worst case scenario, you could cut a plastic bottle to fit and then glue it to the back of the part you want to stiffen
Posted on 07/18/2010 9:47:45 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Can any Freepers tell me how to stiffen too soft leather on the gun holster part of a shoulder holster? The too soft leather grabs the gun and makes it difficult to pull. Any ideas?
Oh, and by the way, it is suddenly somewhat difficult to find quality shoulder holsters online. This government is ruining just about every desireable part of our lives and seems to be doing it all on purpose.
If it won’t shrink the leather, maybe wet it a little at a time.
FUBO!!
I have no idea (heat?) but just chimed in to tell you what a chuckle I get out of your screen name. BTW what does it mean again, God has counted you and you have been found wanting? Interesting that it was just God’s fingers showing up on the wall, right?
What you want is, in fact, called a “stiffener.” It’s usually made out of fibreboard for bookcovers, shirts and other clothing for retail sale. But for your use, it would be made from stiff plastic as an insert. Your gun retailer may know how to get one; otherwise, you’ll have to get one fabricated or do it yourself. It shouldn’t be difficult - for example, take some plastic cutting boards and cut them into 4 different pieces to make a frame inside the holster.
Brand....horsehide or cow ?
Best to just buy new is my first suggestion.
Chk bck ltr....
What kind of holster is it and for what handgun?
I'd suggest buying a high quality shoulder rig. The Galco Jackass shoulder holster is good.
Oops. Sorry. It won’t link. Just google galco jackass.
During the middle ages, leather armor was stiffened by saturating/impregnating the leather with beeswax...this will stiffen the leather temporarily, but with flexion and heat, it will eventually lose its rigidity.
Leather can also be boiled or near boiled in hot water, which will make it stiffer, but has two negative consequences: it will make the leather more brittle, and may also shrink and warp it.
Wish I had an easy fix (or any fix for that matter) for you. About the only thing I can think of that may be helpful would be to disassemble the holster itself (i.e. have the stitching undone), and either line it with a stiff fabric, or stitch in some pockets to hold slats i.e. another peice of stiff leather or spring steel to give it some rigidity...probably easier and cheaper to buy a new holster. Perhaps somebody with a more experience than I can help you out here.
My kids used Kool-Aid to stiffen my leather seats.
Give it to Bill Clinton for three minutes after telling him it is a blue dress. Allow to dry.
Yuck!
worst case scenario, you could cut a plastic bottle to fit and then glue it to the back of the part you want to stiffen
As 11 says... Beeswax should work. A young friend of mine makes holsters and I was amazed how he makes them conform to the gun and keeps them stiff... Beeswax is all he uses.
I rough it up with sand paper and soak it in salt water then sun dry it. Once it is dried out it becomes brittle so make sure you oil it back and work it.
There is a product called something like ‘Glide-Eze’ or similar made by Bianchi or Galco (don’t remember which one). It’s a leather lubricant that you treat the inside of your shoulder holster with. It sort of seals the leather and makes it more slippery. It comes in a very small bottle and it is kind of expensive, but it does work if you can get the drops in the right spots where the holster binds.
Every time I get leather gloves wet, they get really stiff. I wouldn’t think water would hurt the leather.
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