When did Galco cross the border?

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Jellicle

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I have 2 old, old, OLD Galco holsters, a thumb-break belt slide for a 1911, and a thumb break paddle holster for a 3" K-frame S&W. These things have been doing holster stuff for nearly 30 years and are dinged and scratched but still hold their shape and snap up secure and tight. So when I was at the range trying out the restored PPK, I decided to check out holsters. And, they had an inside the waistband Galco with spring clip for $49. But stamped all around the Glaco star on the sweat guard it said "Made in Mexico".

Does anybody know when this happened? I found it mentioned on forums as far back as 2012, but nobody seems to know when this started.

I had a Buscadero rig for a single action Ruger years ago that was made in Mexico. It kept turning all the cartridges in the loops green. I've kind of stayed away from Mexican leather after that.
 
Green verdigris on brass from contact with leather is a fact of nature.

It has nothing to do with leather from Mexico.

It happens with the best leather ever made anywhere.

rc
 
It kept turning all the cartridges in the loops green.
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If that's your criteria then you will be sadly disappointed, quality American leather has been turning brass green for about 150 years.
I see a marked difference in most natural (tan) holsters produced in the last decade. Black has always had a painted on finish IMO but the older natural finished leather had a nicer clear finish that allowed the natural grain to show through. I'm sure this is due to cheaper processes in tanning and finishing.
 
I guess I should have been more specific. It was the speed that it occurred, not the fact that it happened. I still have another belt I had made locally that will darken the brass in a couple weeks. The other one would be creating a green powder within a few days. It was kinda gross.
 
I've kind of stayed away from Mexican leather after that.
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This can be a good idea because sometimes (but not always) they don't get all of the tannic acid out of the leather and if it gets damp - as in during high humidity it can strip or mottle a blue finish.

However to get the best of both worlds some American makers ship quality leather from our side down to top, but less expensive craftsmen in Mexico. If traditional Texas-style designs are your cup of tea they're hard to beat.

I'm pretty sure Galco's Mexican made products are not inferior.
 
Jellicle said:
I have 2 old, old, OLD Galco holsters, a thumb-break belt slide for a 1911, and a thumb break paddle holster for a 3" K-frame S&W. These things have been doing holster stuff for nearly 30 years and are dinged and scratched but still hold their shape and snap up secure and tight. So when I was at the range trying out the restored PPK, I decided to check out holsters. And, they had an inside the waistband Galco with spring clip for $49. But stamped all around the Glaco star on the sweat guard it said "Made in Mexico".

Does anybody know when this happened? I found it mentioned on forums as far back as 2012, but nobody seems to know when this started.

I had a Buscadero rig for a single action Ruger years ago that was made in Mexico. It kept turning all the cartridges in the loops green. I've kind of stayed away from Mexican leather after that.
Click to expand...
Indeed Galco having products made in Mexico is news to me. It doesn't seem to me that it will serve them any better than it has served Bianchi. On the other hand, I've been a part of a maquiladora in northern Mexico and found that making in Mexico can be a controlled, high quality process.

Which brings me to my point: Hecho en Mexico doesn't necessarily mean that Mexican leather is being used. The Mexican trade I was involved in some years ago provided big benefits for what was called "substantial transformation": sending raw materials from USA and turning them into products that were returned to the US. That may have changed since then.

And Made in USA can still involve Mexican leather. Buyers have no way of knowing the source country for the leather that went into our holsters or our belts, except taking the word of the maker. Galco, for example, claims using only A grade hides; that doesn't mean they're a better quality than a C grade hide. Instead that only means there are fewer flaws for them to cut around on their clicker presses, so better economy and lower cost for them.
 
I just got a Galco Wheelgunner and it's made in the US. Although I have no way of knowing how long it sat on a shelf somewhere. I'm thinking about offering the pattern.

Personally, while I prefer anything to be made in the US, I wouldn't assume that leather products made in Mexico were inferior either.
 
This surprises me. I wonder if your Galco is a fake? I'm a die-hard fan of Galco and have owned dozens of their holsters in my lifetime. Each and everyone came with a Made In USA tag on them. All the ones I still see in gun shops say the same thing.

I've actually seen fake Galco Concealable holsters.
 
USA made leather will turn cartridges green also. Some leather is worse than others even from the same tannery but it has nothing to do with Mexico leather. I use leather from Herman Oak and Wickett and Craig of America and also use a lot of Thoroughbred leather that is pit tanned in Mexico and actually the US leather seems to be worse about turning brass green.

Regarding Galco, the leather they use is some of the best available anywhere. Their leather is USA sides tanned in Mexico. I know because the distributor is located close to me and I use a lot of the exact same leather in my leather projects. The leather is sent to Mexico to be tanned and shipped back to the warehouse here in Louisville Ky and distributed to manufactures from there.

There is some junk leather from Mexico and some of the best leather is coming from Mexico. EPA restrictions have changed the way leather can be made in the US and as a result has effected quality and forced most tanneries here to close.
 
I didn't know that about Galco going over the border. I have a couple or so of their "Pocket Protectors" which I assume were made in the USA.
I bought a couple of the Bianchi IWB holster. They are the Model 100 Professional. The last 2 were made in Mexico and a big difference in the quality. I won't be buying anymore Bianchi holsters.
 
One also needs to consider where the leather is coming from and how it was processed. With the EPA being what it is, tanneries are not exactly their best friends, so I would venture some folks moved certain operations south to a more business-friendly climate (or even overseas to India or Asia - ever smell urine soaked leather from India? YIKES!)
 
Mexico has also been known for sorry leather and leatherwork for years. Like China, they can build you a Mercedes or a Yugo; depends on what you want to pay for...
 
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