Basic Holster care question (Hardshell)

[lugerholsterrepair]

I didn't know about the breakdown of leather being the reason the leather is softened.

Ed is right..in hard shell holsters like the P08 and the P38 they are wet molded to shape. The leather fibers are formed wet and when dried..lock into place. This form is disrupted many ways..flex can break the fibers..or loosen them. A deep penetrating oil can loosen them making the leather lose it's shape and become soft and floppy. That's why LANOLIN is good for hard shell items. It does not penetrate past the epidermis into the leather fibers.

As Ed says the leather can darken some when lanolin is applied but that is natural and normal. The reason a lot of holsters are so light colored is nothing has ever been applied and the leather/color is losing it's essential moisturizers..becoming lighter, essentially bleached. When this happens..the surface is like a dry lake bed. The surface cracks even without flexing. ANY flex cracks the surface epidermis and once cracked there is NO fix. ONLY a preventative application of lanolin can stop this from happening. IF you get there in time.

The product you are looking for is easily purchased on eBay.
"Connolly's Hide Care"