Holster Cleaning Question

Mauser720 · 08-11-2007, 05:00 PM

I have a lugar artillery holster that appears to be original; however, I have not found any markings on it. It is very dirty. The main flap that goes across the top has been replaced, and the shoulder strap is a replacement. I would like to know (1) Do collectors generally frown on a holster that has been cleaned?; (2) If it is all right to clean it, is there a recommended procedure?; and, (3) Are there any cleaning and/or waxing or leather treatment supplies that are recommended for such a holster?

Thanks in advance to anyone who knows something about this and can share some information with me.

Ron

George Anderson · 08-11-2007, 09:35 PM

Ron, if, indeed, your holster is unmarked it is a modern reproduction. Cleaning an original won't hurt it. It just needs to be done right, I generally give dirty holsters a cleaning with saddle soap then later apply a light treatment of Hide Food.

Mauser720 · 08-11-2007, 10:21 PM

George -

I have not heard of "Hide Food." Is that a brand name or a generic name? Any suggestions on where I might obtain some? I have some Kiwi Leather Balm and it is a kind of creme-colored thick liquid. Thank you so much for responding to my questions.

Ron

George Anderson · 08-12-2007, 08:34 AM

Best source of Hide Food would be found through a Google search. It's a product that once was only available through Jag, Bently and RR dealers. I believe that the complete product name is Connelly's Hide Food.

Mauser720 · 08-12-2007, 09:13 AM

Great! Thank you so much. Ron

Edward Tinker · 08-12-2007, 09:39 AM

Ron, I use connolys when needed (clean as suggested above), always use less of anything, this is old leather after all.

Ed

Mauser720 · 08-14-2007, 06:56 PM

Well, the new name for Connolly Hide Food was Connolly Hide Care. But somewhere on the Internet I read that the company has closed after doing business for over 135 years. Some Internet companys had it listed, and some said it was out of stock, etc. But if the factory folded, then they must be selling the remaining stocks of it.

I did clean the holster with saddle soap, and I am amazed at how much better it looks. I'm letting it dry now.

There is another product that one major collector tells me is every bit as good as the old Connolly Hide Food, and it is called "Blackrock Leather "N" Rich" I got it at a local saddle shop. The shop owner also told me to let the holster sit out in the bright sun with a film of this stuff on it to improve the penetration into the leather.

Like the old Connolly Hide Food, this product also has no wax in it. So I am going to give it a try.

Thanks fellas for all your help and guidance on this.

Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 08-14-2007, 07:20 PM

Ron, I have tried Black Rock and I find it does not come close to the results I get with Connoly's. Plus it smells bad. Connoly's has that good lanolin leather smell. I have a jar of Black Rock around here somewhere and I don't use it.
Connoly's does not require sun heat to do it's thing. It will disapear at room temperature in an hour or so and polishes out beautifully.
Jerry Burney

Mauser720 · 08-14-2007, 08:55 PM

Jerry -

Well, then, that settles it. I'll just have to keep looking for some Connolly's Hide Care. Thanks for the advice.

ron

wlyon · 08-14-2007, 09:45 PM

Ron
Connolly also has a Leather Cleaner, which works great on dirty holsters before applying Connolly Hide Care. Bill

Mauser720 · 08-15-2007, 09:38 AM

Bill -

I saw that Connolly leather cleaner, and there seems to be a lot more of it around than the Connolly Hide Care. However, I had already cleaned the holster with saddle soap, and it seems to have come out real well. A lot of the wrinkles that were in the leather just disappeared. I might have found some of the hide care. I have ordered it, and am just waiting to see if they tell me they are out of stock too. Thanks for the info.

Ron

Edward Tinker · 08-15-2007, 11:38 AM

I bought two jars of it from ebay 2 years ago, have plenty left;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=110157961948

I don't know this seller, but do a search on these words...

Lugerlover · 08-15-2007, 01:46 PM

Here's a link to a retailer that stocks Hide Care.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...Zymol5_pg1.htm

It is great stuff.

Bill

the gunman · 08-15-2007, 01:46 PM

Be interested in getting a couple of jars. If you find out who has it please post the adress Im sure Im not the only one interested in finding some.
Richie

Edward Tinker · 08-15-2007, 02:13 PM

Richie, there were 2 or 3 for sale on ebay, and then the pelican parts guys that Bill posted.

Bill, I am in Bensalem, PA (adj Philly) for the next couple of months.

Ed

Mauser720 · 08-15-2007, 07:00 PM

Okay, I have successfully purchased two jars of the Connoly's Hide Food (or whatever it's now called) for $16 each from this place: http://www.motorcarsltd.com/

I ordered them last night, and got an Email tonight saying that they had been shipped. This company also has a toll free number: 1-800-338-5238 and their part number for this item is: IN105867

So if this might help anyone else, I am glad to be able to pass this information on.

