Will a Kydex holster mark my pistol?

In time, most likely, and that is true of any moulded holster rather than ours in particular. We would rather say so plainly than have it come as a surprise.

Why it happens

Our shells are moulded to accurate tolerances, close enough to hold the pistol securely with no rattle or wobble, but not so tight that they grip harder than they need to. Even so, the shell makes contact with the slide, frame and muzzle every time you draw and reholster. With regular carry those contact points tend to burnish first, and can eventually show through the finish.

That is normal for a working holster and is not a defect.

Weapon lights

Lights often show wear a little sooner than the firearm. Weapon light bodies are usually anodised aluminium, which marks more readily than a slide finish. On lights with very few retention points the shell holds a smaller area, so any wear tends to concentrate in one or two spots rather than spreading out.

What makes it worse

Dust and grit, more than anything else. Any holster worn on the body picks up dust, sand and lint, and trapped particles are far harder on a finish than clean Kydex is. Rinse the shell with clean water and let it dry fully whenever it gets dirty. Do not oil the holster and do not use solvents on it.

Returns and warranty

Finish wear from normal carry is not a defect, so it is not covered by returns, refunds or warranty. If you have a firearm, light or optic that you want to keep completely unmarked, a moulded Kydex holster is probably not the right choice for that setup, and we are happy to talk it through before you order.

After a few months of carry, send us photos of yours through our Wear Reports page. The full wear questions are in our FAQ.