Care and feeding for old holsters

Vlim · 08-13-2010, 10:50 AM

Charlie,

I certainly know what you mean, the Norwegian holsters saw service for another 40 years above their original service life (The 1916 pictured above was in service from 1916 until well into the 1980s). The army grade shoe polish seems to have acted as a relatively good protection agent. It hasn't penetrated the leather but formed a sticky layer on the outside, which was removed with alcohol. If this army grade stuff (you know, dry as a whistle, heat it first so it becomes useable again

) protects this good, I have little fear of small amounts of Kiwi used.

Since leather is a natural product, it will dry out and decompose eventually. I guess the best thing to preserve it is taking away the source: oxygen. But storing everything in vacuum sealed bag is not really fun either

I'm afraid there are no easy fixes for cracking leather, except for the somewhat more intrusive methods (sanding and redying). A good leather restorer can work miracles, but the cost involved will probably not make it a financially interesting choice.

Had some experience with classic leather car upholsteries, which helped (slightly). But these are usually just 20 - 30 years old.

About the Kiwi stuff: The small glass jars (50ml) of Kiwi Shoe Cream are still some 80% full after more than 10 years of use, this includes regular shoe polishing as well. It shows how very little one needs to apply. The price tag on the jars is stil in Guilders, we switched to the Euro in 2002

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

08-13-2010, 10:50 AM	#6
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Charlie, I certainly know what you mean, the Norwegian holsters saw service for another 40 years above their original service life (The 1916 pictured above was in service from 1916 until well into the 1980s). The army grade shoe polish seems to have acted as a relatively good protection agent. It hasn't penetrated the leather but formed a sticky layer on the outside, which was removed with alcohol. If this army grade stuff (you know, dry as a whistle, heat it first so it becomes useable again ) protects this good, I have little fear of small amounts of Kiwi used. Since leather is a natural product, it will dry out and decompose eventually. I guess the best thing to preserve it is taking away the source: oxygen. But storing everything in vacuum sealed bag is not really fun either I'm afraid there are no easy fixes for cracking leather, except for the somewhat more intrusive methods (sanding and redying). A good leather restorer can work miracles, but the cost involved will probably not make it a financially interesting choice. Had some experience with classic leather car upholsteries, which helped (slightly). But these are usually just 20 - 30 years old. About the Kiwi stuff: The small glass jars (50ml) of Kiwi Shoe Cream are still some 80% full after more than 10 years of use, this includes regular shoe polishing as well. It shows how very little one needs to apply. The price tag on the jars is stil in Guilders, we switched to the Euro in 2002