[Random]

I got an Ace Case IWB holster a few weeks back, as a temporary measure. (one of these) While the holster works just fine (for the money), I did have one problem with it:

Rust.

Ok, so maybe I should have been inspecting my gun more often. But after carrying for only about 2 weeks, the slide of my PF9 was covered with rust (or some other corrosion).

So, if you have one of these, here's a heads-up!

 

[Ram Rod]

Genuine leather holster? Looks like pleather to me. Most plastics are about the only thing that mitigate moisture since they don't absorb well. Other materials including leather will harbor moisture. I would use Gunzilla or Shooter's Choice Rust Prevent and let it cure on your pistol then wipe it down. This may help a bit, but daily inspection would still be recommended.

 

[TX-JB]

How long does your PF-9 spend in the holster each day? Daily inspections and allowing some time out of the holster each day will help...Flitz polish will help remove the rust and add a preventative coating on the slide...

 

[TerriLi]

Actually I've been very happy with mine. For the money its fantastic. Although it does harbor moisture if you sweat a lot, but for general carry it works fine. Still with my Sig P220 with a non Stainless steel slide no rust issues.

 

[cvhoss]

Probably a cheap tanning process (acid tanned, chrome tanned) that shouldn't be used for holsters/sheaths. I've seen a lot of cheap holsters from south of the border that are made this way.

Hoss

 

[PastorPack]

Yeah, I have an AceCase IWB for a snubbie and it's a terrible holster.

However, their Pocket holster is awesome.

 

[Random]

How long does your PF-9 spend in the holster each day?

It WAS all day.

Daily inspections and allowing some time out of the holster each day will help

So I learned

I figured I would share my experience for those who don't know better (like me...)

Flitz polish will help remove the rust and add a preventative coating on the slide...

Thanks for the tip.

 

[WHEC724]

I have the same holster and determined that it was unusable. It's good for one draw, where it is quickly collapsed by the gun belt. The only way I could re-holster was to completely unclip the holster, put the snubbie back in, and re-tuck it.

 

[harley2007]

Flitz polish will help remove the rust and add a preventative coating on the slide...

X2!

 

[Rhome]

Yes, cvhoss is correct, it is made with chromed tanned leather. The process uses soluble chromium salts, primarily chromium sulfate to tan the leather. What this means is that it will attract moisture and grit. Resulting in scratching and rusting your firearm in short order. Never leave your gun in the holster for extended periods of time.

Best,
Rhome
DGL

 

[dukalmighty]

I take my colt commander out every night and wipe it down before sitting it on the night table,I use a leather holster,I had a rust problem with a RIA 1911 a couple years ago,body sweat was causing some rust on the rear frame,I made sure my next holster had a body shield

 

[Majorlk]

Yes, cvhoss is correct, it is made with chromed tanned leather. The process uses soluble chromium salts, primarily chromium sulfate to tan the leather. What this means is that it will attract moisture and grit. Resulting in scratching and rusting your firearm in short order. Never leave your gun in the holster for extended periods of time.

Best,
Rhome
DGL

The only time my guns are holstered is when I'm carrying. If they are in the safe, they are laying on the shelf and if they are out of the safe they are either in a hard case or a pistol rug. No cases, hard of soft, are used for storage - only travel.

 

[cmb]

Is this the holster or not taking care of the firearm. I have the same gun and a holf dozen of these holsters for a variety of firearms. I take out each night and wipe down and separate gun from holster. I have had no issues. I do have one made specifically for the PF9 which does not have a liner, but I have bothe ambidextrous ones (which by the way allow for a little cant which is nice, I use this for a p32, pf9, 380, and 1911) and one for a 357 magnum which has the liner also. I will agree that reholstering a wheel gun is difficult without lossening you belt, but with an auto I have no probs.

I love these holsters and for the money they are great... I wouldn't leave my guns in any holster long enough to rust...

 

[Majorlk]

Is this the holster or not taking care of the firearm. I have the same gun and a holf dozen of these holsters for a variety of firearms. I take out each night and wipe down and separate gun from holster. I have had no issues. I do have one made specifically for the PF9 which does not have a liner, but I have bothe ambidextrous ones (which by the way allow for a little cant which is nice, I use this for a p32, pf9, 380, and 1911) and one for a 357 magnum which has the liner also. I will agree that reholstering a wheel gun is difficult without lossening you belt, but with an auto I have no probs.

I love these holsters and for the money they are great... I wouldn't leave my guns in any holster long enough to rust...

It's probably a little bit of both. I've still got a couple of holsters from the early 70s that were chromic acid tanned and I didn't have any particular problems with rust, but I didn't leave guns in them overnight. When I took them off, the guns came out and were wiped down with a silicone rag.

If the holsters get damp and a gun is left in them, rust is a possibility, but less likely on a gun that is removed daily and wiped down. If the gun rusted in just one day, there had to be some significant moisture somewhere in the situation.

 

[resqr9142]

I take my colt commander out every night and wipe it down before sitting it on the night table,I use a leather holster,I had a rust problem with a RIA 1911 a couple years ago,body sweat was causing some rust on the rear frame,I made sure my next holster had a body shield

+1 on the body shield. A must for me to prevent rust. My first EDC was a Millenium Pro that I wore in a kydex paddle holster all summer while working in a lumber yard, t-shirt untucked for cover. I wiped or disassembeld and gun-oiled every day or two and still ended up with corrosion at the take-down pin, mag release and in the slide serrations.

Now the M-Pro is gone, traded on an XD9sc. The only way I carry now is with body shield. Either leather or I manufactured one on my paddle from a scrap of thin rubber. Best thing I ever did. (well, almost)

 

[Random]

Is this the holster or not taking care of the firearm.
...
I love these holsters and for the money they are great... I wouldn't leave my guns in any holster long enough to rust...

A little bit of both. I left the gun in the holster without checking it for a little shy of two weeks (12 days, to be specific). I realize now that I SHOULD have checked it more often. However, I don't expect a gun in a holster to RUST after less than two weeks.

The rust is only on the side that was against my body. It's quite clear to me that the holster permits enough moisture through for this to happen. I should have taken care of the gun better, but the holster shouldn't have let the moisture through as easily, too.

I'm not blaming the holster for my failure - only trying to warn others to not make the same mistake.