[lugerholsterrepair]

GOD, If I hear of Pecard's one more time I am going to puke. This stuff is evil. I just got in a holster that was covered in this gooey waxy, sticky, slime. It took me four hours to clean it off, cooking it in the sun so it would pool and wiping it off. It will never come off completely. If you want to completely ruin a collectable holster either use Pecard's or
Neatsfoot oil.
Pecard's is developed for use on boots in icy slush. Or leather items in harsh rainy weather to repell water. I called Pecard's as did David Mclain and talked to them at length about their product. They DO NOT recommend it for antique leather! Pecard's denies EVER saying it's product was recommended by the Smithsonian for vintage leather as stated on some dealers web sites. This is an urban myth, like the black widow. Pure stupidity.
Any dealer who sells this waste product for use on vintage holsters is culpable of antique leather genocide.
It's my opinion I would never knowingly buy a holster that has had Pecard's applied to it. How could you not know it.
Tom is quite correct, Connoly's hide food is the best and I usually only use it on new made leather parts. It's better to use nothing on vintage holsters. Instead control the storage environment.

"I can not see any reason to not adequately protect the leather. They will certaintly last longer. What is the difference between these and old saddles or any other old leather?"

Protect it from what? You should be protecting it from people who would slap goo all over them.

What's the difference? The difference is, saddles, bridles and other horse gear is subjected to harsh wet weather and dirt. It is meant to be used abused and eventually wear out. Which it does. In the meantime it would be prudent to put Pecard's on it to repell water. This is OK on working leather that you will clean and maintain and will eventually wear out and be disposed of. Granted it might take a hundred years to do so.

Vintage collectable holsters are an entirely different case in point. One is ostensibly trying to preserve them forever. They need repell no water. They do not need treatment to repell water, This goo only soaks into the leather causing the leather fibers that are held together to slip and slide, losing their natural tension, hence the leather becomes mushy. This is really bad on a hardshell Luger holster.
I implore all the members to throw out this stuff.

Jerry Burney