Holster Maintenance

[rimfireshooter]

I have two Galco leather OWB holsters that I have had for a while and I don't use very often. Is there something I should be doing to maintain them so they don't dry out/crack?

 

[minconrevo]

A light coat on the exterior of Fiebing's 4 Way should do. Do NOT use saddlesoap.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have a friend that uses olive oil on saddles and tack. Says it is great. Never tried it myself.

 

[Baxter6551]

Regular Kiwi paste shoe polish and my Dads horsehair shoe brush works great for me.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Yes to Kiwi, except they don’t make it anymore. . You have to find another brand.

No to olive oil. You generally don’t want to “oil” a fitted holster, it will loosen the fit.

 

[gwpercle]

Wax beats oil's and saddle soap ... Seven Ways To Suinday !

You do not want to soften the leather ... a coat and buff with a good Paste Shoe Wax / Polish ... the idea is not to soften the leather .
You want it to hold it's shape , to stay stiff ... no oils !
Gary

 

[chief38]

I polish my EDC holster with Lincoln or Kiwi shoe polish once a year - that is it! The use of oils of any kind will soften up the leather and allow it to stretch and get a little sloppy, therefore not retaining the gun properly. A hoister should be stiff, not sloppy.

 

[Oldbird13]

Every “pro” shoeshiner I ever used/saw was a Lincoln fan. I have used their neutral on several leather holsters, belts and slings.

 

[jframejoey]

Rub liberally with Ballistol inside and out then wipe it clean with another dry rag.

 

[Valmet]

Rub liberally with Ballistol inside and out then wipe it clean with another dry rag.

+1. This is what I’ve been doing for the past decade or so…

 

[JKP099]

I use "Montana Pitch Blend" on all my leather holsters, sheaths, stacked leather handles, boots and leather jackets.

 

[Murphy's Law]

Nothing better than "Renaissance" wax to my way of thinking (micro-crystalline wax polish). I purchased a 200 ml container years ago and still have half a can. Little bit goes a long ways.

 

[Onomea]

Leather n Rich. (Now where's Red Nichols? Time for him to show up and chastise us all! )

 

[Matt_X]

The galcos, as well as most modern leather I have, appears to have a finish that completely seals the leather. Something like a spray paint or dye. If so then something more like a shoe polish (wax) would seem to make more sense than a saddle leather product.