Ron

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08-11-2007, 05:00 PM	#1
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Holster Cleaning Question I have a lugar artillery holster that appears to be original; however, I have not found any markings on it. It is very dirty. The main flap that goes across the top has been replaced, and the shoulder strap is a replacement. I would like to know (1) Do collectors generally frown on a holster that has been cleaned?; (2) If it is all right to clean it, is there a recommended procedure?; and, (3) Are there any cleaning and/or waxing or leather treatment supplies that are recommended for such a holster? Thanks in advance to anyone who knows something about this and can share some information with me. Ron

08-11-2007, 10:21 PM	#3
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	George - I have not heard of "Hide Food." Is that a brand name or a generic name? Any suggestions on where I might obtain some? I have some Kiwi Leather Balm and it is a kind of creme-colored thick liquid. Thank you so much for responding to my questions. Ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

08-12-2007, 09:13 AM	#5
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Great! Thank you so much. Ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

08-12-2007, 09:39 AM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Ron, I use connolys when needed (clean as suggested above), always use less of anything, this is old leather after all. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

08-11-2007, 09:35 PM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Ron, if, indeed, your holster is unmarked it is a modern reproduction. Cleaning an original won't hurt it. It just needs to be done right, I generally give dirty holsters a cleaning with saddle soap then later apply a light treatment of Hide Food.

08-12-2007, 08:34 AM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Best source of Hide Food would be found through a Google search. It's a product that once was only available through Jag, Bently and RR dealers. I believe that the complete product name is Connelly's Hide Food.

08-14-2007, 06:56 PM	#7
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Well, the new name for Connolly Hide Food was Connolly Hide Care. But somewhere on the Internet I read that the company has closed after doing business for over 135 years. Some Internet companys had it listed, and some said it was out of stock, etc. But if the factory folded, then they must be selling the remaining stocks of it. I did clean the holster with saddle soap, and I am amazed at how much better it looks. I'm letting it dry now. There is another product that one major collector tells me is every bit as good as the old Connolly Hide Food, and it is called "Blackrock Leather "N" Rich" I got it at a local saddle shop. The shop owner also told me to let the holster sit out in the bright sun with a film of this stuff on it to improve the penetration into the leather. Like the old Connolly Hide Food, this product also has no wax in it. So I am going to give it a try. Thanks fellas for all your help and guidance on this. Ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

08-14-2007, 07:20 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Ron, I have tried Black Rock and I find it does not come close to the results I get with Connoly's. Plus it smells bad. Connoly's has that good lanolin leather smell. I have a jar of Black Rock around here somewhere and I don't use it. Connoly's does not require sun heat to do it's thing. It will disapear at room temperature in an hour or so and polishes out beautifully. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

08-14-2007, 08:55 PM	#9
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Jerry - Well, then, that settles it. I'll just have to keep looking for some Connolly's Hide Care. Thanks for the advice. ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

08-14-2007, 09:45 PM	#10
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,654 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,618 Times in 971 Posts	Ron Connolly also has a Leather Cleaner, which works great on dirty holsters before applying Connolly Hide Care. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

08-15-2007, 09:38 AM	#11
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Bill - I saw that Connolly leather cleaner, and there seems to be a lot more of it around than the Connolly Hide Care. However, I had already cleaned the holster with saddle soap, and it seems to have come out real well. A lot of the wrinkles that were in the leather just disappeared. I might have found some of the hide care. I have ordered it, and am just waiting to see if they tell me they are out of stock too. Thanks for the info. Ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

08-15-2007, 11:38 AM	#12
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I bought two jars of it from ebay 2 years ago, have plenty left; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=110157961948 I don't know this seller, but do a search on these words... __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

08-15-2007, 01:46 PM	#13
Lugerlover User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Here's a link to a retailer that stocks Hide Care. http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...Zymol5_pg1.htm It is great stuff. Bill

08-15-2007, 01:46 PM	#14
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Be interested in getting a couple of jars. If you find out who has it please post the adress Im sure Im not the only one interested in finding some. Richie

08-15-2007, 02:13 PM	#15
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Richie, there were 2 or 3 for sale on ebay, and then the pelican parts guys that Bill posted. Bill, I am in Bensalem, PA (adj Philly) for the next couple of months. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

08-15-2007, 07:00 PM	#16
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Okay, I have successfully purchased two jars of the Connoly's Hide Food (or whatever it's now called) for $16 each from this place: http://www.motorcarsltd.com/ I ordered them last night, and got an Email tonight saying that they had been shipped. This company also has a toll free number: 1-800-338-5238 and their part number for this item is: IN105867 So if this might help anyone else, I am glad to be able to pass this information on. Ron __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."