1939 Police Holster

JohnF · 02-01-2003, 04:12 AM

This is a holster that I just picked up - marked A Fischer Berlin 1939 with a Police Eagle. It's a bit scuffed here and there but is still pretty strong and the stitching is fine although the flap to the tool pouch is almost detached. It's main problem is that it is very dry and the leather feels a bit like cardboard. It's actually so stiff that it is impossible to seat a magazine in the pouch at the moment. Reading the previous posts, I'm going to try the Connolly Hide Food on it as I'd like to put some suppleness back into the leather.

lugerholsterrepair · 02-01-2003, 07:38 AM

JohnF, Yes definately try the Connoly's and I would put it on pretty liberally inside and out. Then let it sit for an hour to soak in. Toothbrush (soft)the remaining spots in. Do this at least twice and let dry for an hour. Dry and polish with a clean rag.

Do not try to force a magazine into the pouch. If it is dry you may split the edge and this is impossible to fix. Good Luck! Jerry Burney

JohnF · 03-27-2003, 12:31 PM

Hi Jerry,
I've taken your advice and have bought some saddle soap to clean it off first and Connolly's Hide Food to put some life back into the leather. I plan to start to work on this holster tonight and I'll post the end result. All being well, my Mauser Banner Police Luger will have a more comfortable home soon.
Thank you very much for your help.
Cheers,
John

Aaron · 03-27-2003, 07:41 PM

OK, that's a new one on me! What is this stuff and where do you get it?

JohnF · 03-28-2003, 03:52 AM

Hi Aaron,
I got mine from a specialist leather dealer here in the UK but I believe that Jerry indicated that Jaguar and Bentley dealerships carry it in the US for use on leather seats. Try a search on Google - that should turn up a supplier.
Cheers,
John

John Sabato · 03-28-2003, 09:56 AM

Occasionally you see it for sale at Auctionarms.com or Gunbroker.com but I think if you just do a search on this forum, you will find some message threads that list sources.

G.W. Gill · 03-30-2003, 12:14 AM

I know you were talking about Cannolly's, however, I have a warning. DO NOT EVER USE SADDLE SOAP! Are caps yelling?, I meant to. It will alligator so bad you could cry. From my experience in civil war leather goods it's a bad thing. I was hurt so bad I stay away from leather. Get the best advice. It's here ,wait, think, then follow. Please don't destroy history.

lugerholsterrepair · 03-30-2003, 01:29 PM

G.W. Please explain why, when, where, and how, not to use saddle soap.I am always wanting to learn from someone elses experience...I would agree not to use it on leather where the skin has been broken open and scuffed. But on smooth unblemished skin I use it frequently with no ill effect. I use it with very little moisture but it is a great cleaner and has lanolin which seems to put on a great softness and shine. You can see if you use a clean rag that it takes off lots of dirt and grime.

I also agree to do no harm. That is always my intention. Jerry Burney

G.W. Gill · 04-01-2003, 01:18 AM

Lugerholsterrepair, I suspect its the alkaline base. This is inherently dangerous to leather. I had my first experience with a mint unissued cartridge box that I purchased from Norm Flayderman. He had a manufacturer's crate of boxes that he opened and sold. The box I recieved was beautiful. I should have left it alone. After saddle soap all but the front cover was horribly alligatored. At the same time I treated a '60 army holster. Same sad sight. This was in 1975. Why, when, where not to use saddle soap, in my opinion, is when your not cleaning expensive harness. I really don't want to start anything. I have learned a lot from your posts and respect your work. I just feel there are much better products out there for preserving good leather. I would like to learn more about the Jaguar stuff that everybody has been talking about. Have you tried it?

