Cops still using gun leather?

[Nightcrawler]

Are there any large police deparments that still purchase new and issue leather duty gear? It seems like all you ever see these days are the kydex, cordura, and other synthetic duty gear from Safariland, Uncle Mike's, etc.

Just curious. Any advantages to sticking with leather?

 

[W.E.G.]

Leather looks better - when the "tactical" look is not the look sought.

Lots of Sheriff's departments in Virginia still using leather.
Don't know whether the employee or the department pays for it though.

 

[Nightcrawler]

You don't see a whole lot of Kydex duty gear, either. Plenty of Kydex shooting gear, but most Kydex stuff is level 1 rentention; nothing holds it in but friction.

If you're on the beat, that makes it easy for people to steal your crap. I see open topped baton holders, but rarely will you see a cop using open-topped mag pouches, cuff cases, etc.

Blackhawk...excuse me, BLACKHAWK! ( ) are the only ones that I know of that make a straight Kydex duty holster, because the SERPA has a secondary retention device, and can be Level II or III retention.

 

[stevelyn]

Our officers provide their own gear. I use a combination of Safariland, Bianchi and Uncle Mike's nylon gear.
The wet marine environment out here would destroy leather. As it is everything either rusts or rots out here.

 

[Phaetos]

Sheriff's here require leather in basketweave. Most of them use safariland products for it. Its all provided if you are a full time deputy, if you are a reserve, you buy your own .. ouch.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

Plenty of departments here issue leather. Many more than do nylon.

 

[2TransAms]

Here in Troy IL they've got leather. Those Glocks are ridin' in style.

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

My department has cross hatched leather for day and night shift. Our night shift wears BDU type uniforms and is in the process of switching to nylon gear for that shift. The leather looks presentable during the day in our Class A uniforms and has less of a tactical look to it. Basically its all about public appearence during the day.

 

[jcoiii]

small campus dept- leather for me

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

My dad was with the Santa Clara (Ca) County Sheriffs Department when they went to Glock 22s from S&W 686s. At the same time they went from leather to nylon. Times change I guess. On the upside, I'm now the proud owner of dads leather duty gear AND his 686.

 

[BADUNAME15]

We use synthetic leather. It isn't as heavy, never turns brown and more importantly, if you get blood or bodily fluid on it, you can sanitize it with chemicals.

I still love the look and feel of real leather though

 

[Bret4207]

NYSP still using leather and synthetics.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

My department has cross hatched leather for day and night shift. Our night shift wears BDU type uniforms and is in the process of switching to nylon gear for that shift. The leather looks presentable during the day in our Class A uniforms and has less of a tactical look to it. Basically its all about public appearence during the day.

I think that's a really good idea.

 

[asleepinTucson]

Still issuing high gloss clarino leather for class A uniform, Class B gets you the cordura stuff. I'm wear both uniforms depending on assignment so I get the best of both worlds. I prefer the cordura. Much more comfortable to wear all day long.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

alot of places that have humid climates are using "non-leather" alternatives - Safariland "Safari Laminate," Bianchis "Accumold," or whatever. i think leather looks nicer and more traditional with the uniform but it is significantly heavier than the nylon counterpart, and it tends to, as any natural skin, retain some moisture that can start to rust your gun if you leave your gun in the holster.

there are synthetic holsters with a "leather look", such as the Safariland SSIII/070 holster, which is made of "Safari Laminate," which isn't leather, but looks like it. you can also get it in a nylon finish. the disadvantage with this holster is you can't get it to work with a weapon-mounted light.

 

[Erik]

Leather's nice, but leather-like synthetics are taking more and more market segment as time goes by. Part of the trend is due to durability issues, part to leather care issues. (Or lack there of.) It seems the scuffed, unprofessional look of gouged and unpolished leather is not so popular with management or the puplic.

 

[Ala Dan]

My old department still uses real leather duty gear; as its the preferred
choice by department heads when an officer is dressed in his/her class A
uniform. While training, or as a member of the "Special Ops"; its OK to be
dressed in the class B uniform with the optional nylon/kydex duty gear.

 

[gunnie]

"Just curious. Any advantages to sticking with leather?"

nightcrawler....

just my observation, from very UN-scientific experimentation. read: ~one single case~ of personal observation. moreover, this is more of an aesthetic consideration.

it seems that the harder synthetic holsters that rely on your above mentioned friction retention system are NOT very finish friendly. a used kimber warrior i had with "kimpro" finish came "customized" with substantial holster burn on the leading corners and slab sides of the 1911 whose previous LEO owner had carried in a kydex system.

still, whether this is better/worse than leather induced rust forces one to consider their prevailing climactic conditions as part of the equation.

gunnie

 

[waterhouse]

The Border Patrol (one of the largest uniformed agencies in the US) issued leather and/or synthetic leather until this year, when they switched to nylon for rough duty uniforms. The leather gear is still worn with dress uniform.

 

[rc109a]

Most of the departments around here still issue leather. If taken care of it will last for generations.

 

[kickert318]

I still carry leather, I just like the look of it. A lot of Illinois departments like it because it looks more "traditional" and/or "professional". Personally I do like the look of the leather but would like to try wearing a Nylon duty rig. They are soooooooo much lighter and easier to take care of.