Leather Gun Holsters

Leather is the most widely used and most common material for gun holsters.  It's been used as a material for gun holsters since the early 1800's.  Leather gun holsters have come a long way since then.  Advances in technology and leather craftsmanship have led to leather holsters that are:

• Detailed and exquisite
• Produced much faster both commercially and on a custom basis
• Available in unique colors and designs

As a material, leather has some great properties such as:

• It is malleable and will hold a form once it dry
• Will take and retain a dye for color
• Is available in various thicknesses for different holster applications
• Is very durable and has a long life

Most leather holsters today are made from one of the following types of leather:

Cowhide - Cowhide is the most common leather used in holsters today.  Although the price tends to fluctuate with availability, it's still fairly economical.  It comes in various widths and grades to meet the needs of different holster makers.  The thickness of a hide is measured in ounces per square foot.  So a square foot of hide that weighs between 7-8 ounces is considered 7-8 weight (or ounce) leather. Holster makers typically use anything from a 4-5 ounce weight leather all the way up to 10 ounce weight leather. For a craftsman, cowhide is fairly easy to work with, and performs well in the field.

Horsehide - Not nearly as common as cowhide, horsehide tends to be much denser than cowhide.  As a result, it seems to be much more difficult to mold for holsters.  Horsehide also doesn't tend to take a dye very well, which is why you'll typically see horsehide holsters only offered in black or a natural color. Horsehide also tends to be more expensive than cowhide. Only a select few holster manufacturers still offer horsehide holsters.  Although the holsters tend to be fairly expensive, they are beautiful and extremely durable.  I have some Kramer horsehide holsters that I've worn for years, and they still look nearly brand new on the outside.

Some commonly asked questions about leather holsters:

Will an unlined leather holster wear on the finish of my weapon?
The truth is, wear on a weapon comes from the repeated friction encountered when holstering and unholstering a weapon. I can take my bare finger and rub a weapon in one spot for an extended period of time, and probably wear on the finish in that spot.  A lined holster is probably a little more gentle on the finish, but, over time, the repeated holster/unholster is what really causes the wear.