Let's Revisit Squeaky Leather

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Good Ol' Boy

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So I currently have a high quality leather holster and belt. I've been carrying the holster for around 6-8 months and the belt has been used for a few years.

Point being is they are fairly "broke in". But things seem to get squeakier as time goes on. Things were less squeaky when I first got the holster.

To lay everything on the table the holster is a The Masters Holster for a G26, you can look them up, and the belt a is 1/4" thick 1 1/2" wide cowhide that's locally made and good quality.


I'm already planning on a new belt, have been for some time. Mainly for adjustability and wear. Has nothing to do with the squeak.


So question is what can I do to minimize squeak with my current leather on leather combo? And once I get a new belt, probably a nylon variation, is there anything else to take into account?


I'm seriously considering a kydex pancake type holster to go with the new belt if I dont get this figured out. As much as I like leather I'm getting tired of the squeaking.
 
A leather treatment that would soften the leather would eliminate the squeaks but softening a good holster also eliminates it's retention. Fixing a problem with another (worse) problem.

Truthfully I have never had holsters or belts that squeaked. I smear a couple of dabs on Renaissance Wax a couple of times a year but I don't consider it a squeak eliminator. I have tried Kydex holsters and would prefer a holster that squealed like a stuck hog verses the lack of comfort a Kydex holster affords.

I switch from IWB to OWB frequently year round and have a Wilderness Instructor Belt. The infinite adjustability of the nylon Wilderness makes it a great belt for switching from OWB to IWB holsters but lacked the rigidity I could get with a reinforced leather belt.

So I got one of these and am very happy with it:

https://blade-tech.com/products/ucb
 
I've not experienced the problem, but have read some folks have fixed the problem by putting a little talcum/baby powder at the holster/belt contact points.
 
Good quality stiff leather will usually squeak until well worn. You can use some talcum powder in the areas where the holster and belt make contact.
 
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Is it possible to change the clip of the holster to a nylon or kydex clip? I noticed the squeaking on my holster stopped when I changed from a metal to nylon belt clip.
 
I've generally always conditioned the leather once (usually about 6 months to 12 months in depending on how much I use that gun/holster) and then just left them alone.

My holsters don't squeak, so ....
 
Please, before trying to soften the leather and eventually ruin a good holster, just put some light coat of clear shoe wax (think KIWI in a tin can) on the contact points. You can polish your holster and belt with it if you so desire - it definitely helps preserving the leather doing it once or twice a year.
 
Do we know the holster has a metal clip?

The OP was somewhat vague with his description...

Looking at the site, the clips look metal to me. I had the same problem with metal belt clips on my holster. Switching to nylon stopped the squeaking for me.
 
Does the OP say his holster has clips at all?

Deductive reasoning. There are 4 holsters listed on the website. OP says...
I'm seriously considering a kydex pancake type holster
2 of the holsters listed are paddle holsters. So the issue is likely not a paddle. One is a belt slide holster. We have had several threads on THR over the past several years of holsters queaking, and to my knowledge none of them were belt slide. That leaves one holster left to diagnose this problem. And oh wait! Look at this.

AMBIDEXTROUS - Right or Left Hand use:
The metal clip may be placed on the opposite
 
No clips of any sort. This is a belt slide holster. Leather holster with cutouts for the belt.

I tried Johnson's Paste Wax and it worked for about a half hour. Then it started squeaking again.

Haven't tried baby powder yet.

The squeaking seems to be a combination of the contact points and just the holster by itself.

I'm going to see how much a new belt helps. I'm going with a nylon ratchet type.
 
Or maybe some break in. When I get a new holster it is worn constantly at home on our farm while doing chores. Not just to Walmart.
 
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