short / long term luger storage

One reason (probably the main reason) a lugerwill not show extensive harm from long-term storage in an acidic holster is that the points of contact of the luger to the holster are actually few. At the points of contact, you have zero bluing left. What is called holster wear may often be the result of acidic leather removing the blue finish of the steel (that is how you remove bluing, use phosphoric acid). The rust bluing is remarkably resistant to wear but is not able to resist acid.


If current preservatives are what you suspect, I first must ask what kind of preservatives you are using. No preservative technique I use would employ any oils, greases, soaps or chemicals and would not harm the luger surface. Steer clear of preservatives of any kind as they are useful ONLY when you can not use proper care techniques for antique leather (not my statement--the statement of a leather treatment company on their website). Do not use chemical treatments or your holsters and possibly your lugers will be at serious risk of damage.


Some of this infor can be reviewed at the prototype web site:


http://web.uccs.edu/dmclain/Conservation/


This is in the pre-release stage so has many holes and is in a form intended for testing but the page on leather care is nearly complete.


dm