Old holster refurbish day!

RVTECH · Feb 12, 2026

Cleaning up and about ready to re - oil an old Bauer Bros holster for my High Standard Sentinel.

It's in pretty good shape, smooth leather and washed up well just really dry!

And digging through my junk I recall another old holster I had. It's an old Bucheimer Plainsman B36-79 for a 1911! Seems to fit well but needs cleaning and oiling up as well.

Whatta ya all usin' for YOUR leather holsters these days? Yea, I know Mink oil was the bees nutz back in the day , and Neetsfoot oil but maybe something new - and less expensive?

Knobgoblin · Feb 12, 2026

Put me down as a wax fan.

Moeca · Feb 12, 2026

I have started using Montana pitch blend both oil and paste. So far seems to be good stuff and applies easy. The paste does take a little more effort to work in but leaves a nice finish.

64MercurysRule · Feb 16, 2026

Nice info . Thank you .

Andy54Hawken · Feb 16, 2026

Huberd Shoe Grease....
Or a mixture of bear grease , deer tallow and a light amount of bees wax.

Works well for my leather gear....as well as for "weather proofing" wood stocks.
Andy

Stomper · Feb 16, 2026

Andy54Hawken said:
Huberd Shoe Grease....
Or a mixture of bear grease , deer tallow and a light amount of bees wax.

Works well for my leather gear....as well as for "weather proofing" wood stocks.
Andy

Again with the bear-grease?!

:s0118:

Ben B. · Feb 16, 2026

I use a leather conditioner because that's what the holster makers generally recommend. Current bottle is Bick 4, and that should last a long my time unless I spill it.

I'd wax the holsters if they were going to be getting wet in the woods.

thorborg · Feb 16, 2026

Holsters I like to keep as stiff as possible, so stay away from Silicon, lanolin or oil based products. If using mink or neetsfoot make sure its 100% and not a compound as many add oils and other stuff which can soften the leather, also stay away from vegetable based oils which can lend to rotting over time. Bees Wax or even paraffin included products, pine tar etc are good. Paraffin added to products, even though are petroleum based doesn't seem to soften the leather like the oil because it wont penetrate very far helping keep a moisture barrier.
Obenauf's Leather Oil, pure neetsfoot work well and are not that expensive. I personally don't like mink oil for most things, I use Hubbards logger choice on my boots but can be a little sticky if not done right on holsters, belts etc. I mainly use Neetsfoot or wax based shoe polish matching the color of the dyed leather for stiff things and mink oil for soft leather things, that said, the shoe polish can be problematic if not used on a regular basis as it will tend to dry things out on the long term.
The subject in general is similar to guns or anything else and comes with many different opinions.
What ever you choose, warm the leather but not too much, apply the product well, and be sure to remove all excess with a cotton rag after an hour or so no more, then buff it with a fine hair bristle brush like used for shoes.
The main reason to remove excess finish, especially in seams and around brass or copper fittings is it absorbs the salts and other chemicals from the tanned leather which then can accelerate the fittings turning green and a green goo around them, both are very time consuming to remove. Regular bi yearly application and brushing off will slow or minimize this event.

RVTECH · Feb 24, 2026

Got something called 'Shine - Rite leather care conditioner. Its a lanolin/beeswax blend. Worked well. Not greasy or oily and didn't discolor the leather.

Knobgoblin · Feb 27, 2026

RVTECH said:
Got something called 'Shine - Rite leather care conditioner. Its a lanolin/beeswax blend. Worked well. Not greasy or oily and didn't discolor the leather.

How bout a little Flitz on the snaps?

DrSpeed · May 11, 2026

RVTECH said:
Cleaning up and about ready to re - oil an old Bauer Bros holster for my High Standard Sentinel.

It's in pretty good shape, smooth leather and washed up well just really dry!

And digging through my junk I recall another old holster I had. It's an old Bucheimer Plainsman B36-79 for a 1911! Seems to fit well but needs cleaning and oiling up as well.
View attachment 2248061
Whatta ya all usin' for YOUR leather holsters these days? Yea, I know Mink oil was the bees nutz back in the day , and Neetsfoot oil but maybe something new - and less expensive?

I think it's while to even own a holster with the entire trigger exposed like that

RVTECH · May 11, 2026

DrSpeed said:
I think it's while to even own a holster with the entire trigger exposed like that

While?

Regardless this is a gun I will most likely NEVER carry for any reason so the holster is immaterial. It just came with the gun when it was given to me so along with the gun I want to keep it in good shape!