Cracked holster ???

[Paladin UK]

Ho Pards.........

One of my old holsters has a nasty crack appear !  Whats the best way to sort this out!!

Paladin (what wants to make his old holster better!!  ) UK

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Heck, pard. I don't know any way to un-crack it. It sounds like the leather got dried out and could use some conditioning. You may want to try a little Lexol or a very light coat of liquid saddle soap with conditioners in it. I guess you could sew a patch over it, but that would certainly look hokey. You can help it some, but it sounds like it may have to be retired unless one of the others here know a good way to bring it back to life.

It sounds like a good excuse to do a new pair. 

[Deadeye Don]

Howdy,   If you have a picture of the holster, you might want to post it here so the leather experts  could give you sound advice.   There is nothing like a picture to let us know how bad the crack is and whether there is something practical that can be done to repair it.     Just a thought.   Safe shooting.  Deadeye.

[Trailrider]

Ho Pards.........

One of my old holsters has a nasty crack appear !  Whats the best way to sort this out!!

Paladin (what wants to make his old holster better!!  ) UK

Howdy, Pard,

If the crack isn't too deep, just on the surface and not more than just barely breaking the surface, you MIGHT be able to sand it out and re-dye the new surface.  You may have to re-glaze the place where it is sanded off.  If it doesn't sand out without thinning the leather more than about 1/128", you are probably out of luck!     You can try applying Lexol Leather Conditioner (NEVER USE plain neat's foot oil on holsters or belts), sparingly.  Spray or wipe on and allow to sit for about five minutes, then wipe off the excess and allow to dry.  It will NOT repair a crack, but may keep the rest of the leather from cracking or crazing.

Hope this helps.

Your Pard,

[Irish Dave]

Paladin:

I would recommend Ko-Cho-Line. It should be fairly easy to locate there as it is made in England. It's the best product I've ever seen for saving cracked and dried-out leather. Looks kinda like pink/red grease but works like a charm.

One of my best stories involves an US Army 1880s McKeever cartridge pouch that i bought at a local auction one time. The leather was cracked and dry as a bone, so it didn't sell for much. I took it home and applied Ko-Cho-Line liberally to it each day, allowing it to soak in overnight. By about the end of the third or fourth  day, the leather was soft and pliable. No, the cracks were still there, but it cracked no further and remains as supple today as it could possibly be. Its condition is no longer delicate and now can be handled, displayed and even used for reenacting if I wish.

I've also used it on holsters, saddles, dog collars, boots, various tack and many other leather items.

Nope, I don't own any stock in the company, just passing on the info. I can't praise it enough.