Holester Rejuvenation ?? HELP

[needsmostuff]

This may be more of a question for the gunsmithing section but I know there are some lovers /makers of fine leather here so here goes.
I recently got a nice holster ,probably about 10 years old, that has been left empty. It seems to have shrunk a little and gotten a little stiff. A revolver will go in but it requires plenty effort. Enough so I do not think surface treatments will help.
My first thought is to soak it in acetone ,shove in the revolver and start squeezing.
I'm betting there must be a better way. HELP

[Stump Buster]

Quote..."I'm betting there must be a better way"...


If it's for a SAA size revolver, I think you should leave it the way it is and use it as an excuse to buy a Freedom Arms 97!!! ;D

Didn't help much did I? Oh well, I'll step aside and let the experts answer the OP.

Stump

[dale53]

When I am building a holster, I wet it and form fit it to the gun (wrap the gun in saran wrap, push the revolver into the wet leather sheath adn then gently work it with the fingers to form fit). I then lay the leather on top of the refrigerator (highest piece of furniture in the kitchen where it is warmest) and let it dry overnight. DO NOT HEAT THE LEATHER to dry.

Of course, before you wrap the gun with saran wrap a coat of rig will keep it from rusting. The next morning, slip the revolver out of the holster and let it finish dry another day without using artificial heat (heat is very damaging to leather). Then a light coat of "Neat Lac" will finish the holster off.

Doing the same thing to a used holster carries a certain amount of risk depending on the condition of the leather in the used holster.

Dale53

[rWt]

And, what can you do to a leather holster that was broken in by a Ruger single action that you now want to use for a Colt clone, but the fit is too loose?

[tek4260]

Heck, while we are at it, how do you stretch a Bianchi 1L to fit a 475 BFR with a Wiegand Combat sight base and .350 high blade? Sent you the email about the holsters rWt, btw.

[groo]

Groo here
Rub leather inside and out with some "waterless hand cleaner" [like Dap] without grit.....
This will soften and clean the leather.
[learned this from some friends who have pulling horses ,,, the salt and swett is rough on
harness ]

[robl]

The answer, of course, to all of these questions is by a new holster:-)
lexol does wonders to rejuvenate dried up leather.
It's difficult to make a too large holsters tighter, but wetting it and boning it to the particular gun will help. oil the gun, let the holster dry without the gun inside.

[woody]

I have used Robs suggestion on a few holster and used Lexol. It works great. Got it at the local Auto Zone.

[tek4260]

Rob, how would I go about getting one of your pancakes to fit my revolver? What measurements would you need other than like a Ruger only bigger?






The Main area that it is larger is the front sight. But I notice alot of people here have the same sight setup, so what do ya'll use for leather?

[shadow]

This may be more of a question for the gunsmithing section but I know there are some lovers /makers of fine leather here so here goes.
...............................................................................................................
My first thought is to soak it in acetone ,shove in the revolver and start squeezing.
I'm betting there must be a better way. HELP[/quote]

Needsmostuff............I'd purchase some Ballistol Sportsmans Oil (consider it money well spent) from their web site: ballistol.com, probably the aerosol can with the long straw, allowing you to insert the straw far into the holster and spray away. I'd cover the entire inside surface with it, and massage into the leather with your fingers the best you can. Now do the same with the outside surface. Now spray a bit on the entire surface of the revolver, and again rub it in a bit with your fingers removing any excess with an old t-shirt. Insert the gun in the holster and massage all the felt high points of the gun through the leather for a few minutes to try and shape the holster accordingly. Now put the holster, with gun inside, to rest overnight in a naturally dry warm place. This should definitely help restore the suppleness back into the leather as well as breathing new life back into its appearance, while conforming to the shape of the six gun. It wouldn't hurt to repeat the process one more time the next night. You're probably already aware of the fact that this product, IMHO is one of the best lubricants, rust protectors and cleaners for all your firearms, including wood grips and stocks. I'd like to hear your feedback (good or bad) if you attempt this process. Al Capone, then owner/gunsmith of King's Gun Works, was a good friend of my Dad's when we lived in Glendale, CA and recommended Ballistol to him many, many years ago. It was my first firearm lubricant, protector, cleaner and still the only one I've ever used, with great results, even 'til today. Good luck!
Shadow

[Tx Gun Runner]

When I make a holster , I use steam to form it to the gun and I use olive oil to treat all my old leather .

[robl]

tek4260 just shoot me an e-mail with the dimensions. Looks like the same front sight as my Clements SBH

[needsmostuff]

Well Gentlemen, many fine suggestions here but in the end I went with what I had on hand. After my wife busted me trying to sneek out of the house with the olive oil ( she said it was worth more than my stinking holster)I ended up dumping it in a ammo can with a gallon of acetone and soaked till saturated.Then I shoved in the gun and squeezed it like a teenager would. It really took the shape well and was dry in 10 minutes. After that a good slathering of stuff for leather furniture that is high in lanolin and it seems good to go. Thing fits like leather kydex now. thanks for the good ideas and stuf to try next time.

[Stump Buster]

PICS or it didn't happen!!!