OLD leather holster ?

[BossHogg]

I came across a older Roy's pancake holster and want to use it with my S&W 36-1. The 36-1 is nickel plated and the holster is very stiff and rough on the inside. Is there a way to soften up the rough inside as I don't want to mess the plating on the gun up.

As the holster was made by Roy Baker I'm sure there is some history with the holster. Excellent holster design and a super fit. It was made for the 3 inch S&W 36.

 

[rcmodel]

It's just the natural inside grain of leather.
They probably used an acrylic finish to seal it inside & out, which made the fuzzys stiff.
It is not especially abrasive.

You coud try reaching down inside and knocking down the roughness with fine sandpaper.
Then washing the inside with rubbing alcohol or hot water, and then insert the gun, inside a plastic bag while it is still wet.

The high spots will compress and the leather mold itself to the gun as it dries.

As for finish wear?
Any holster will eventually wear the finish if you carry the gun in it.

But dust & dirt inside a holster is what wears it the most.

rc

 

[BossHogg]

Hey thanks for the quick reply RC. I think I'll go with the hot water and see if that smooths it up. Again thanks.

 

[leatherworker]

I know I'm a bit late on this but I'll throw my two cents at you. You can also get some Gum Tragacanth from your local leather store and use a dauber or brush and apply that to the rough side of the leather and then use a paint stir stick or the smooth bottom side of a spoon and rub the rough side of the leather down and let it dry.