A Chew for my 1911-A1

[Garandimal]

A Chew for my 1911-A1

Got a great deal on this Springfield 1911-A1 "Mil-Spec" and needed a field holster.

Figured that belt-carry was not the best option for the all steel 1911 so maybe a shoulder-rig was the way to go.

Found a new "military style" leather shoulder holster in brown on Amazon for $30 delivered (my holster price-point), and ordered one.

Ended up being a new USGI issue Adirondack M7/M9 Leather Shoulder Holster. (usually ~$65).

But it came bone dry... like a dog's chew... Brown tanned sinew fiberboard.

Decided to coat both faces of the leather with Original (Bees-wax and Lanolin) SNO-SEAL, put it in a dark plastic grocery sack, and left it in the sun on the dash of my truck for the day.

At the end of the day the SNO-SEAL was all gone, but the leather was still bone dry yellow-white rawhide chew.

So the process was repeated ... Three(3) more times.

The Fourth time (and over half a 7oz. jar of SNO-SEAL later), the leather was brown, and softening up, and there was still a little SNO-SEAL left here and there.

Bagged it back up and cooked it a Fifth time, for good measure.
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.
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...and it came out Corinthian Leather... so soft it would give Ricardo Montalbán a hard-on.





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GR

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Nice save.

 

[SSN Vet]

How is the holster ergonomically?

I see these marketed as USA Air Corp pilot holsters, but they never looked very appropriate for CCW.

But now I see a company out there making a very similar looking holster and marketing it as the cat's meow for hikers to carry.

 

[Garandimal]

How is the holster ergonomically?

I see these marketed as USA Air Corp pilot holsters, but they never looked very appropriate for CCW.

But now I see a company out there making a very similar looking holster and marketing it as the cat's meow for hikers to carry.

Well...

This is a USGI Adirondack M7/M9 (Tanker), but you can rig it to sling across (M3) if you want to (but it puts the load on your neck).

It's a little heavy, and heavier still w/ a loaded all-steel 1911-A1 in it, but it is pretty comfortable and secure over a tee shirt and blouse, or under/over a field jacket.

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Lots of adjustment.

For $30 plus treating? I'm happy... it's not on my belt.




Got it from Sportsman's Guide through Amazon.




GR

 

[wickedsprint]

Can you balance the weight with magazines on support side?

 

[Garandimal]

Can you balance the weight with magazines on support side?

I guess you could, but haven't tried.

The chest strap should support a belt pouch, and might even anchor the strap down to some extent.

Don't have one to try, as I generally pocket-carry spare mags.




GR

 

[bannockburn]

Garandimal

Good save on the Adirondack M7 holster. Sounds a lot like the condition my Bolen Leather Products M7 holster was in when I got it from an Army surplus outfit many years ago. Went through a lot of Kiwi leather conditioning products but it eventually turned out okay. Was very comfortable to wear in the autumn and winter months under an M65 field jacket.

 

[Garandimal]

Garandimal

Good save on the Adirondack M7 holster. Sounds a lot like the condition my Bolen Leather Products M7 holster was in when I got it from an Army surplus outfit many years ago. Went through a lot of Kiwi leather conditioning products but it eventually turned out okay. Was very comfortable to wear in the autumn and winter months under an M65 field jacket.

View attachment 806263

Looks good.

The cracking is indicative of the fibers breaking down, usually due to petroleum based products, but sometimes just plain ole sweat.

Sno-Seal will check/prevent that.




GR