Leather holsters

[CBStuard]

I have two Crossbreed OWB holsters. One horsehide and one premium cowhide. They both squeak. Tried all the things that I see on the web and suggested by Crossbreed. Also have tried two different leather belts and one webbing belt. Bottom line is they all have 2-3-4 day working life and then need to be re-applied so I am tired of that. Thinking of trying a leather belt slide holster like the Galco Fletch high ride but am afraid this might be even worse. How have all leather holsters worked for you?

 

[Rpg]

I wonder if the holster/belt interface is tight enough.

In over 40 years, I've never had such an issue, but I always use belts designed by the holster maker.

In my case, Matt DelFatti or Milt Sparks.

More expensive leather may be in order: don't cheep out on belt or holster.

I wouldn't put any product on the leather.

 

[rednichols]

I have two Crossbreed OWB holsters. One horsehide and one premium cowhide. They both squeak. Tried all the things that I see on the web and suggested by Crossbreed. Also have tried two different leather belts and one webbing belt. Bottom line is they all have 2-3-4 day working life and then need to be re-applied so I am tired of that. Thinking of trying a leather belt slide holster like the Galco Fletch high ride but am afraid this might be even worse. How have all leather holsters worked for you?

I can solve this for you but need more info. "Reapplied"? What are you telling us here?

 

[Comrad]

Rub some candle wax on the points that make contact.

 

[CBStuard]

I can solve this for you but need more info. "Reapplied"? What are you telling us here?

I tried a leather conditioner. Applied it, let it dry, seemed to help for 3-4 days, then needed to apply again. Tried talcum powder. this seems to be the most effective but also needs to be re-applied every 3-4 days. One belt is a Bullhide belt, the other is a standard but double layer very stiff non-gun belt from Gander Mtn. that I already had. Bullhide says their belt isn't the problem. Crossbreed says, yeah, they sometimes have squeaks w/ the horsehide. I have gotten the horsehide holster to work pretty well by covering all contact areas w/ a 3M anti-squeak clear tape. Decided to try a cowhide version but it is just as bad as the horsehide used to be so it is in a drawer.

 

[ContinentalOp]

A few thoughts.

Have you let the belt/holster contact points break in? If you wear it without applying anything for a few days to a week they may break in.

Have you tried Kiwi Neutral Paste Wax? It's always worked well for me to quiet leather-to-leather squeak. It does need to be applied periodically, but for me that's every 1-2 months. YMMV.

Are you sure it's belt-to-holster contact that's causing the squeak? I just looked up the Crossbreed OWB holsters. I don't own a hybrid leather/kydex holster, but I wonder if the contact points between the kydex body and the leather backing is causing the squeaks. You could try removing the kydex body and apply some wax to the contact areas on the leather.

Are you sure you're not the only one who can really hear the squeak? Kind of like printing, it may not be noticeable to anyone else.

 

[gman51]

I never heard anything leather squeak but I often hear like a crunching sound. Myself I like that sound. To me it just says leather. I don't believe any of my small gun leather holsters making any noise though. Leather holsters is all I ever wear and none are pancake style. I only wear OTB belt clip ons.
Maybe I just don't know what the squeak is that you are talking about.

 

[snubbyfan]

I never heard anything leather squeak but I often hear like a crunching sound. Myself I like that sound. To me it just says leather. I don't believe any of my small gun leather holsters making any noise though. Leather holsters is all I ever wear and none are pancake style. I only wear OTB belt clip ons.
Maybe I just don't know what the squeak is that you are talking about.

I'm with Gman here.
I like my leather. It does squeak a bit every now and then but that doesn't bother me at all.
I know a little leather squeak doesn't necessarily give away the fact that I'm carrying.

 

[Aircrewman]

While you might be able to do something to mitigate the squeak of leather periodically, it will not go away. I have worn leather professionally for over 30 years. It squeaks. Always has and always will. Synthetic doesn't. Leather does. Like some posters, I like the sound. However, it does sometimes make it difficult to sneak up on someone......!

 

[rednichols]

All interesting viewpoints .

When we remember that there is a reason that we use glue to assemble leather holsters, and it's not to keep everything in position and it's not to make it last longer (neither is correct), one recalls from our early playing with leather, that it prevents squeaks! In even the finest holsters; try building one of your best without any glue at all and re-discover squeaking.

Leather saddles squeak where the loose parts rub together; and that's what happens with a hybrid: the rubbing of the loosely connected pieces, such as loosely-set rivets or with chicago screws used for assembly.

Simple: glue your kydex shell to your leather backing, then reattach it with whatever fasteners were supplied. Why wouldn't the maker know this? Because they didn't come up through the ranks of the leather holster makers, and really don't know much about holsters at all.

You've mentioned that you've had this problem with your web belt, so it's not the belt rubbing against the holster (only a leather belt would cause squeaks against the leather of the holster).

For glue you can use the Barge you'll buy in a tube at your local hardware; or if you're a synthetics man, you will do even better with the adhesive/sealant used to hold the windshield into your car. The latter comes in black and can be applied more thickly than the leather-only glue that is Barge.

 

[CBStuard]

Thanks guys. I will try the Kiwi and candle wax first. Leave the glue til last as it is mostly belt to holster squeak I am hearing.