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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 05-27-2017, 09:13 AM
at_liberty at_liberty is offline
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Default How do you store your holsters?

Taking the lead from the "spare grips" thread, I thought I would ask a similar question, yet really about all the carry gear, not just holsters. How do you store/display your carry gear?

I have a number of pairs of leather holsters, one black and one natural or cordovan. I store each of those pairs in large zip locks (ventilated) and then all in a plastic storage box by each whole-numbered barrel length. Cross draws are in a separate container. The stack of 3, 4, 5+, and cross draw stackable containers fit neatly enough near the safe.

The cartridge belts and bandoliers are typically loaded with nickel plated cartridges and hang on the wall, often with holsters included. There are no children around, ever, so this might not work for everyone. Some of this gets locked up with powder and ammo, if I will be gone for a spell.
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Old 05-27-2017, 09:21 AM
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I just throw them all in a drawer.
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Old 05-27-2017, 09:32 AM
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I thought everyone had a "holster bin"?


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Old 05-27-2017, 09:35 AM
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Leather: Polish and wrap in cheese cloth and place in walmart shopping bag and store in drawer.

Full Kydex and Kydex/leather combo: place in walmart shopping bag and store in drawer.
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Old 05-27-2017, 10:11 AM
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Miscl holsters are thrown in a drawer. I also set up a duty belt complete w/holster, double mag carrier & handcuff case. Not sure why I have a set up like this, it's only used for LEOSA certification.
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Old 05-27-2017, 10:46 AM
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The ones I use all the time sit in the safe, close to the pistols. the ones I might use are in a wooden box in the gun room/office. The ones I never use are in wooden boxes in the garage . . .
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Old 05-27-2017, 11:03 AM
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Whichever ones that I'm not using or trying to sell on eBay, end up in a Rubbermaid container

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Old 05-27-2017, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by dben002 View Post
Leather: Polish and wrap in cheese cloth and place in walmart shopping bag and store in drawer.

Full Kydex and Kydex/leather combo: place in walmart shopping bag and store in drawer.
Could we pursue this sidebar re storage of leather? I am certainly aware of mildew in shoes.
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Old 05-27-2017, 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by at_liberty View Post
Could we pursue this sidebar re storage of leather? I am certainly aware of mildew in shoes.
Valid point indeed....I do take the leather ones out and clean them every couple of months.
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Old 05-27-2017, 01:34 PM
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Shoes are subjected to lots of moisture from our feet being stuck in them. Not a pleasant thought but true. I've stuck my holsters in a box for many years and have never seen one of mine mildew. I have seen mildewed holsters but I suspect they were stored in damp conditions. I keep the ones I will use either in a box in my living room or in the safe with the handgun they go with. I have them piled on top of ammo cans mostly. I have quick access to them that way. I have a whole series of rejected holsters I have in various boxes in the garage. It may take a month to find all of them.
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Old 05-27-2017, 03:34 PM
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I thought everyone had a "holster bin"?


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Mine's in the very larger gun safe. I have a lot of money in expensive leather.
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Old 05-27-2017, 06:12 PM
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Plastic holster bins. Some in their original plastic bags in those bins. I have some really old holsters that were given to me. I just toss them into the bin and forget about them unless I need one. The best thing is the lovely aroma of leather when I open the bin. But they don't have any problems. My grips are in there, too. I don't worry about such things.
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Old 05-27-2017, 06:47 PM
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I have mine on a shelf on my work bench. I use them for reference.
"Now how'd I do that again?"
If I find myself with a surplus, either they'll go in the classified section of the forum or I'll do a karma give away.
I have some factory made holsters that I use to show people the difference between factory and hand made.
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Old 05-27-2017, 06:59 PM
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I live in SE Ohio, summers are very humid and I have to keep
after my leather all the time. I had mildew problems for years.
I've got some much leather it is a whole days job to wipe it down.
I had mine stored in old wooden ammo boxes like drawers in the
garage. After the ongoing mildew situation and a mouse chewing
on a $100 holster, I started storing them in 20mm ammo cans
with airtight lids. So far it has worked. I treat my leather with
Neets Foot oil to keep it from drying out. All my stuff is natural
tan, so it doesn't effect color other than getting a little darker
with age.
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Old 05-27-2017, 07:05 PM
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Depends.

While I still have a couple spares in the original plastic, the rest of mine are all kept in various boxes, or some of them in a drawer or two, and then there's the ones stacked on shelves, racks and in narrow boxes in the safe (all filled with guns).

The ones used most often are typically either in a drawer (with spare mags, speedloaders & speedstrips), or else holding the guns in the safe or a lock box. Different holsters for different roles can increase what's kept on hand, too.

Old habits for leaving some guns holstered go back to my younger cops days, when I'd leave my duty weapons in my gun belt's duty holster, with the belt hanging from a locker hook, or if it was wet weather (and the holster needed to dry out between shifts) I'd remove the weapon and wipe it off, sit on the shelf, and let the empty holster dry out a bit before the next shift.

