We decided this Idaho Leather holster was made for a Colt
Scout Peacemaker, but there is another issue. It obviously
came from a smoker. Quite a powerful stink. I gave it the
warm water Dawn bath. That didn't get it.
Next I sprayed it with a de-greaser, covered it with corn starch,
and let it sit over night. Next morning I gave it another bath in
warm water with some Dawn. Scrubbed the hell out of it with a
sponge. Let it dry. Then a rub down with Black Rock Leather N
Rich. Tolerable, but still smells. Correction: Still stinks.
I remember a lady sitting next to Mark Twain at dinner, said
Mr. Twain you smell. Mark said no Mam, you smell, I stink.
I even gave it a couple of sprays of Aramis men's cologne.
Now it has a stinky mixture.
Has anyone discovered a way to get the smoke stink out of
leather holsters?

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__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Wish I cold help, Phil, but this is a new one for me. I have sometimes found leather goods that have mildewed, and have had some success in de-stinking them. But never the kind that you describe. How about sunlight? leaving it out in the sun might help some.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Perhaps placing it in a plastic bag of baking soda may help to remove the odor?

Try rubbing the leather down with this.

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Plastic bag with either baking soda or coffee grounds. Or small pieces of charcoal briquets. I've had good results with the charcoal followed by baking soda.

At the outset, I need to say I have no firsthand experience dealing with this issue.

I’d try a product such as Febreze. This stuff actually chemically neutralizes odor, it doesn’t just overpower it. It’s also unlikely to harm the leather.

I had great success using fresh ground coffee . Fill the holster up with it and also cover the outside and place in a ziplock bag for awhile.
Jim

Activated charcoal. Or just plain ole charcoal. Put them in same airtight container and let 'em sit . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Car dealers often set a bowl of vinger in a car to rid it of cigarette smoke.

Set it out in the sun for a few days.

According to this article, there are several options available...

How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Leather >> How To Clean Stuff.net

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will try some of them (maybe all of
them). Will give you an update of any positive results. If you don't get
an update, you will know I'm still trying. One thing in my favor, I am
very persevering with little nuisences such as this.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I once bought a Colt Python, came with a stinky holster and belt..

Threw the holster and belt away.. took care of the stink in one step.

Well, that won't work with a collector holster which has considerable value in its own right, though.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Can't save them all..set it out in the rain for a month or two, might help it out..(I did and it didn't)

I didn't even look at the manufacturer of the one I threw out, and have no regrets to not looking..it stunk..

I WOULD GIVE IT ONE FINAL SUDSY BRUSHING IN DAWN AND WARM WATER, RINSE AND TOWEL OFF EXCESS WATER......

THEN I WOULD TRY SOAKING IT, IN AND OUT, WITH FEBREEZE "HEAVY DUTY CRISP CLEAN" FABRIC SPRAY. I WOULD WRAP IT UP IN A ZIPLOCK BAG, AND SET IT OUT IN THE HOT SUN FOR A WEEK, AND SMELL THE RESULTS......

AT THAT POINT, MAYBE A FEW DAYS IN THE FRESH AIR AND SUNLIGHT MIGHT DO THE TRICK......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I have had great luck with baking soda. Just give it time. I'd say a week in the bag with the soda to start with.

I wouldn’t wet it. Do you have access to anyone with an ozonator. It will break down the odor molecules. That’s what car dealers use.

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I invest in Lead and Copper!

Febreze!!!

1) Get a 5 Gallon Plastic bucket with a lid
2) Fill Said bucket with Fish Guts
3) Set bucket out in hot sun for a week.
4) Open Bucket and insert head
5) Deeply inhale.
6) Your Holster will no longer smell that bad.

Hose it down with Febreze? Pack it in dryer sheets?

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On the whistle draw and fire 6

Hello,I agree with minorcan, I bought a nice cherrywood desk from a friend that was wrapped with plastic. When I unwrapped it it reeked of cigarettes. I borrowed an ozone machine and 24 hours later no smell at all.
Semper paratus

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NRA Life Member
CPO

Hanging leather in the sun has always done the job for me.

I would not get the holster wet, and certainly not get vinegar or any other corrosive agent on it, if you ever want to put a gun in it again.

I can only relate this. A few years back we were gone on a camping trip for a couple weeks. While gone, lighting struck the house across the street. It seems it knocked the power out to our freezer. We got back and found a unbelievable mess in said freezer. I wouldn't think of leting the wife clean it up. I first discarded all the food. A dead body couldn't of been worse. Some good scrubbing, several, then a pan of REAL charcoal on every shelf. Royal Oak, not that kingsford stuff. I let that set, with the freezer on as normal for 90 days or so. That seemed to do the trick. Saved me from buying a new freezer.

I worked part time for a clothes cleaner. Heavy smoke like from house fires the clothes would smell bad. They put them in a special room and pumped a chemical into the room and a few days later the smell was gone. Try giving it to a clothes cleaner.