JohnF · 04-01-2003, 03:54 AM

I caught the saddle soap debate too late for my police holster and followed the original recommendations. Firstly I gave it a light saddle soaping with a barely damp rag to clean it - lots of grime came off - and left it overnight. Then it had 3 applications of Connollys about 2 hours apart. The holster has come up beautifully with no apparent problems. The Connolly's is GREAT - it dries without much residue, buffs up beautifully and has very litle smell. The slight residue just rubbed off with a cloth and a soft toothbrush in hard to access areas.
I also treated a 1936 Kurt Vogel holster at the same time and that has come out well too. Maybe the very sparing use of water on the saddle soaping rag had something to do with it or perhaps saddle soap is now improved? I used Mars Oil "Original Saddle Soap".

lugerholsterrepair · 04-01-2003, 12:17 PM

G.W. Thanks for explaining your experiences. I am in no way confrontational. I simply like to get peoples ideas about what has happned to them for reference to what I do and use. Leather is a difficult material and I am sure it can react just as you say although it has never done it to me. I pretty much only deal with German Luger or other German holsters from pre 1945. Perhaps Civil war leather was tanned a little differently or as JohnF indicated Saddle soap has changed it's formula. Hard to tell really. I just use it sparingly with little to no water. As with all things leather it is better to err on the side of caution. Thanks for the interesting thread...Jerry Burney

John Sabato · 04-01-2003, 05:16 PM

JohnF,

how about posting new photos showing the results of your work on cleaning the holster?

Thanks,

Navy · 04-01-2003, 07:20 PM

Re: Hydefood. Have used the stuff for years. It is wonderful; only one product better , Leather Rejuvinator, but the commie, tree-hugging, Bambi lovers at EPA effectively eliminated it from the market place by ADMINISTRATIVELY imposing a $600 tax per gallon of the principal ingredient.

Be glad we do not get all the government we pay for!

Tom A.

G.W. Gill · 04-01-2003, 11:47 PM

Guys, I'm pleased Johnf's holster came out nice. I'd like to see it also. About my civil war stuff, I was 18, and could have used too much water in the mix. I still have the box in my Mom's closet. Scabbards, slings, holsters and such, which I know I ruined, are worth ten times the price they cost back then. You learn from mistakes and you put it behind you. That is where you profit the most.
Lugerholsterrepair, I know your not confrontational and would ask that I may call upon your help and experience should the need arise.

02-01-2003, 04:12 AM	#1
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1939 Police Holster This is a holster that I just picked up - marked A Fischer Berlin 1939 with a Police Eagle. It's a bit scuffed here and there but is still pretty strong and the stitching is fine although the flap to the tool pouch is almost detached. It's main problem is that it is very dry and the leather feels a bit like cardboard. It's actually so stiff that it is impossible to seat a magazine in the pouch at the moment. Reading the previous posts, I'm going to try the Connolly Hide Food on it as I'd like to put some suppleness back into the leather.

02-01-2003, 07:38 AM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	JohnF, Yes definately try the Connoly's and I would put it on pretty liberally inside and out. Then let it sit for an hour to soak in. Toothbrush (soft)the remaining spots in. Do this at least twice and let dry for an hour. Dry and polish with a clean rag. Do not try to force a magazine into the pouch. If it is dry you may split the edge and this is impossible to fix. Good Luck! 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."

03-28-2003, 09:56 AM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Occasionally you see it for sale at Auctionarms.com or Gunbroker.com but I think if you just do a search on this forum, you will find some message threads that list sources. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

03-30-2003, 01:29 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	G.W. Please explain why, when, where, and how, not to use saddle soap.I am always wanting to learn from someone elses experience...I would agree not to use it on leather where the skin has been broken open and scuffed. But on smooth unblemished skin I use it frequently with no ill effect. I use it with very little moisture but it is a great cleaner and has lanolin which seems to put on a great softness and shine. You can see if you use a clean rag that it takes off lots of dirt and grime. I also agree to do no harm. That is always my intention. 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."

04-01-2003, 12:17 PM	#11
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	G.W. Thanks for explaining your experiences. I am in no way confrontational. I simply like to get peoples ideas about what has happned to them for reference to what I do and use. Leather is a difficult material and I am sure it can react just as you say although it has never done it to me. I pretty much only deal with German Luger or other German holsters from pre 1945. Perhaps Civil war leather was tanned a little differently or as JohnF indicated Saddle soap has changed it's formula. Hard to tell really. I just use it sparingly with little to no water. As with all things leather it is better to err on the side of caution. Thanks for the interesting thread...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."