I'm not exactly fussy about either storage, inventorying of separating them, although the ones I've not used for some years end up more or less stored away in other boxes, compared to the ones I might often use for training/carry.

I use golden rods and dehumidifiers in my safe and some of my other cabinets, or pack older holsters away in boxes protected from temperature swings and moisture, so I've been lucky to avoid mold or other moisture damage. The ones kept inside indoor boxes and drawers are also protected from excessive humidity and moisture.

For any range sessions where there's heavy rain, I switch from leather to plastic. I do not miss the days of having wet basket-weave leather after being forced to be out in rain for many hours at a time.
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Old 05-27-2017, 08:09 PM
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Default storage for Holsters

I have 2 large plastic totes .One for Kydex and the other one for leather holsters. I have several that are shoe box size to hold spare pistol magazines . I have two cigar boxes that house my loaded speed loaders.
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Old 05-28-2017, 01:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ldryder View Post
Whichever ones that I'm not using or trying to sell on eBay, end up in a Rubbermaid container
Everyone I've sold, comes back to haunt me, I usually end up with another pistol exactly like the other ones then can't locate a holster.
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Old 05-28-2017, 01:17 PM
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Everyone I've sold, comes back to haunt me, I usually end up with another pistol exactly like the other ones then can't locate a holster.
Steve
Same here. Being left handed, my holsters aren't much good in a trade or sale of the associated pistol, so I just keep them . . .
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Old 05-28-2017, 01:17 PM
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large cardboard box under a table. really large cardboard box. the ones I use regularly I have in an empty drawer in a dresser where they can be accessed more easily.
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Old 05-28-2017, 01:35 PM
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Shoe box in the walk in closet near the ready safe...........for the one's I use on a regular basis........................

box in the workshop with ones I used from time to time ..... at the range and cabin......

Big Box-O Grips..... is a Rubbermaid bin
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Old 05-28-2017, 01:37 PM
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Thrown into an empty drawer

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Old 05-28-2017, 04:28 PM
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Quote:
I live in SE Ohio, summers are very humid and I have to keep
after my leather all the time.
I lived in SE Ohio or across the river in Kentucky for about 35 of the last 40 years and I have never had a single issue with mildew on a holster. Could be where your storing yours. A garage is a natural collection point for moisture. The concrete heats and cools at a different rate than the ground around it and that makes it draw moisture. I keep most of my holsters in a garage too but inside a safe where the humidity is controlled or some that are in a cooler where temperatures don't swing so fast. I do have some in boxes but they're ones I don't care much about. I've never had issues with those either.
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Old 05-28-2017, 07:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KalamazooKid View Post
I thought everyone had a "holster bin"?
Guilty as charged

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Old 05-28-2017, 07:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by at_liberty View Post
I have a number of pairs of leather holsters, one black and one natural or cordovan. I store each of those pairs in large zip locks (ventilated) and then all in a plastic storage box by each whole-numbered barrel length. Cross draws are in a separate container. The stack of 3, 4, 5+, and cross draw stackable containers fit neatly enough near the safe.
LOL - don't waste your time and energy. A decent leather holster will out live you and me. I have one particular leather rig for 20 years now and never did anything to it but wear it. Besides looking well broken in there's not a thing wrong with. Throw them all in a file size cardboard box.
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Old 05-30-2017, 01:33 AM
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A shelf or draw works fine - but try and do that in a climate controlled room. Avoid extreme heat and cold.
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Old 05-30-2017, 07:52 AM
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I have them ( only 8 ) in a draw, and each one stuffed with a cotton rag "slightly" sprayed with silicon .
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Old 05-30-2017, 08:45 AM
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In their original box (if I have them) or in a baggie. Then all are in a heavy cotton tote bag.
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Old 05-30-2017, 10:28 AM
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Mine end up in a drawer, cabinet or safe, in a climate controlled basement. Nothing special really. I've only seen one of them, a very old leather tanker holster, with a bit of verdigris around the brass snap. I am guilty of throwing nylon holsters in the dishwasher when they collect too much dirt. Basically they get stored wherever I lay them down.
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Old 05-30-2017, 10:46 AM
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Holsters hang from a rod by a strap in a well ventilated closet
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Old 05-30-2017, 11:42 AM
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Mine are placed in a drawer in one of my unused bedrooms. It is climate controlled obviously. I check them fairly often for any problems that might arise. None so far!
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Old 05-30-2017, 02:54 PM
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I keep mine in a brown bag on an open shelf in the basement. I get mildew on any leather stored any place else than in the basement.

As an aside, I keep a knife collection with various sheaths and scabbards in an air tight plastic box with some small gun safe desiccants on the main floor. No problem with mildew.
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