Made a holster

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Couldn't find a holster I liked for my wife's Rossi 971 so I decided to make one. I'm pretty pleased with my first attempt, but can't quite decide what to put on the leather. I like the natural look of neatsfoot or mink oil, but I am afraid it will make it too soft. I tried a little brown shoe polish on a scrap, but didn't like that either. Any ideas?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/mlindsay527/image.jpg2_zps7ltsrddk.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/mlindsay527/media/image.jpg2_zps7ltsrddk.jpg.html)
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/mlindsay527/image.jpg1_zpstgbe65qf.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/mlindsay527/media/image.jpg1_zpstgbe65qf.jpg.html)

[Blackwater]

A few conchos?

[Mk42gunner]

Beeswax or neutral shoe polish works, and doesn't darken (or more importantly, soften) the leather nearly as much as neetsfoot or mink oil.

Robert

[DoubleAdobe]

Is that chrome tanned leather or possibly latigo?
A sparing application of neutral paste shoe polish will help a little I think on either one. If you are careful with neatsfoot oil and put a very light coat on, it won't soften it much at all.

[Walkingwolf]

Chrome tanned leather is tanned with chrome salts, make sure using this type of leather to care for the gun daily to avoid corrosion. That said I use chrome tanned leather for hot waxed holsters. The hot wax makes the holsters feel like kydex, and it seals the salts to protect the gun. Water will not affect the holster, so in bad weather the holster is not transferring more salts to the gun. This is the only way I would use chrome tanned leather for my guns.

I made this for my wife's snubbie, I do not have it anymore, she now carries a SMC 380 so I sold it. It was 7oz black latigo leather.

http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t575/Walking_wolf/c2e698f0-6b86-4ef9-baea-57c8f4034e87_zpsgpvxtjus.jpg

[Greg S]

I have treated the four I made this past winter with 3-4 even coats of neatsfoot oil after te wet molding process. The holster were first dipped in warmish water (140) and saturated and formed. There was several boning sessions as they dried. Once dry, the holsters were pretty stiff, the edges were finished and the stitch lines and edges waxed. A concoction of bees wax and neetsfoot oil can be mixed up and also applied.

[duckey]

I have used paraffin wax on a couple knife sheaths, makes water head off like a ducks back. I got the wax real hot then dipped the whole sheath in for about ten seconds or until everything was coated, pulled it out and wiped all the residual wax off. If you can get all the extra off before it hardens put it in the microwave for (if there is no metal) 10 seconds and Ben wipe off. Hair dryer also works.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Thanks everyone. My best guess is that it is latigo out of a remnant bag from Hobby Lobby. As such, I'll be sure never store the revolver in the holster and wipe down after use. I've ordered some Sno-Seal that I am going to give a try. It is mostly bees wax but if it doesn't work out, should be fine for my boots.

[Geezer in NH]

Hint wrap the gun in Saran wrap and soak the holser in very warm to hot water with the gun in it then press hard around the gun to form it in. Then let dry. It will be fitted exactly! You will like it.