I picked up a vintage Safariland 29 tan holster and a vintage Safariland cartridge drop and ordered a Badass Belt to match them. It’s pretty close. But I was wondering if anyone has tried to dye their holsters or belts to try to match them. Here it is what do you think. Am I being silly.
Thanks
Jeff

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I have learned from experience that it is extremely difficult to get dye jobs
to match. If holster and belt are made by the same person and they are
dyed together, they can match. If not, as I said, it's extremely difficult.
Yours look pretty good as is. Trying to dye one or the other might just
mess up something that already looks ok.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I have tried color matching with wood, not leather and I can assure you it is almost impossible, even using the same brand of stain. I don't even try anymore.

In my experience it's best to do all the dying at the same time and the leather should all be from the same piece to get the most uniform color.
Unless you want black.

As a long time woodworker I've had to color match new and old wood and different species more times than I care to remember!! While I have not done this to Leather, I can't imagine that it would be any different.

Always start with a mixture on the lighter side - as you can always go darker, but never lighter without stripping. Experiment with your mixture in an inconspicuous location o the leather goods. Once you get the color match perfect - go for it, but remember, you can always add another coat to darken, so sometimes I find the process tales a few shots.

HINT:

When making a mixture, always use the same brand dye and same product type. Not saying using different brands won't work - but I've always tried to stay within the same brand so I keep characteristics the same.

Getting a match , at home with products available to DIYers , will be like winning the lottery .
A professional leather shop (shoe , saddle or holster) maybe could strip all three and dye them a darker color ...oxblood or black ... get a satisfactory color match and refinish the leather but the cost might be higher than you want to pay .
I would get a contrasting color for my belt ... no law says they have to match . I had a light colored suede gun belt that looked good with the tan holster I once had . Still have holster but waist outgrew the belt years ago .
Maybe some other members can post photo's of contrasting belt / holster rigs ... they just might look nice and be easier than re dying .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

O.K. here are five that I think either match or they are "close enough"
for me. Left to Right:

Holster and belt both by Chic Gaylord with my Model 29.

Seventrees holster on a Haugen gunbelt with Model 19.

Brill holster and I got lucky when I found the James belt. Model 10 4"

Ken Null holster with the Haugen belt again. Model 10 2"

Heiser holster and I'm pretty sure I got lucky again with the Texas
Gunslinger belt. The gun is a 1911 Colt GCNM

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__________________
In Omnia Paratus

“Dying” is different from “dyeing”.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That one little letter makes a huge difference doesn't it !
Spelling was one of my worser subjects in school and it shows.
Gary

__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I’ve put neatsfoot oil on holsters or belts and put them in the sun monitoring them until they matched whatever I was trying to match them to. It works though neatsfoot oil has to be used sparingly on holsters or they’ll soften them up way to much. Even dying leather with the same dye could be a problem. I made a belt and holster for a guy in Wyoming then later he wanted another holster for the belt. I used the same leather and the same dye and he returned it because it didn’t match. I think because the outdoor exposure of light to the first belt and holster changed it. I was cool with that and sold the 2nd holster to friend at a discount so all was well.
I’ve found Tandy’s “saddle tan” dye identical to neatsfoot in color and tone.

Like them as they are!!

Randy

That old Safariland holster has never been dyed. It was finished with neatsfoot oil and an acrylic lacquer surface sealer/finish coat.

Natural leather is photo-active, meaning that it will darken over time due to exposure to sunlight.

Leather dyes will affect each piece of leather differently, and there is no precise way to predict what the final effects may be on any individual piece, particularly when dealing with pieces cut from different hides. Also, finish coats will usually cause dyed leather to darken and the final results are unpredictable.

Attempting to dye existing products with finish coats applied is most likely to result in uneven results. I would not recommend that unless you are willing to accept a completely different combination of results in your holster, belt, and ammo pouch than you now have.

Best regards.

If that was my only mistake today I'm doing pretty good. LOL