cylinder, it almost always has similar wear on the exposed bottom of the trigger guard. In this regard, I recall a small batch of police trade-in Colt Officers Model revolvers I once examined. They were all well-cared for, but had extreme pitting and abrasion on the bottom of the trigger guard. It turned out they were used by motorcycle officers and their underneath sides were exposed to road salt.

After a lengthy discussion with an experienced collector and gun buyer, we concluded that sometimes bluing wear on a handgun, often dismissed as “holster” wear, is actually wear associated with storage in a drawer or bin where the gun drags across fabric of some kind.

Latest

.257 Ackley Improved Load
.257 Ackley Improved Load

Handloads: A .257 Ackley Improved Load Worth The Effort

In his Handbook For Shooters And Reloaders (Volume 1), P.O. Ackley wrote of the .257 Ackley Improved that, “It is a relatively efficient cartridge, flexible and comes close to the mythical ‘all around cartridge.’”

Rifleman Report: Your Voice Matters

Slogans along the lines of “Your voice matters” are not uncommon during election cycles—including the one that just recently occurred, which may have been one of the most consequential yet for gun owners.

Holiday Deals For Gun Owners

Look no further if you’re interested in saving cash and still finding the right gift for a gun owner on your holiday shopping list. We’ve spared no effort in identifying a lengthy list of special deals, rebates and other promotions. 

I Have This Old Gun: Montenegrin Gasser Revolver

The Montenegrin Gasser shown here is a classic 1870/74 style and is the real article, actually produced by Gasser in Vienna. It has typical Montenegrin aftermarket silver stocks embellished with turquoise, coral and pearls.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 25, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Exploded View: Remington Model 700

Since 1962, more Remington Model 700s have been sold than any other bolt-action rifle before or since, and this detailed disassembly guide, exploded view and brief history of the platform, is one worth filing near the toolbox.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.