When I did this a couple years ago, I finished up with a holster that smelled of BOTH cigarette smoke and ground coffee! Really regretted doing it.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I picked up a beautiful 50's vintage Heiser shoulder rig at a flea market once that looked almost new but reeked of cigarette smoke and b.o. I used many applications of coffee grounds,dryer sheets(the kind that have a fragrance),baking soda,and charcoal in sealed up baggies.Also several days hanging outside in sunlight. It took a while but eventually the bad smells went away.Then I sprayed it with ordinary Fabreeze to make sure.After several years it is still ok.Good luck.

Many auto detail shops have ozone machines for taking the cigarette smell out of cars.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Interesting thread. Now it`s time for a cup of coffee and a cigarette.
Jim

I went to get some of that Febreeze heavy duty spray, but on
the label it says do not use on leather. So, I bought some
baking soda instead.

Cleaned the holster one more time, dried it, covered it inside and
out with the baking soda, and sealed it in a ziplock bag.

I'm going to put it outside somewhere and leave it for about
a week. (Maybe I will get lucky and someone will steal it.)

After a week goes by I think I will take it out of the bag, brush
off all of the baking soda, and hang it up outside somewhere it
can get some sunlight and fresh air.

To be continued.

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In Omnia Paratus

Be grateful it isn't cat piss.

I guess that's why I don't have any cats. But the 2 dogs do a pretty
good job.

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In Omnia Paratus

I just got a stinky holster and left it hanging in the sunlight for a day. Smoke smell is gone.

Warm water and saddle soap, then let it hang outside in the sun for a few days.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Smells dissipate with time. If dog poop can turn white and lose its odor eventually then your holster probably will, too. I would just hang it up somewhere for a month or two and then take another sniff.

This works.....be careful of the fumes.....: You need: Air tight container large enough to contain a mesh grill, holster and about 1/4" of household ammonia in bottom of container. Pour in ammonia, put grill in place, place holster on grill, seal container, place in sunlight for 8 hours. Take out the holster and smell of it. Still smell cigarette smoke? .... Do over one time using fresh ammonia. Caution, some holster threading might be weakened by the ammonia. Very low likelihood of that happening.

The ammonia fumes absorb all sorts of odors and isolate the odor which then becomes dust and falls out of the air. Works great in rooms with bad odors. Just use more trays of ammonia. ...........

Guys, it is a mistake to get old leather wet with water, let alone with chemicals like vinegar or ammonia.

The leather needs to air out, not be put in a plastic bag.

Words of sound advice for those who choose to heed...

I've wiped down holsters with lemon juice to successfully remove smells from on old stinky holsters. Vinegar, ammonia, and Febreze also work well. After wiping the holster down let it dry then wipe with a little leather conditioner.

My use of ammonia DOES NOT call for the leather being wet with the ammonia. The smell and the ammonia fumes are both air born. The leather will not be damaged following the directions given. ......

Would lemon juice, vinegar, or ammonia have any affect on blued steel? Even after drying?

OK, I've had enough; I'm outta here.

Be careful what you use vinegar on. It will remove gun bluing really fast. That's how I stripped to metal my Colt revolver for rebluing in just minutes with vinegar and a toothbrush.
I wanted to dye a tan holster black. When I tried cleaning the holster it made the color go black. I didn't have to dye it. I forget if I used denatured alcohol or what to clean it. The black color does not bleed out onto clothing either.
I agree with the above set it outside during sunny dry weather and let it air out. LOL Make sure the skies aren't being sprayed on those days because who knows what color the leather might turn.

I haven't tried this on leather, but peroxide, Dawn dishsoap, and baking soda mixed into a paste kills skunk on a dog better than anything I've ever tried. YMMV

I'm not sure airing the holster out alone will get rid of the nicotine. When I worked home electronics repair we would not work on electronics from smokers because of the dangerous nicotine coating on product. Circuit board would be thick with the stuff. Usually the nicotine voided the warranty.

My wife says try putting a bunch of fresh coffee grounds in a thin sock, or fine mesh bag like women wash delicate lingerie in, and stuff it down in the holster. Then put the whole thing in a plastic bag or tupperware-type container and leave it for a few hours or longer.
Another thing to try is about half of a shot glass of vodka every hour, for 5 hours, then on the 6'th hour put some on the holster.
If the smell is still there, at least you will feel better about it.

But seriously, we were able to get a very bad musty smell out of a set of box springs and matress once by mist spraying it all over with a mix of around 75% vodka and 25% water twice a day for 4 days, and letting it evaporate on it's own each day.
Worked like a charm.

Find an ozone machine.

That is a beautiful rig. It’s the way it smells. Embrace it, wear it, live it.

Plan B: If all else fails, take up smoking and the smell probably won't bother you as much.

Been there and done that. Started when I was 17 and quit
when I was 35. That was 48 years ago that I quit.
I believe I would have my olfactory receptors cauterized
before I would take up smoking again.

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In Omnia Paratus

Phil,
I updated the post on the holster with the rancid oil finish.

Please see the update to the update in this thread:
Rancid Oil Finish

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

I second, or third the baking soda. A ziplock bag and throw it in for a while.

Though, whoever suggested taking up smoking got a "like" for thinking outside the box.