Every gun carried daily in any holster develops holster wear: a polished line along the slide edges and the muzzle where finish has rubbed away. Kydex gets blamed for it because it is hard, and the truth is more specific. Clean kydex is softer than any gun finish and does not scratch it. Grit trapped between kydex and steel scratches everything. This guide covers what causes holster wear, what kydex does and does not do, and how to keep both the gun and the holster clean.
What kydex is, hardness-wise
Kydex is a plastic. On any hardness scale it is far softer than steel, aluminum, Cerakote, nitride or bluing. Rubbing a plastic against a harder surface polishes the plastic, not the metal. A kydex holster used clean will show shine on the inside long before the gun shows anything.
What actually causes holster wear
- Grit. Sand, dust and lint get into the holster and get pressed between the shell and the slide by every draw and reholster. That is sandpaper.
- Retention set too tight. A holster cranked down grinds the contact points harder than it needs to.
- Rough interior. A badly molded holster with a ridge or a sharp mold line rubs one spot.
- Thousands of draws. Even clean, a gun drawn and reholstered every day for years polishes its high points. This is cosmetic.
How to minimize it
- Rinse the holster in warm water every couple of weeks and let it dry. That removes the grit.
- Set retention to the minimum that holds the gun upside down.
- Wipe the slide before reholstering after a range day.
- Accept that a carry gun is a tool and holster wear is proof it is carried.
Kydex vs leather on this
Leather is softer but holds grit in its grain and holds moisture, which is worse for a finish than a polished line. A leather holster does not scratch; it corrodes.
Our holsters
Every Clip & Carry sheath and holster is molded from .08-inch kydex, handmade in the U.S.A. by military veterans, with adjustable retention and a lifetime guarantee. Molded with no excess material and smooth interiors, so the contact is even and the retention is adjustable. Holster collection.
Frequently asked questions
Does kydex scratch guns?
Clean kydex does not. Grit trapped in the holster does.
Will a kydex holster wear the finish off my slide?
Over years of daily draws, the high points polish. That is holster wear and it happens with every holster material.
Does kydex scratch Cerakote?
No. Cerakote is much harder than kydex.
How do I clean a kydex holster?
Warm water, mild soap if needed, air dry. No solvents.
Is leather gentler?
Softer, but it holds grit and moisture, which is worse for a finish.
The bottom line
Kydex does not scratch a gun; dirt does. Rinse the holster, set retention right, and carry the gun.
Related reading
What is kydex?
Kydex vs leather holsters
What is a kydex holster?
