How to stiffen holster

I might paint on some contact cement or glue product on the inside

Various wet and dry methods on www.
I wish I knew what Ernie Hill used, his holsters are stiff.

The problem is cheap Mexican holsters are made for cheap and flimsy leather. Thin some clear polyurethane finish half and half and soak it down. If it doesn't work buy a better holster.

Wet it with denatured alcohol, when the alcohol evaporates the leather will be stiff again. ( this is how knife sheaths are made)

I make holsters, so here's my two-cents. This will be a several-step process - 1) wet the entire holster in warm water enough to saturate it good - about a 15-30 second dip should do. Then 2) dry the holster with heat - not too hot, just warm (I used an old food dehydrator for my production holsters) - an oven on lowest heat with the door open will work, as will sitting it in front of the fireplace. Let it thoroughly dry...I leave my holsters in the food dehydrator overnight.
Finally, 3) dip it in a product called Resolene (Mop-n-Glo acrylic floor shine will work too) and let it dry. Dip it another time or two and let it dry - the more times you dip it, the longer it will likely retain it's stiffness.

Or, send it to me and I will do it for you for a minimal (<$10 including shipping) fee.

It's not something you can fix. Buy a better holster.

Grayrock said:

...cheap Mexican holster

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That is your problem right there. I'm with the guy who says you can't fix it. There is a dog somewhere who would be delighted to have a new chew toy.

In the day - holsters were not thick sole leather nor were they expected to be open at all times for "combat reholstering." It's something that competition has forced into the discussion, along with handcuffing suspects.

Doesn't mean the holster selected can't be suede, as a lot of IWB carriers deliberately choose it. Both of mine are. I don't expect to ever reholster into it while connected to me - detaching it and reholstering in full view of my vision is how I perform that.

A SA gun does get a lot of reholstering due to the traditional means of carry but that doesn't make it a death sentence. The cut and style has a lot to do with it, and also the concept that it be carried hammer down on an empty cylinder if it's a SA Army type gun. Most traditional holsters aren't stiff sole leather outfits, and restiffening is something that can happen with any American maker, too. Hunter brand comes to mind, along with others. Let's not broad brush it too much.

I have a pair of Will Ghormley holsters I bought secondhand from a Facebook group about a year ago. They have both been oiled to the point that they are soft and floppy. They are terrible for any use. They don't retain the guns, they flop around on the belt. They are about like carrying your sixgun in a sock. A good single action holster doesn't need to be half an inch thick and steel reinforced but it does need to hold its form and retain the gun if inverted.