Holster Treatment Products
 

Hi all, thought i'd post this here as there's such a vast array of knowledge floating about, hopefully someone can help. Big fan of the US gear myself, never treated any however. Never really had to i suppose. I've just acquired one of the rarer makes, and it's in great condition, but is starting to surface crack down the usual right side and top of flap. Very stiffish and i would say 'flakey' there. What can i use on it to stop or at least prolong it? I'm positive, it is getting bigger and bigger by the day, maybe i am just noticing it more :p Anyhoo, whats a good product that won't soak the crap out of it, but will work well? Any insight appreciated

Went, Connolly's hide care is my choice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Conno...spagenameZWDVW

Jerry Burney

Thanks Jerry exactly what i was after! Should i coat the whole holster in it, or just the affected areas?

Went, I usually lightly coat everything, a little more on the affected areas. Wait for an hour or so then wipe down with a terry cloth towell. Let me know how you like it.
Jerry Burney

The link that Jerry posted has a good write-up on Connolly's. It has a notice in it that I did not know about...do not store it in the garage where it will get too hot! I left my container in my garage and it separated into a clear yellow liquid and a white paste. Fortunately I have another jar to use and I am going to try to recombine the separated one with a whisk chucked up in my electric drill. Hopefully it will whip back together or I may end up with it spattered all over the garage.:)

Ron,

Keep the canister up-side down, and shake the crap out of it before you use it. Mine separated keeping it in the house.

Ron

Gentlemen, I actually use this seperation to my advantage. BUT there is a warning here. The clear liquid that seperates is, I believe, mineral spirits used to thin the cream and is perhaps an evaporative agent.. DO NOT dip a brush into the mineral spirits and apply it to light colored leather! It will stain it. Always make sure the substance is mixed.
Now, I pour off the mineral spirits when it seperates. I find I do not need a thin cream and am just as well off without this thinner.
If I do mix it I find that some vigerous shaking of the plastic jar will turn it into a cream again.
Jerry Burney

Ron, garages get hot in this part of the country? ;)

Thanks for the info everyone, got a jar on order. Heard along the grapevine, that Peccards is also not too shabby, anyone tried it?

I would not do anything to it.The consevation of leather is best left to a museum conservator.The best leather care product of today are tomorrows should have never been used.It can stain,darken,increase damage.Check out some of the dagger web sites,they deal with leather.

Museum conservators use Connolly's and Peccards, and of the two Connolly's is vastly superior. Peccards is a waterproofing compound containing hydrocarbons (good for field boots but not all that good for preservation). A lot of the older holsters you see with a white coating is the result of a too heavy application of Peccards that eventually oxidizes and looks really lousy.

Ron, appreciate the insight Sir, from what i have researched over the past couple of days, Connolly's sure seems to be THE stuff to use.
Tim, i just cannot bring myself to leave it, even for now, and preservation and care is all part of the fun/hobby of collecting, in which i believe one should undertake themselves. To be honest, normally, i would. I am only just getting into Luger gear, and out of all the US Militaria and German HJ Knives i've acquired over time, i have treated, not one of them! I have just.....never had to i suppose. But this is just crying out for it, and in my eyes, can only get worse, without treatment pronto. By the way, i changed the thread title, as to not appear so 'unluger', on a luger forum

Well it was a shambles with two mixups, but 14 days after ordering, i have finally received my connolys! About to use just now, however a few more questions. Do any of you help the drying time with say, a bit of outdoor time? I'm not talking direct sunlight, but just out in the air, with the help of a mild zephyr? Also terry cloths' the only thing to consider applying with? Do i try to keep away from the directly stitched areas, or do i just go all over? Insight appreciated :) By the way, it absolutely reeeeks of the mineral spirits spoken here......very VERY much.

Anyone?

Went,

I apply it with my hands, use body temp to increase the absorption rate, do not consciously avoid stitches and let it sit until a nice uniform matte appearance shows. Then I buff with an old t-shirt.

Like a Huey helicopter, works real good, don't cost too much and lasts a long time.

Tom A.

As I have said, I pour off the mineral spirits if it accumulates. Shake the jar vigerously untill it is a smooth creamy consistancy.

I use a toothbrush for application. Works really well. Just get a bit on and work the brush over the area you want to treat.

As Tom says heat will allow the cream to absorb more quickly. I just let the piece sit in a warm room for an hour or so or untill you can see most of the whitish cream is gone.

I then use a terry cloth towell to wipe off the excess lanolin left on the surface and polish the leather. Terrycloth picks up the residue better than plain cloth.

One problem with Peccard's that I have observed on many holsters that come thru my shop is that it pools under straps, buckles & other parts that are layered. It 's sticky gooey petroleum jelly and I hate the stuff. I am sure it has it's applications but Connolly's is a much better product.

Jerry Burney

Cheers blokes, i havnt had a chance to try it out yet, been very busy, but will get stuck into it over the weekend. Do you find that it leaves your gear smelling really turpentine-ish, taking away the rich leather smell? The spirits smell it has is quite overwhelming.

Went, You kept mentioning the spirits smell so I opened a new jar and stuck my nose in. I can see..smell what you mean! No..Don't worry about it. After application that will evaporate and disapear completely. Only the pleasant leather smell of lanolin will remain.

Remember, if there is any seperation and some spirits are liquid..do not stick your brush in this stuff and put it on your holster! It will cause a stain.

Warm, then shake the jar. make the contents creamy & mixed well. Then it's really easy to use.

Good Luck!

Jerry Burney

No worries Jerry, it's pretty well mixed at the moment, i just didnt expect such a potent smell to it when i opened it the first time, hehe. Going to give it a whirl tomorrow, wish me luck :)

Connolly's Leather Care Cleaner or Conditioner?

Connolys hide care, used to be called hide 'food".


I bought 6 bottles of it and broke one down from the 11 oz jar down to 1/2 oz jars so folks could get a feel for it, sold them at the last gun show for $3 a piece, sold half of them. I figure 1/2 oz will do about 3 holsters; you put it on, then thin it out by spreading it all over.

It will slightly darken the leather, but if you have any bangs or scratches, it makes them look a hunderd percent better, plus if the tie down strap is worn, will look much better.

Ed

FWIW - I apply Connollys with my fingers, sparingly, and if any gets in threads or recessed areas I immediately toothbrush over it. Works fine. On stiff leather I am not sure if this treatment will soften the leather much. I use a product from LeatherPlus called Soffener on stiff leather. Note that most all of the leather I come across is sufficently soft for Connollys treatment only. Paul

When I was younger and my skin more oily, I would run my hand over my face or through my hair and then wipe the leather with my natural oils. I don't know if it did much good, but it did give me something to do. I figured natural skin oils would work the best.

So tell your young wife, those who have a young wife, to not wash their hair for a week or two and then run you fingers through her hair and tell her you love her. Then wipe down you leather.

I like the way you think.