Baseball glove oil on holster?

W

Wrothgar

Moderator
Alright, I read the info that came with my crossbreed, but it just said leather conditioner; does baseball glove oil count? Because that's what I bought.
 
Sounds like a good idea to me. I don't see a problem with that working. I think I might try that on my next holster. If you try it, post your findings.
 
Baseball glove oil also acts as a leather softener to help form the pocket. You do not want to soften the holster, quite the opposite. About all my holsters ever see, and even then very rarely, is a light going over with a small amount of Lexol. Avoid any type of mink oil, neatsfoot oil or the like. A really dirty or beat up holster may benefit from being cleaned up with good saddle soap.
 
Glove oil is neetsfoot oil..... a great leather conditioner. However, there is something to be said for conditioning holsters with wax. -Oils tend to soften leather and degrade the firmness of heavily blocked holsters. I use oil on some holster products but prefer a good wax based conditioner on the molded leather models.
 
I would suggest "Skidmore's.... and not much.. as others have said.. you will end up with an oily rag if you over oil your holster.

Much of the leather oils you buy are neatsfoot "Compound"..the compound part is total crap!,,, it will rot stitch lines out and can leave a grease layer behind that always seems to form on the surface.

On all my holsters, saddles and other leather work I make, I use a good helping of "Pure" neatsfoot oil. This 1 application is enough to last the life of the leatherwork... Good creams or soaps can be used for maintenance there after... sometimes if you go for a swim and really soak the leather additional neatsfoot may be applied... but even then I will just use a "little" Skidmore's.
 
All I have seen say no oil. A conditioner or just wipe down with a damp cloth. Oil will soften the leather and a soft holster does not work well.
 
Well, the care sheet that came with it said to wipe/oil it down about once a month or so. That's what I'm going off of. I think I'm still going to use the glove oil, but just very lightly and sparingly.
 
All I have seen say no oil. A conditioner or just wipe down with a damp cloth. Oil will soften the leather and a soft holster does not work well.
Click to expand...

This is what I have heard from holster makers I have always follow and I have a holster that from 1972 that I still use now and then Its just like new
 
I wouldn't recommend any oil on a holster. Every leather holster I ever purchased has recommended the same. The proper way to "break-in" a holster is to work the gun in and out of the holster a couple of hundred times. Further, when my holsters start to look a little worn, I put a coat of shoe polish on them and then brush them to bring back the shine. After which, I gently wipe them with a soft cotton rag to remove any polish the brush did not.
 
to make the inside of my holster a little slicker and easier to draw all i have ever done is either rub candle wax inside or used some of my wifes hand lotion. again i do this to my unlined holsters. lined holsters are smooth enuff for me.
 
I think the best advice is to go with what the manufacturer says. There is no single bit of holster care advice that would apply to all holsters. Since your care sheet said it's ok to lightly oil the holster, then you can lightly oil the holster. I can't think of a better oil to use for that purpose than glove oil.

I have a beautiful Gould & Goodrich holster for a revolver that would not be harmed at all with a light rubbing with the old Louisville Slugger oil I use for my BB glove. But, I wouldn't dream of using it on a Mitch Rosen work of art!

A quick call or email to Crossbreed should answer the question better than adding additional pages to this thread:

Phone: 888-732-5011
Email: info@crossbreedholsters.com
 
Personally, I clean with saddle soap and use a coat of "neutral" shoe polish wax to preserve and protect. It's worked out very well for me. There are various specialty products now, but "if it ain't broke....."
 
NO OIL!! Use a little Lexol if you must but your best bet is to use a wax. Oil will soften the leather and also stain your clothing. If you are having trouble getting the pistol in and out of the holster try wrapping it in a plastic bag and holstering it for a few days. If still too tight then try again. NO OIL!!
 
Wrothgar, . . . two words my friend, . . . no oil. Nada, nein, nyet, no, none.

ANY oil will have a detrimental effect on your holster if it is made of vegetable tanned leather, or any part of it is (and I have never seen one that was not made with veggie tanned leather).

The vegetable tanning process produces a leather that will take and hold a shape when it is wetted and shaped. Other leathers have a different process and can be oiled. Oiling a veggie tanned leather will cause the fibers to swell up a bit, and push away from each other. Eventually, instead of having a nice, firm, molded, solid leather holster, sheath, scabbard, belt, or other item, . . . you will wind up with a diaper like floppy, glob of fibrous nothing.

Some holster makers will put a very light coat of neatsfoot oil on the outside of a leather item before sealing and finishing the object. That oil is good for the life of the object, . . . however many years that happens to become.

Baseball gloves are supposed to be soft and supple, . . . like driving gloves, . . . holsters are not, . . .

It's your holster and your money, . . .

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Baseball glove oil also acts as a leather softener to help form the pocket. You do not want to soften the holster, quite the opposite.
Click to expand...

I agree. Never put any kind of softener on your leather holster if you want it to last and retain your gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top