I just dug out a leather holster that seems a bit dried out looking. What is your choice for preserving leather when you don't want to make it softer?
I use Ray Holes Saddle Butter.
Lexol and Fiebing's Saddle Oil.
I just grab whatever is first in the closet, either Bick 4 or Lexol.
Milt Sparks recommends Renaissance Wax for their holsters.
Even sell it on their website -
https://www.miltsparks.com/store/Renaissance-Wax-p105705063
Don't ever use what Anne Richards endorsed.
I put skidmores leather cream or Montana pitch blend on my boots.
Neatsfoot oil is the best I have used. A little goes a long way. Get it softened up and put your pistol in a sock and put in holster. Leave overnight to expand. Good luck
Only problem with Neatsfoot is that it's more of a preserver and really darkens leather, whereas Lexol is more of a conditioner and a little more forgiving and doesn't darken leather as much
Neatsfoot, the real stuff, not the compound!
Works well for me , as well
Duragloss 221 and 222 (same stuff, different volumes) from NAPA or Amazon is what the King Ranch sells in their King Ranch tack shop for their leathers, but you don’t get the fancy King Ranch sticker on the bottle or pay the price thst they charge.
I bought it for my truck seats, but use it on a lot of my leather that I’m not trying to waterproof, just condition. Smells great too.
Obenaufs, good stuff, right up the road from me.
Mother's VLR from O'Reillys or Feibings white saddle soap
Accepted in many circles as good to VG to use. Fresh pressed vs. what ever the cheaper method, is the preferred. I've used it & like the results. A product most will likely have vs. so many other treatments.
REVIVEX Leather Waterproofing & Conditioner.
REVIVEX Leather Waterproofing & Conditioner.
I’ve used olive oil before but I usually use Snake Oil.
I found a can of Fiebing's in a box that came out of my grandparent's house that we moved in 1976. The can probably goes back to the 60s or earlier. The Neats Foot Oil within was still good. I used it on some leather rifle slings, and it made them look like a million bucks.
I bought a quart of the stuff off Amazon and been soaking slings, belts and holsters with the stuff ever since.
In a way, that little can of Fiebings was historically significant. It came from Grandpa Whitey. His Grandpa was the one that came over from Wales in the 1850s. We even know his address and looked up the residence on Google Earth. Great Great Grandpa Louis was a skilled leather harness maker, so the advice on what to use on leather probably originated with him.
Ray Holes Saddle Butter is my first pick, with Bick #4 a close second.
Got my first tub of Saddle Butter when I picked up my custom saddle from Gerald Ray Holes in 1989, have used it happily ever since. Been using Bick’s #4 longer than that.
One season packing, many years ago I had a terrible "roid" flare up! Absolutely excruciating in the saddle all day. I started using Dr. Naylors udder balm, for my roids and my saddle! I still use it on my pac boots. It works amazingly well on leather!
I used the Lexol products on a pair of Filson shooting gloves. The gloves stayed so tacky I had to buy different gloves for hunting. Good thing I didn't toss them...after three years sitting of top of the gun safe, they've finally dried out and I'm going to use/try them again this year. Just hope the Lexol hasn't ruined the leather.
Neatsfoot. I wish I'd gone on the internet and read up on Neatsfoot. I ruined two Filson double layer belts using Neatsfoot oil. It drys the leather, and soon after created deep cracks in the leather (dry rot?). The belts are worthless now, and Filson doesn't offer the double belt in 1 1/2 width any longer.
Balistoil works for me. just used it on a holster.
Obenaufs, good stuff, right up the road from me.
Another vote for Obenaufs LP. I use it on boots, knife sheaths , belts , leather gloves and holsters.
I grind up viagra into the paint pot when I cerrakote. it makes the leather stiffen when the pistol gets close to insertion.
Neatsfoot is fine if you want to bring old leather back to be supple, I've heard it can degrade stitching over time but I've never seen it. To keep leather stiff I'd probably go with saddle soap and then follow it up with bees wax. I've never had saddle soap make anything too soft though so the bees wax is a best guess and follow up if the saddle soap doesn't do exactly what you want, which I suspect it will.
I am also in the olive oil camp. It works great and, more importantly, I always have some on hand and know exactly where to find it.
I use olive oil on my saddle and tack. I was told to use the extra virgin olive oil as it doesn't have anything in it but olive oil. No additives.
Don't ever use what Anne Richards endorsed.
HehHeh! Old Anne Wrinkles.
You know Anne Richards had a face lift operation. When she woke up in the recovery room she felt like something was off. The doctor came in and said I have good news and bad news.
Anne said give me the bad news first. The doctor replied well we ended up removing a lot more skin than we expected. Anne said Ok, what's the good news?
The doctor replied we removed enough skin for you to make a pair of new boots....