Repo Luger Holster Sale

[Topkick]

For those that may be interested - IMA-USA has a nice repo Luger holster on sale for $19.95. I know it's a reproduction, but it's a good price until a nice original can be bought.

http://www.ima-usa.com/german-wwii-p...l-holster.html

[Edward Tinker]

I personally have found most repro holsters, tools, etc, they just don't last or fit right...

[lugerholsterrepair]

Ditto Ed..most I have seen are hard & rough as a cob too..putting a pistol or mag in is hard on them.

[DonVoigt]

Wonder who they took them back from?

[Arizona Slim]

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

Ditto Ed..most I have seen are hard & rough as a cob too..putting a pistol or mag in is hard on them.

Agreed, I bought a nice looking re-pro a few years ago and it's just like you said, "hard and rough" so I have never put a Luger in it but was wondering if there is anything that can be done to soften up the leather? Maybe something like Neetsfoot oil or?

Lon

[Edward Tinker]

Lon, one thing I have wondered is; how hard and rough were original holsters - immediately after being issued new?

I know that the 1911a1 holsters made from leather in the 1980's were really STIFF.
We did all kinds of things to loosen them up, used mink oil, water, forcing pistol in and out numerous times...

[lugerholsterrepair]

Lon, Neatsfoot oil penetrates through and through immediately and makes hardshell leather soft and floppy. Then it is like an oilsoaked sponge but you can't wring it out! The stuff it death to a holster IMO.

if there is anything that can be done to soften up the leather? Maybe throw it in the Wifes dryer with a cinder block? 10 minutes and it will be soft AND aged.

[Sieger]

Hi All,

For a repo that is harder than a dried corncob, I treat it with liquid silicone.

This water proofs it as well. One treatment usually lasts a lifetime.

The holster IMI has looks pretty good to me, particularly at that price.

Sieger

[Arizona Slim]

"Lon, one thing I have wondered is; how hard and rough were original holsters - immediately after being issued new?
I know that the 1911a1 holsters made from leather in the 1980's were really STIFF.
We did all kinds of things to loosen them up, used mink oil, water, forcing pistol in and out numerous times... "

Ed


Good point Ed, I didn't think of that. The only new holster that I can ever remember having was a Lawrence rig that had a soft lining for my Ruger Blackhawk. Unfortunately, either the belt shrunk over the years or I put on a few too many pounds, I'm going for belt shrinkage .

[alanint]

The photo taken from the top looking into the interior of the holster shows a magazine pouch that is almost square, rather than the rectangle that would properly accommodate the magazine. I also bet that if you placed a pistol and magazine into this holster, you will have a rough time getting them out.

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...Uh, what??? I have no idea what Mink Oil would be used for, and my next question would be, where would you find used mink Oil???

It is oil to keep a used mink from squeaking or rusting.

I bought a cheap-o repro "Luger" lanyard (although I overpaid I guess, at $12 with free shipping). It held all the kinks and loop ends from being folded up, even when stretched out, but I had pretty good luck loosening it up. I warmed it up atop the radiator, then slathered it with lanolin. Next, I flexed the whole thing, from end to end, in small increments, moving it as if it were a piece of wire I wanted to break. Clamp between thumbs and forefingers, about a half or three quarters of an inch apart, and forcefully make circles with one hand. The lanolin seemed too soak right in when the piece was warm It will thereafter be nice and limber and floppy--like it just got out of one of those hot yoga sessions. It was not significantly darkened by the process, and now I can enjoy all the charm this third-world-made accessory has to offer! The "flexing" reminds me how Inuit women chewed raw sealskin until it was soft as a baby's butt.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

if there is anything that can be done to soften up the leather? Maybe throw it in the Wifes dryer with a cinder block? 10 minutes and it will be soft AND aged.

I tried to run my repro holster with a cinder block in the washing machine, and it didn't work out at all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VaYTkn2aSg

You can expect a phone call from my wife.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Olle, That's impressive video!