doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT--Vintage Leather Care

A second cousin passed away last year and I inherited a older Eubanks holster. Not being familiar with this sort of thing I did a little research and found that this is a classic holster near to a Heiser in desirability. The name stamp style places the manufacture before 1950. It's a basket weave, rawhide edged, open top design, their model number 87, marked K22, 6. It fits my K22 nicely.

Overall, there seems to be very little wear from use. The main condition problem is that the leather is somewhat dry (Cousin Frank lived in the desert). The only cracking or crazing is on the retaining strap that snaps over the grip of the gun. It has some cracks in the surface but has not thinned down too much and is supple.

What would be the best thing to do preserve the leather, and, best case scenario, bring it to a condition in which I could occasionally use it? Should I just retire the old thing?

I found a site, vintagegunleather.com, that has an essentially identical holster, of later vintage and better condition, for $85. There is not a lot of great value other than sentimental and the fact that it's old and of a design that I like and that is not very easy to find today.

By the way, to answer the question that would occur to me if I read this post, the nurse who was attending Frank on his deathbed
said that the "38" that she was planning to send us dissapeared after he passed. Frank was without children and various caretakers and housekeepers had access to the place for a short time after he died, before we could secure it. Some fool probably got it home and got mad when he saw how small the holes in the cylinder were.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

SK

Neatsfoot oil.

Wait for one of the horse guys to chime in - they deal with all that tack and really know.

I find neatsfoot oil is too softening in comparison with some of the specialty leather restoring potions.

I use a Connoly Hide Treatment that I got on e-bay. Another is Lexol. That is the same stuff we used to use on tack and saddles. They have a Lexol cleaner as well as a Lexol leather renewer. Do not use Mink oil. Mink oil can cause the cotton thread to rot prematurly.

DO NOT USE MINK OIL OR NEATSFOOT OIL! They soften the leather too much and cause it to be too pliable. I would use Lexol cleanser first if its really dirty and then Lexol conditioner if I was going to use it. If its not too dirty just give it a light cleaning with some mild soap and water, let it dry completely, and then a light rub with a little Lexol. Remember, two light treatments is much better than trying to coat it down all at once. If you can't get Lexol, wipe it down with a mild soap wash, let it dry and then rub a little neutral shoe polish on it.

Renaissance Wax

I have been looking for something similar to restore an old leather double case.
Neat's-foot oil you have to watch, most modern types have petroleum additives.
If its pure it should be OK, but as stated it may soften too much.
A name which keeps coming up by those in the know is Pecards antique leather dressing.
It was also mentioned in the double gun classics emag.
We cannot get it here but I will shortly have a two pound tub winging its way over from the makers.
http://www.pecard.com/store.php?crn=207

GDU

Cooter,
There are a number of good products out there. The water based stuff like saddlesoaps and glyceryn liquids will clean well but may rot the cotton thread of old leather tack and such, if used frequently. I've found this product at my local boot store to be a very good alternative to Lexol products which I've used on my saddles and tack with mixed results. This is a fairly expensive product to use on a saddle but is more practical for your use and tack. BTW, it will not darken the leather like oils (neatsfoot, etc) but still softens a bit, but not so much as neatsfoot. I've used it on a $4000 saddle as well as my boots and tack.

http://www.bootbarn.com/itemview/view/view/view/view/1919/popular/All/All/All

John Lobb shoe cream.

Best I've ever found to preserve old leather holsters, spur straps and gun cases is Pecard Antique Leather Dressing. Contact info: Pecard Chemical Co. Inc., 1836 Industrial Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54302.
OOps - just noted the post above with the web address: http://www.pecard.com/store.php?crn=207