Would Chammois make good holster liner ???

Magnum Wheel Man · August 30, 2010, 03:29 PM

like the title says... would common chammois leather make good holster lining leather ???

aarondhgraham · August 30, 2010, 04:01 PM

For one it absorbs and holds moisture.

But the other reason is because it is a soft fuzzy leather,,,
Fuzzy leather may seem smooth to the touch,,,
But it traps and holds dirt and grit,,,
Acting like sandpaper.

The best lining leathers are top grain leather,,,
2-3 ounce tooling calf is very nice,,,
2 Ounce Pigskin is real good,,,
You want smooth skin.

But top grain is the essential part.

Suede was (is) popular but acts the same way,,,
The fuzzy surface holds dirt and grit.

Suede is also tanned using chromium salts,,,
it can (not always but often) have a high residual amount of those salts.

Those salts are very bad for a blued finish,,,
This has been mentioned in every holster making book I have ever read.

Magnum Wheel Man · August 30, 2010, 04:05 PM

Thanks... I had already heard ( understood ) about the chrome tanned leather, but was questioning the "soft" leathers... which I guess I could see for a working / everyday type holster, but for a BBQ "type" holster, I'd think the softer leathers could be ok ( if one weren't planning on getting exposed to abrasive dust & dirt ??? ) butt... FYI... I'm making a nicer "everyday" rig for my 44 special, so I guess I'll hunt out a thin calf leather...

chris in va · August 30, 2010, 09:30 PM

Real chamois isn't cow leather, it comes from sheep. I use it in my work, it's not the most durable stuff.

10-96 · August 30, 2010, 11:27 PM

+1 what Chris said. Just isn't very durable. Now, if you ever happen across horse hide- years ago, that was supposed to be top notch stuff! So, I'm guessing zeebra, kangaroo, elk would be good/great choices as well.

JiminTexas · September 2, 2010, 03:45 PM

Pigskin makes good lining. It's soft and durable.

Magnum Wheel Man · September 2, 2010, 03:49 PM

I was looking at lining leather on Tandy's website, & will either pick up a calf skin they have on sale right now, or a light weight pig skin... thanks for all the replys

aarondhgraham · September 2, 2010, 03:55 PM

Several commercial holsters are made from horsehide,,,
They usually charge a premium price for it too.

I've never used it myself,,,
I have been told it wet molds better than cow.

I dunno,,,
Could be true.

I usually line with pig,,,
Not that it's any better than thin cow or calf,,,
I just like the way that the porous grain takes dye or stain.

For a fancy "wear once a year" rig,,,
I might consider suede just for the look of it.

But for a wear often and it might even get wet holster,,,
Top grain pig or cow will always be my choice.

.

WARRIOR I · September 2, 2010, 05:17 PM

Well Magnum Wheel Man, what I can tell you is that I had a nickle plated
Hi-Standard Double Nine passed down to me some years ago. Unfortunately,
it had been stored wrapped in a chamois in a relative's mountain house for
quite a number of years. What it did to the nickle plating was enough to
make a grown man cry. (I keep it wiped down with Tri-Flow, but nothing will
undo the damage thats been done.)
The members who said chamois attracts and holds moisture probably have it
right. In any event, its a bad idea.

August 30, 2010, 03:29 PM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Would Chammois make good holster liner ??? like the title says... would common chammois leather make good holster lining leather ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

August 30, 2010, 04:01 PM	#2
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Actually it doesn't,,, For one it absorbs and holds moisture. But the other reason is because it is a soft fuzzy leather,,, Fuzzy leather may seem smooth to the touch,,, But it traps and holds dirt and grit,,, Acting like sandpaper. The best lining leathers are top grain leather,,, 2-3 ounce tooling calf is very nice,,, 2 Ounce Pigskin is real good,,, You want smooth skin. But top grain is the essential part. Suede was (is) popular but acts the same way,,, The fuzzy surface holds dirt and grit. Suede is also tanned using chromium salts,,, it can (not always but often) have a high residual amount of those salts. Those salts are very bad for a blued finish,,, This has been mentioned in every holster making book I have ever read. __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

August 30, 2010, 04:05 PM	#3
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Thanks... I had already heard ( understood ) about the chrome tanned leather, but was questioning the "soft" leathers... which I guess I could see for a working / everyday type holster, but for a BBQ "type" holster, I'd think the softer leathers could be ok ( if one weren't planning on getting exposed to abrasive dust & dirt ??? ) butt... FYI... I'm making a nicer "everyday" rig for my 44 special, so I guess I'll hunt out a thin calf leather... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; August 30, 2010 at 04:28 PM.

August 30, 2010, 11:27 PM	#5
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	+1 what Chris said. Just isn't very durable. Now, if you ever happen across horse hide- years ago, that was supposed to be top notch stuff! So, I'm guessing zeebra, kangaroo, elk would be good/great choices as well. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

September 2, 2010, 03:49 PM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I was looking at lining leather on Tandy's website, & will either pick up a calf skin they have on sale right now, or a light weight pig skin... thanks for all the replys __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

August 30, 2010, 09:30 PM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Real chamois isn't cow leather, it comes from sheep. I use it in my work, it's not the most durable stuff.

September 2, 2010, 03:45 PM	#6
JiminTexas Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Posts: 149	Pigskin makes good lining. It's soft and durable.

September 2, 2010, 03:55 PM	#8
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello 10-96,,, Several commercial holsters are made from horsehide,,, They usually charge a premium price for it too. I've never used it myself,,, I have been told it wet molds better than cow. I dunno,,, Could be true. I usually line with pig,,, Not that it's any better than thin cow or calf,,, I just like the way that the porous grain takes dye or stain. For a fancy "wear once a year" rig,,, I might consider suede just for the look of it. But for a wear often and it might even get wet holster,,, Top grain pig or cow will always be my choice. . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

September 2, 2010, 05:17 PM	#9
WARRIOR I Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2009 Location: SC Posts: 169	Well Magnum Wheel Man, what I can tell you is that I had a nickle plated Hi-Standard Double Nine passed down to me some years ago. Unfortunately, it had been stored wrapped in a chamois in a relative's mountain house for quite a number of years. What it did to the nickle plating was enough to make a grown man cry. (I keep it wiped down with Tri-Flow, but nothing will undo the damage thats been done.) The members who said chamois attracts and holds moisture probably have it right. In any event, its a bad idea.