Recommendations on old holster leather care

[lkgmadmax]

Hi Guys:

I have a plastic bin full of WWI & WWII holsters and some are drying and starting to develop fine surface cracks. Are they any safe recommended products that will help with this condition without over doing it? Thanks for the recommendations. -David

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[RT Ellis]

I have experimented with a few leather dressings and can start by saying avoid any lanolin based products. My experience with a lanolin based dressing/preservative is the dressing had a chemical reaction with the brass buckle and destroyed the leather. Another product I tried, on a rather already dark strap for a canteen cover (mounted) M1917, turned the leather black, and it doesn't appear there is any way to restore it to brown.

I have had a lot of success with Pecard Antique Leather Dressing, that as the title implies was developed especially for "old" leather. One feature of this dressing is it doesn't darken the leather as some products do. I have used Pecard's on military leather from the Civil War onward and have had no complaint.

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If you check around this and other websites you will find some lengthy discussions and opinions as to the best leather dressing for your purpose. You will probably get some differing recommendations here. Any product you try I suggest doing a test on something that is expendable if available.

[WarPig1976]

Was pointed toward Pecard's a few years ago by members of this forum to preserve my Grandfather's kidney belt that was dry and cracking, used for riding motorcycles back in the day. Well, best stuff I ever used.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I have used pure anhydrous lanolin (avaliable at the pharmacy in 1 lb jars) with good results. Applied it recently to the dried up leather disks on a no 3 knife handle and it sewlled them up perfectly.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I used several things in the past, and nothing compared to Pecard's.

[gew8805]

Carefully read Post #5 here:

What to use for dried out leather?

Use whatever you decide to use lightly, do not overdo, that causes more destruction than even petroleum based products like Pecards.

Lanolin and neatsfoot oil applied lightly will do the most good.