How to Clean your Holster?
 

Being new to the world of Lugers, could someone tell me how you would clean the stitching and the leather of a P08 holster. Or is it best to just leave it alone and just keep the leather conditioned?

Thanks
USMC

Hey USMC,

Go to the General Information tab on the left margin of your screen and click your cursor there. It will take you to a very good writeup on holster maintenance.

Tom A.

Joshua,

If you go back and read some of the earlier discussion posting in the "Holster" section for the dates of 9-2-2003 an 8-24-2003; there were a couple of long discussions about holster care and products to use (and not to use...)

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Thanks,
This helps out a great deal!!

I used Pecard on a couple of holsters about a year or so ago. Then i was told about the hide food product which works well.

The question is how can you get the Pecad off of the holsters?

cpwlew,
Regrettably, you can get Pecards off about as easily as unringing a bell. The stuff is terrible.

Tom A.

If you can see the Pecard"s after putting it on and buffing it off, you are using way too much!
Lonnie

Joshua,

I also forgot to mention that I used a very, very soft toothbrush ( use a brush sold for babies. toddlers) to gently clean and lift any debris from the stitching threads...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

If you are using ANY Peccards, you are using way too much.

Tom A.

<img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" /> Tom, why don't you tell us how your REALLY feel about peccard's?? <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" />

...then again, maybe your better not <img border="0" alt="[icon501]" title="" src="graemlins/icon501.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[icon107]" title="" src="graemlins/icon107.gif" />

Have a good weekend guys... I'm outta here!

John & All,

I have seen soooo many otherwise wonderful and rare holsters turned to grease soaked moosh from Peccards that I could throw up. The stuff is poison for old leather. Only thing worse is neats foot oil.

Tom A.

Tom, what do you put on your holsters, the holster information section seems to strongly favor Peccards. The holsters I have from you are in wonderful shape and they are about ready for a little TLC.

Vas iss Loss Mine Kamerad

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Lonnie Zimmerman:
<strong>If you can see the Pecard"s after putting it on and buffing it off, you are using way too much!
Lonnie</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Then, how is the excess removed?

Cpwlew, The excess is removed with a putty knife. Pecard's is primarily a petroleum wax from what I have seen and to soak it all in, it would be necessary to heat the holster to damaging temperatures.

I must agree with my former Brother in arms, Tom Armstrong. Pecard's is just so much petroleum goo. It does not soak in but leaves a waxy sticky surface that collects dust, dirt and flying insects like the La Bria Tar pits.

As Lonnie says, use it sparingly... I have seen holsters sent to me for repair where the owner has used Pecard's very lightly and it did not seem too objectionable. I still do not like the stuff for preserving old leather.

Pete is right about the toothbrush on the stitching. Use a soft one and be careful not to brush too hard. Linen thread used to build these is a plant fiber and can become soft and fragile, suceptable to damage by abraision.Try to brush with the lines of thread, not accross them. Also any substance you put on the holster can soak into this dry thread and once on it is impossible to get it off.

That's why some leather experts advise that you use nothing on old leather. Often any cream applied can cause the surface to seperate from the under layer where it is cracked. Sort of like icing between two layers of cake, it becomes slippery. Then you begin to notice pieces flaking off.

The best defence against deterioration is proper storage . Do not lay anything on top of your holsters. Fill out their form with an acid free paper wadded up to keep them in shape. Do not overstuff them as it might stretch and crack the leather and it's surface.Inspect the leather carefully to determine it's pliability. Be careful of the lifting strap when doing this, you could easily break it loose from it's moorings and tear it out. Keep them in low light and low humidity. Or at least try to keep the humidity as low as possible. Put a small roll of acid free paper in the top of the belt loops to keep their shape. I store my holsters in flat plastic boxes with snap on lids. They can stack and are cheap to purchase.

I use Connoly's Hide Food on any new leather item I make and I use it sparingly on old holsters if I think it might be of some help but to be honest I do not use any leather cream if I don't have too. The more I work with old leather the more experience I get and storage is the best key to preserving vintage holsters. For some it is too late. Almost no damage can be reversed, only stabalized.

Tom mentions another topic of importance...Neats foot oil. It was developed to break down leather fibers on shoe soles and make the fibers slip and slide...it is an oil. This was to break in and waterproof stiff shoe soles that might last six months to a year and be discarded. IT IS DEATH TO VINTAGE HOLSTERS!
If you have some in your cupboard, dispose of it.

Good Luck! Jerry Burney

cpwlew,
* You let the excess dry and buff it again. Repeat as necessary.
* I apply as if I was spit-shining a shoe. Brings back memories from days of yore!! Tap 2 forefinger pads onto the Pecard & apply to the leather exterior in small circular motions. One layer. Let it thoroughly dry. I usually let a PT sit for 24 Hrs. minimum after this light application. Then buff. Yields a warm soft apearance to the exterior. If I want a glossier shine, a ladies nylon to buff the already buffed surface does wonders. Done about once a year..some twice.
* If the leather is soft or very dry to begin with, I haven't found a way to resuscitate this to a rock hard, glossy new appearance using Pecards. Pecards will, however, bring "moisture" back to the dry leather.
* Secret is patience. Many PT's did not get into rough shape overnight. They have to be retrieved slowly. Use Pecards very sparingly to let the leather breath in the "nutrients".
Bob

Bob; I wonder if the fellows that don"t like it are using the wrong Pecard"s? I use only Antique Leather and it works fine for the last 29 years!!
Lonnie

Lonnie,
* Could very well be. Pecards does make a Silacone spray and a liquid product which is NOT the product to use on PT and/or collectible leather.
* I also use the Antique Leather Dressing, as above, and have had very good result over the last dozen or so years. Comes as a solid in a 6oz tub which lasts seemingly forever.
* Jerry is definitely onto something as he states the storage is as or more important. Good recommends to follow in addition to minimizing the exposure to UV.
Respectfully,
Bob

Lonnie, 29 years is really not enough time to tell if a leather treatment is working or not. And if it is working, what is it achieving? Some of these holsters would be 50 years old by the time a preservation treatment was started 29 years ago.

We should all look at why we apply this or any other product...what are we
wishing it to do? Look shiney? Make it more flexible? Preserve it somehow? Stop further deterioration? It would be extremly difficult to do a complete analysis of what Pecard's has done or not done over a period of time.The storage methods would have to be factored in and a comparable sample would have to be available to compare methods... Accurate tests for these variables and records would have to be kept to determine if any changes were taking place. How do you know the holsters would not be in the same or better shape if you had applied nothing over the last 29 years?

I write this not to be disagreeable but to educate others as well as myself about these important leather preservation issues. It is something we need to discuss in order to conserve the investment we have in these irreplaceable leather artifacts.

So, If you have any information to back up your claim that Pecard's works fine, or at all, please jump in with the reasons you believe this to be true and perhaps explain what benefits you have found. Thanks one and all for your input, I look forward to learning more. Jerry Burney

It hasn"t turned any off my holsters to goo, as stated above. This thread has been rehashed before and we all have opinions.
Lonnie

LonniePlease do not put words into my mouth, it isn't sanitary!

I did not say it would turn your holsters into goo. I said it was petroleum goo.

I am aware this subject has been rehashed before but that wan 500 members ago and I for one think it is necessary to discuss it from time to time to inform new members. I was hoping you might have some information to back up your claims and defend Pecard's Thanks anyway. Jerry Burney