Alterations to kydex holsters.

[pioneer461]

Does anyone have experience with altering or modifying kydex holsters? I have a couple of Fobus brand for different pistols and recently bought a Black Hawk Serpa holster for my Springfield XD, sub-comp. I like the Serpa security but with that and the others, the muzzle end is squared off, with a relatively large empty space with short barreled pistols. Kinda defeats the purpose of a short barreled pistol.

That squared off area makes concealment difficult and I am tempted to try and remove some of the material at an angle, perhaps with a belt sander. Has anyone tried that, and if so, how did it turn out? What should I watch out for?

I have and really like Blade Tech holsters with rounded edges on the muzzle end, but I can envision ruining my Serpa by applying heat and trying to mold it to fit the gun.

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[Mark W.]

to hot it will ball up and burn to warm it will bend if you can make your major cut with a hacksaw then slowly true it with the grinder.

Kydex is a thermo moldable plastic.

 

[mjbskwim]

I bought a stock for a Thompson Contender.It wasn't exactly for my barrel,so I had to fill a hole and redrill it to except my barrel's lug.I had shaved something down and had the shavings left.I melted them down to fill the old hole.Then I took a composite sight from my bow,that was deformed,and melted it in there too.
I used a soldering gun with a blade on it.Worked like a charm.It isn't that hard to work with this material.It may cost you 1 holster,but you will learn from it.

Good luck

 

[Allfat]

I hear tin snips work well on kydex as well, basically really heavy scissors.

 

[pioneer461]

This is what I have in mind..........
I fired up my photo editing program to illustrate what I have in mind.

 

[NCW Ray]

I think it'd look better if you just cut it off square instead of at an angle. I can't really see a need/purpose for leaving that back part longer??

 

[mjbskwim]

That or what NCW said would work fine,the retention is above that anyway.
There is that little clip inside,too,but I use one without that.It holds the gun perfect.
But what I would do first is cut up the back of it,where the thin part angles to the bottom?
Then you can blend it back into the main holster body.
Like I said,you can repair this stuff easy.Keep the part you cut off for filler when blending it back together and fixing the bottom.
Use a very fine saw to cut it.

Then come back here and post pics

 

[Captin Reload]

Just get a Blade tech.

 

[TILLER182]

I work with kydex making knife sheaths. I'd cut that with a hacksaw or bandsaw at low speed if you have one. This will chew up the edge of the kydex; just hit it with some sand paper to smooth it out, 120+ grit. If you get it hot it will gum up. Without knowing the internal structure of the holster i'd say you shouldn't have any problems modifying that holster.

 

[pioneer461]

Thanks for all of the helpfull advice. My project has been delayed by my wife needing surgery, but as soon as I get the time I'll give it a go. By-the-way, I do have a BladeTech, but I also have a Serpa.