Leather holster care?

I have several leather holsters and use one every day.
I have never done anything to take care of them.

Once or twice every year you can apply small amounts of neutral shoe cream (like Meltonian) and polish it with soft cloth. Cream is better than wax because it nourishes leather and protects it while also giving a soft shine. Stay away from shoe polishing sponges, or leather conditioners, as they can soften the leather. If the holster gets dirty clean it with saddle soap (carefully follow the instructions). With all that said, it really depends on the leather - if it's a high quality holster made from full grain leather and dyed for color the above mentioned will work, but if it's a cheaper one coated with acrylic paint to uniform the surface and hide the defects, there really is not much you can do - cream will not penetrate the artificial top coat.

Milt Sparks FAQ page http://miltsparks.com/questions.php

High Noon Holsters FAQ page https://www.highnoonholsters.com/faqs

Well, both Milt Sparks and High Noon recommend an occasional wax/cream treating of the leather. But the main word here is "occasional". Saddle soap should be used, sparingly, only when really needed - dirty leather, sweat spots and etc. It's not recommended for routine maintenance at all.

It depends on the finish. Acrylic and finishs like the old neatlac don't need anything until they are worn and just a new coat will do it. Others need help and like Mizar mentioned Meltonian shoe cream is great stuff for that.

I've never done anything to my holsters either but I do use Ren Wax on knives and it would be great on holsters also. The Sparks FAQ page even mentions it.

I use a hybrid holster with a leather backer. A couple times a year I take off all the hardware to clean the leather parts. I use a horsehair brush to clean both sides with saddle soap. This gets off all the body oils it absorbs, which isn't much because it is horsehide. Then I use some mink oil. Point of note DO NOT USE mink oil made by Kiwi. They put a silicone protectant in their mink oil and it clogs the leather of holsters terribly. It took me days to get that stuff out once I realized what it was. My holster maker offers a pack with almost the exact same stuff I use.

https://www.whitehatholsters.com/holster-cleaning-and-care-kit/

Mink oil softens leather.

I use Ren Wax.

Mike P Wagner said:

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

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The best maintenance plan for everything.

I'm a custom holster maker by trade. I use an acrylic finis on both the inside and outside of my holsters. No further treatment is needed or recommended.

Randy
Bulldog Custom Gun Leather
www.bulldogleathercompany.om

Never use oils. Give it a thorough application inside and out with Renaissance Wax, allow to dry, buff. Do this twice a year - roughly - and your holster should last a good while. If you are in a location of extreme heat and humidity or rain, every 2-3 months.

Most products claiming to clean or help your leather are garbage. They will make your holster softer, prevent the leather from breathing so it gets mold or other undesirable effects. You're better off doing nothing to it versus using most of these products.

Once a year or so I will use a very light coat of Obenauf's Leather Oil or Heavy Duty LP on my leather holsters. Apply, let sit for a few minutes and wipe off. Works on leather work boots, don't see why it can't work for holsters. Doesn't soften my holsters.

The warnings about oil are mostly a CYA statement. Folks are always apt to overdo it and that's why it's a problem. Major manufacturers and small shops alike would rather you have to replace your holster in 10yrs because it's dry than to have to replace it for you because you over-oiled it. Fact is, I guarantee you that no professional leathermaker is shipping you a holster that hasn't been treated with oil. I apply two or three light coats of extra virgin olive oil or pure neatsfoot oil to everything I make. It does not make the leather floppy and soft. John Bianchi dips his completed rigs in warm neatsfoot oil before final finish. So the idea that oil is universally bad for leather is simply not true. Vegetable tanned leather, as it comes from the tannery, is very dry. This last batch I got from Wickett & Craig is the driest I've ever seen. If I didn't oil it, it would crack and split. Leather also periodically needs the natural moisture replenished. It's animal skin and just like your skin, it needs moisture. Since it's no longer living, it does not replenish itself. So a very light coat every year or so is plenty. The problem arises when folks use too much, too often or both. So don't do like my friend does and slather it with mink oil every time you look at it and you'll be fine.

Feanaro said:

Most products claiming to clean or help your leather are garbage. They will make your holster softer, prevent the leather from breathing so it gets mold or other undesirable effects. You're better off doing nothing to it versus using most of these products.

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That's probably true.