Stiffening Leather Holsters

[Canuc Shooter]

Does anyone know how to stiffen an old holster that has flattened and lost its shape. I have an old holster that I would like to somehow get back into its original shape and stiffness.

 

[rbernie]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=314611

 

[Soybomb]

I'd fill the bathroom sink with tap water thats about as hot as you can hold your hand under and then submerge the holster for 20-30 seconds. Pull it out and let it drip off and sit for about 5-10 minutes (when you squeeze it between your fingers no water should come out). Insert gun, shape, remove gun, allow to dry 24 hours at room temperature. Hope for the best. It very well might just be worn out and due for replacement.

 

[berkbw]

Maybe insert gun into a plastic bag 1st, eh? You might want to have a "bone" [something that you can use to press and reform] if necessary

b-

 

[Coyote3855]

Canuc Shooter:

The suggestions above are good if the holster was quality leather to start with and all it needs is reshaped to the handgun. If the leather has softened, I agree with the guy in the linked thread who said it ain't gonna happen.

 

[berkbw]

but it can't hurt if it is that loose, eh?

 

[sammoh]

There's an old French method to stiffening and hardening leather. Basically, boil it. Now, since the holster is already cut to size, I'd recommend not actually boiling it but what you can do is wet shape it like stated above then afterwards, bring a pot of clean water to a simmer. Drop the holster in it for a very short while then fish it out and let dry. You'll have to reshape the holster most likely. If its too soft, drop it in the water again for only a very short while. Once its dry, it'll harden, something to do with cooking the leather. If it gets wet or oil soaked, it will soften again. If you boil it too long or too often, it'll do two things.

1. shrink to the size of a derringer

2. become very hard and brittle (sometimes as brittle as glass)

If this occurs, your holster is shot. I've stiffened leather holsters this way in the past as well as stiffening leather parts for armoring projects I've done. Just beware of boiling too long.

Use this technique at your own risk. While I know it works, I can't tell you exactly how long to boil your leather. It all varies on quality and thickness of leather.

There are other methods, one of them is to boil the leather in a bee's wax. While that is less likely to shrink and damage your leather, it's also risky business. The last thing you want to chance is your leather holster becoming a candle. Just my opinion there.

Sam

 

[chris in va]

I did that recently with a Galco belt that got floppy. Worked for oh...2 days then softened up again.

 

[PCRCCW]

Leather holsters have a "normal life span"..once they soften, all of the structure in the leather itself is gone and there is nothing that you can do to fix it. If the maker used a good solid and dense back strap for the holster then the life span is longer.

Thats just the way life is.........nothing lasts forever.
Shoot well.

 

[Canuc Shooter]

Thanks for all the info. I just received my new Galco leather (left handed) for my CZ75B(40S&W), fits like a charm. Got it in about a week from ordering it. Looks real good, so I will try the semi boil method with the old one, and see what happens. Arizona to Ontario (Canada) in a week, very impressive.