Rough side out leather vs smooth side out for holster?

[Matt Del Fatti]

As Red pointed out, rough-out construction has been used for generations for hard use gear in rough country. Rough-out boots & chaps can still be scratched by thorns and brush but they hold up better at least in appearance to smooth leather subjected to the same abuse. My Dad's rough-out chaps have seen some rough use on the ranches and farms I was raised on. They are about 65 years old and still look pretty darn good considering what they've been through. About 30 or so years ago, I built a complete rough-out rig for a Game Warden that was tired of trying to polish over the brush scratches in his issue gunleather.

Of course you do get the benefit of the smooth side toward the handgun. Not a big issue for me but it is to some. Besides the scratch issue, I like the "traditional" look of natural rough-out with white stitching.http://www.delfatti.com/photos/photos/115.JPG
http://www.delfatti.com/photos/photos/253.jpg

I like the texture variation in a rough-out holster with with smooth accents. http://www.delfatti.com/photos/photos/257.jpg

And although I'm not much of an exotic leather guy myself, I also like the look of rough-out/exotic combinations. http://www.delfatti.com/photos/photos/242.jpg

So although I'm not on horseback working cows (except their hides :)) these days, I still like the look and it is useful for some applications.

[NY27]

I think they both look good. But in a concealment holster that is a moot point. I like rough side out on my MS SS II's because the belt attachment is two loops that are close together. So the rough side out does aid in keeping the holster from shifting too much. I like the smooth side out on my MS VM II's because the belt attachments are two loops that a spaced further apart which keeps it MUCH more stable than any single attachment holster.

[QKShooter]

Beautiful Matt.

[Matt Del Fatti]

Beautiful Matt.

Thank you sir! BTW in my rambling post, I forgot to welcome Red to the forum. Pretty darn neat to have such a legend in holster design as a member!

[WoodLark]

Matt,

I agree with you about roughout chaps. I used to wear a pair of heavy roughout chaps around the farm. They were great when trimming horse's hooves; they kept they hoof from slidng while I worked on it. They also provided pretty good protection when the horse decided it didn't like what I was doing!