03-27-2003, 12:31 PM	#3
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi Jerry, I've taken your advice and have bought some saddle soap to clean it off first and Connolly's Hide Food to put some life back into the leather. I plan to start to work on this holster tonight and I'll post the end result. All being well, my Mauser Banner Police Luger will have a more comfortable home soon. Thank you very much for your help. Cheers, John

03-27-2003, 07:41 PM	#4
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	OK, that's a new one on me! What is this stuff and where do you get it?

03-28-2003, 03:52 AM	#5
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi Aaron, I got mine from a specialist leather dealer here in the UK but I believe that Jerry indicated that Jaguar and Bentley dealerships carry it in the US for use on leather seats. Try a search on Google - that should turn up a supplier. Cheers, John

03-30-2003, 12:14 AM	#7
G.W. Gill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 369 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know you were talking about Cannolly's, however, I have a warning. DO NOT EVER USE SADDLE SOAP! Are caps yelling?, I meant to. It will alligator so bad you could cry. From my experience in civil war leather goods it's a bad thing. I was hurt so bad I stay away from leather. Get the best advice. It's here ,wait, think, then follow. Please don't destroy history.

04-01-2003, 01:18 AM	#9
G.W. Gill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 369 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lugerholsterrepair, I suspect its the alkaline base. This is inherently dangerous to leather. I had my first experience with a mint unissued cartridge box that I purchased from Norm Flayderman. He had a manufacturer's crate of boxes that he opened and sold. The box I recieved was beautiful. I should have left it alone. After saddle soap all but the front cover was horribly alligatored. At the same time I treated a '60 army holster. Same sad sight. This was in 1975. Why, when, where not to use saddle soap, in my opinion, is when your not cleaning expensive harness. I really don't want to start anything. I have learned a lot from your posts and respect your work. I just feel there are much better products out there for preserving good leather. I would like to learn more about the Jaguar stuff that everybody has been talking about. Have you tried it?

04-01-2003, 03:54 AM	#10
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I caught the saddle soap debate too late for my police holster and followed the original recommendations. Firstly I gave it a light saddle soaping with a barely damp rag to clean it - lots of grime came off - and left it overnight. Then it had 3 applications of Connollys about 2 hours apart. The holster has come up beautifully with no apparent problems. The Connolly's is GREAT - it dries without much residue, buffs up beautifully and has very litle smell. The slight residue just rubbed off with a cloth and a soft toothbrush in hard to access areas. I also treated a 1936 Kurt Vogel holster at the same time and that has come out well too. Maybe the very sparing use of water on the saddle soaping rag had something to do with it or perhaps saddle soap is now improved? I used Mars Oil "Original Saddle Soap".

04-01-2003, 05:16 PM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	JohnF, how about posting new photos showing the results of your work on cleaning the holster? Thanks, __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-01-2003, 07:20 PM	#13
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Hydefood. Have used the stuff for years. It is wonderful; only one product better , Leather Rejuvinator, but the commie, tree-hugging, Bambi lovers at EPA effectively eliminated it from the market place by ADMINISTRATIVELY imposing a $600 tax per gallon of the principal ingredient. Be glad we do not get all the government we pay for! Tom A.

04-01-2003, 11:47 PM	#14
G.W. Gill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeastern USA Posts: 369 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys, I'm pleased Johnf's holster came out nice. I'd like to see it also. About my civil war stuff, I was 18, and could have used too much water in the mix. I still have the box in my Mom's closet. Scabbards, slings, holsters and such, which I know I ruined, are worth ten times the price they cost back then. You learn from mistakes and you put it behind you. That is where you profit the most. Lugerholsterrepair, I know your not confrontational and would ask that I may call upon your help and experience should the need arise.