What to do about a leather holster?

[Tommygunn]

I just received a pretty nice leather holster for a semi auto 9mm. It's "form fitting" and has a leather thumb snap.
The problem is this:
I am admittedly ignorant about leather. The stiffness of the material on this holster itself doesn't bother me -- I realize it's necessary to hold the weapon correctly and all. The thing is, how to get a belt to pass through the seemingly misplaced slots on back. It is quite impossible to manipulate the holster as is. Atleast, not without applying a good amount of force.
But I still don't understand how a soft leather belt is supposed to be threaded through on material this ungiving.
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Get a stiffer belt. Some are made with steel in them.

 

[rcmodel]

Wetting the belt loop with rubbing alcohol will soften it enough to get the belt through it.

Then put the holster on and wear it until the alcohol evaporates, and it will now be a stiff "fitted" belt loop.

Which is a good thing.

rc

 

[AJumbo]

^ Got it one! Most off-the-rack belts aren't constructed to handle the weight of a sidearm; try Beltman, Galco, or any of the scads of excellent makers out there. Feel free to call or e-mail them with your questions regarding firearm weight, belt construction, stiffness, etc. Wear the widest belt that will fit in the holster, or consider a belt with an internal stiffener.

I used to work at Galco, in the belt department, and I was always amazed that somebody would drop $100 on a holster for a $500 pistol, then try to carry it on a $15 dress belt from K-Mart.

 

[bannockburn]

Certaindeaf is right; you need a stiffer belt to hold the holster in place and support it around your waist. A tight fit is good; a loose one will not keep you holstered gun in close to your body.

 

[Tommygunn]

I can deal with the need for a stiffer belt. That alone doesn't tell me how to get the belt through the leather, but I think I will try rcmodel's suggestion and apply some alcohol.
Now all I need to know is should I use Jim Beam or Jack Daniels?






(I guess rubbing alcohol was the original intention).

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Try opening them up with a butter knife.

 

[JTQ]

I'd like to help, but I'm having a hard time picturing the problem.

How does the softness of the belt impact your ability to thread it through the holster slots?

Is your belt too wide for the slots on the holster?

Are you trying to insert the belt through the slots with the pistol inserted and the holster pressed against your side?

Are the slots really misplaced?

 

[TAKtical]

Pictures would help. I cant picture what the problem is

 

[rcmodel]

Many new holsters come with a flat hard piece of leather with the belt slots cut in them stitched to the back of the holster.

They are too hard and too tight to get a belt through them unless the slot is softened with water or alcohol to soften it enough to thread a belt through it and wet form it to the belt.

rc

 

[Archie]

A solid wood or heavy plastic ruler will work to use as a 'needle' to open the slot and get the belt in.

For working on holsters, I formed a gunbelt sized piece of wood with a rounded entering edge to open the slots to put a gunbelt into the holster. Then just use it for a while.

 

[340PD]

Maybe the holster belt slots are not cut for the belt you are trying to feed through it. Many try to put a 1-3/4" belt through a 1-1/2" opening.

 

[beag_nut]

+1 and +1 for what rcmodel said.
Besides leather, keep in mind for the future that alcohol is also a lubricant for rubber. If one wants to make almost any rubber slide through, under, around or over anything, the alcohol acts as a lubricant, which disappears after it dries, fixing your desired object in place.

 

[Tommygunn]

RCModel named the problem.
Will try the alcohol and maybe a shim if I can find something appropriate.

 

[JERRY]

cheap belts have led many to believe their good holsters were junk instead of the other way around.

 

[Tommygunn]

Jerry I don't think the holster is "cheap", I just am ignorant about leather and was trying to get some advice on it.
I can deal with the concept of needing a better belt!