OT: Holster fit

[perry owens]

Before I returned to the UK I bought a Rio Bravo double rig for my 51/2in Ruger Old Armys from Shelhart. Only now have I had a chance to try the guns in them. The fit to the right hand holster is a little tight but OK but the gun does not go far enough into the left hand holster for safe carry during a CAS match. Is there any way to stretch or relax holsters to get a better fit? I thought about soaking it in water and leaving the clingfilm-wrapped gun it it but that may ruin the finish of the leather.
Perry Owens

[Jeff Quinn]

Don't use water. Use silicone spray. the kind sold for waterproofing leather and such. Soak it really well, and jam the guns in tightly and leave to dry.

[Doc Hudson]

The water treatment will work and will not damage the finish of your holster. Spray your revolver heavily with a water displacing lubricant, wrap tightly in plastic shrinkwrap and leave it in until the leather drys, it might take a couple or three days.

As an alternative, you can soak your holster in rubbing alcohol, that way you can get away with a heavy spray of lubricant and skip the shrinkwrap. The alcohol dries faster and does not cause rust on your six-gun. On the downside, the alcohol might lighten the dye on the leather. This is the method I use when I make holsters.

[1988rrc]

just wrap the gun in plastic food wrap and jam into the holster; no need to wet anything. this will stretch out the holster and will not harm anything.

[Charles]

I have used several different methods and the method suggested by Jeff Quinn far and away the best. Buy some silicone spray and spray it to the inside of the holster until it runs out the seams. Work the pistol in and let it sit until all is good and dry. The pistol will go in and come out as slick as snot on a glass door know and when left in the holster will never rust. I got this from Terry Murbach and it works as discribed.

[O.S.O.K.]

I've always heard that the silicone isn't good for the leather long-term?

I use olive oil on all of my leather and it works very well for keeping them supple and for cleaning. It does darken the leather though.

Sorry, not much help...

[Naphtali]

This procedure you do once. More than once will not be beneficial for the leather.

Needed:
Isopropyl alcohol 99 percent and a container-bucket large enough to submerge your holster.

Plastic-handled toothbrush or other firm smooth rounded tool of about the same length.

Whatever skin-tight covering for revolver is your preference.

Gloveoleum® or neats foot oil.

Leather wax.
***
1. Soak holster in alcohol until it is soft.

2. Insert [protected] revolver into holster and use fastening retainer -- that is, revolver is in holster in the manner in which you intend to carry it.

3. Using fingers and toothbrush handle, "bone" the leather to revolver. Do this relatively quickly because alcohol will evaporate.

4. Let dry six hours. This is unnecessarily long, but what the heck.

5. If holster's safety device is thumb break or safety strap, apply Gloveoleum® or neats foot oil to that portion of the leather that flexes.
***
Result will be a form-fitting holster with a hard interior bearing surface. You can apply leather wax to exterior/non-bearing surfaces if you want to.

I have used this technique successfully to reshape a three-inch S&W Model 36's thumb break holster to fit an S&W Model 66 2.5-inch revolver for a detective, friend of mine.

Hope this helps.

[perry owens]

Thanks for the advice everyone. As there seems to be a difference of opinion and it's a double rig I may try the water treatment on one holster and silicone on the other.I could also try isopropyl alchohol on some shotshell slides.
Perry Owens