New Holsters Break-in, Leather
 

How do YOU break in your new leather holster?

I put the pistol in a sandwich bag and put it in the holster for the night, I will see how it is in the morning. This new holster is tight! Can't hardly get the pistol out once inserted.

Wrap the gun a few times with saran wrap and holster it overnite. This will stretch the leather in hairlike increments, over time. On some holsters I wrapped the gun, holstered it, then put rubber bands through the belt loops to give the holster a slight bend like it was on my waist on a gun belt. A paint stick through the loops is said to work, never tried that.

wear it, it'll get broken in with time.

I wrap the pistol in a white sweatsock before holstering overnight.

The way most holster makers tell you to do it put the gun in a zip lock bag get all the air of it and stick in the the holster and let it sit for 24 or more hours....


Clyde

I used the sandwich bag instead of the wrap but, same premise. Did not think to do the bands or paint stick idea, thanks!

Understood but, this thing is tight. It is difficult to unholster, not something I want to fight with if I need to use it.

The sweat sock is not too thick and over stretch the leather?

This is how I am doing it. Just trying to see how others do it and if you guys have a better idea. Thanks

When I get a new leather holster for a 1911 I holster the old Springfield Champion in the new holster. The old geezer gun spreads leather well!

Cool, let me borrow it, I promise not to shoot it........much. :D

No problem, you can borrow it, just stick to the unwritten rules and replace the grip safety with an Ed Brown....:D

P.S.- I forgot...old timers I have met wrap guns in wax paper

funny.....

Why wax paper? Just how they used to do it back in the stone age?

OK wise guy....my best advice to you is to pack the holster with tampons and fill with water...it'll stretch....funny

Nope, the sock isn't that thick. Won't stick to or mar the leather or the pistol. No worrying about humidity or moisture. Used this method on every leather rig I own. Used to use the baggies but they never did the job as they were too thin.

funny






PS: Will you be in town towards the end of the month?

Gotcha. I will try those if it does not stretch enough with the bags. Thanks.

Gun in a freezer bag, then a layer of wax paper around the freezer bag and into the holster overnight. The wax paper slicks up the inside of the holster quite nicely.

That's why the saran wrap, wrap it less for thin, more for thicker, adjustable. Bonz, your sock reminded me, I had a tight Springfield leather holster, put a handkerchief before the saran wrap....dry gun and added thickness.

Yup, SC for July 4th with Marines, local till then

If the holster is still too tight after a day or two with the sandwich bag/sweatsock/whatever, another trick that works well is to get the leather warm - NOT hot, just warm.

Turn on your oven to it's lowest setting (around 100 F or so) put the gun in freezer bag in the holster, put 'em both in the oven for a few minutes - long enough to get it warm. If you leave it in too long the leather can get brittle.

If that doesn't work you can get the holster damp, put the gun in a freezer bag and in the holster (not the oven this time). Leave it until it dries. Depending the finish, this'll most likely make it ugly.

Lane

Told ya roach boy. KY

Is his d**g thick enuf to stretch the leather with the KY treatment? Might get arrested for holster abuse...funny

this may sound strange but I go to my local sporting goods store and they have a box that has very high humidity to loosen up baseball gloves. I have it put in there for a bit then holster the gun, put it in a bag, get the air out and its normallaly pretty good then over time of use you are good to go!

That sounds pretty cool....wonder if it would fit my neighbor, he is wound way too tight