holster care

[wterrell]

I have purchased a reproduction WWI Luger holster. What leather care products should I use on this holster so that it does not crack at the cover hinge?

[Marvin]

Wes,

Take a look under the "General Information" section under Holster Care. This will give you some information on certain products I use. There is a lot of controversy over how to care for leather. The besrt advise I can give is to read what you can find and then make up your mind.

There are certain items you should not use; saddlesoap, shoe polish, neatsfoot oil, and vasaline. These items will destroy leather. The one thing you don;t want to do is to "over soften" the leather. Hope the articel helps a little.

Marvin

[Brandon]

Marvin,
Where can I pick up Lexol or Pecards? I need to preserve my P.38 holster! <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />

Regards,Brandon

[Frank]

Hello Again Brandon, I would try www.pecards.com.
I use their Antique Leather Dressing!! Good Luck [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Brandon]

Thanks again Frank!!!

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> Brandon

[wterrell]

Thank you Marvin & Frank,

I am now on the right track. There is a lot of information in the LugerForum links.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

[lugerholsterrepair]

Wes, This is such a controversial topic that I have given up giving advice on this subject. When I repair a customers holster I do not apply anything unless asked to do so. Then I do it sparingly. Marvin and David McLain are two people who are very knowledgeable about this subject and seem willing to share information. David has been particularly helpful to me and has some in depth information and web sites that discuss the subject in detail. Unlike Marvin I do not believe saddle soap used lightly will harm leather if several common sense precautions are used. Use it with as little water as is necessary. Let the leather dry slowly. Brush all residue off with a stiff brush like a tooth brush. Clean the area with a dry rag. Get out all residue from any holes. Using this method I have had good results with saddle soap and I do not think it irrepairably harms leather. However keep in mind I am not a chemist and one has to carefully judge the age and condition of the piece before using anything on it. Both of these fellows have said before, do not use anything you cannot reverse. That severly limits your options. David says petroleum products are the worst. Hope this helps.

[wterrell]

.
......and the plot thickens....

It would appear that I now need to do quite a bit of research. Not for the sake of my repro holster but for the preservation of my original Luger holsters.

Thanks Marvin, Frank, and Jerry

[Marvin]

Jerry,

Normally, when folks use products like Saddle Soap, they go totally "overboard" and that is why I don't recommend it. I do have some in my cleaning kit for leather, and like you, I use it very carefully.

The subject of leather care is touchy with some folks saying that you should do nothing, and other say to use neatsfoot oil. As to shoe polish, I find that it gets into the white thread and that makes a nice LUger holster lose a lot of value quick! I also find that it tends to get a white powdery "mold" on the surface, but it wipes off easilly.

As to anything that is put on leather, only use a LITTLE and I think they will be fine. The biggest problem is the sun, and dampness! just my humble opinion, but I have leather holsters from 40 years ago and they are as good today as the day I bought them.

Marvin

[wterrell]

The posts by you gentlemen have convinced me to use any leather product sparingly. You were wise to emphasize this as I have always believed that if a little is good, then a lot just has to be wonderful. I shall follow your advice.

Please address the issue of frequency of treatment and maybe any signs that would signal that attention should be paid to the holster in the way of preservatives.

Bye the bye, the relative humidity where we live (elevation 9500 ft. in the mountains) is usually around 10%. And I try to maintain this ambient humidity within our house by ventillation. Should I move to sea-level for holsters' sake?

[lugerholsterrepair]

Wes, Marvin, I just drove through Bailey a few hours ago...On my way back to Salida. I agree with Marvin here..Shoe polish is not used by anyone who wants to preserve a Luger holster. Like he says the pigments, waxes etc. get into the linen thread and are impossible to get out. Using any so-called preservative sparingly is the way to go. I have had some holsters where the only thing left to do is slather them with a solution to bring them back from death's door but for the holster that is in reasonable shape it is the wrong thing to do. Jerry Burney

[wterrell]

Jerry,
Your route must have been down 285 to Denver, for the shortcuts are all closed to Salida from here.
The smoke was terrible today for we are experiencing an inversion layer that keeps the smoke to ground and I personally believe that we also have quite a bit of smoke from the fire at Durango.
I appreciate you mentioning abstinence from shoe polish. The soldiers' needs were different from our need of preservation.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Wes, Yes we went to the VA hosp. on rt. 285 both coming and going. Smoke was so terrible in the mountains you couldn't see some ranges at all. All through the mtns. the smoke was bad, even when we went thru Salidt to Howard where we live. Baily is a city compared with Howard. I live at 8500 ft so am aware of the lack of humidity. It's so dry here I'm afraid to spit. It might catch on fire! I hope the fires slow down a little. We're stretched a little thin for firefighters... Jerry Burney <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />