[lugerholsterrepair]

Pete, There is much to consider when storing 80+ year old leather. PoliceLuger is right when he says it is stressful to buckle and unbuckle the closure strap. It tends to break down the surface and bend the interior fibers. The nice thing about leather is it's flexability but when it gets very old it is like our own skin when older. It loses some of it's suppleness due to depletion of essential oils. When dry it tends to break down these fibers and flexing it unnecessarily is not going to help it's appearance or strength.

Hinges are another weak point. They are easily stressed at the corners if an unknowledgable person quickly opens a holster and starts roughing up the lid to get a good look inside. The leather is thin here and the stitching at the corners can rip right out.

I recommend you never hand over a Luger holster to someone who has not been told they are extremely fragile and must be handled with care.

If the closure strap is in pretty good condition I usually bypass the buckle and slip the end into the leather keeper below the buckle. These are usually a tight fit and will keep the closure strap from flopping loosely while preventing any stress to it. Jerry Burney