Leather Holsters Break-In & Care 

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

A brand-new leather holster is like a fine pair of boots — stiff at first, but with the right care and use, it molds perfectly to fit. You may find that drawing or re-holstering your gun feels awkward or tight when you first obtain your holster. This isn’t a defect — just a feature of premium leather. 

Leather holsters require proper break-in and care to provide a comfortable carry, optimal retention, and a smooth draw. When done correctly, the procedure improves performance and prolongs the life of the holster. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why break-in is necessary and safe techniques for loosening your holster. 

Determining When Your Holster Needs Break-In

Every gun owner wants a holster that fits like a glove. While most leather holsters should work out of the box, you may find they still don’t fit quite right. Below are the most common issues with leather holsters and how to solve it.

ISSUE #1 – Holster feels too small. This is most frequently just a “feeling.” Leather holsters are wet molded on the exact gun models typically using blue gun replicas. Fresh leather will naturally shrink during the dry-out process. This may require a bit of breaking-in before the holster fits perfectly.

ISSUE #2 – Holster strap won’t close or seems too tight. This is quite common with new, fresh, leather. We explain below how the strap can be stretched and over time can be stretched up to an inch. 

ISSUE #3 Slowly forming imprint signs. Your gun should naturally leave an imprint on leather holsters. If you don’t see this forming after repeated draws and use, it probably requires more break-in.

ISSUE #4 Discomfort while being carried. A hard holster may dig, pull, or rub against your body. The leather softens and takes on the curve of your body when it is broken in.

Leather Holster Break-In

The wet break-in procedure is one of the best ways to make your leather holster fit your gun like a glove. By using this method, the leather becomes softer and properly adapts to the shape of your gun.

What you’ll need:

• Your cleared and unloaded pistol
• Your new leather holster
• Break-in Liquid or denatured alcohol
• Soft brush
• A thin plastic (grocery) bag

Wet Break-in Guide:

1. Get the holster ready. Apply the soft brush, dipped in Break-in Liquid, gently to the holster’s tight spots, particularly the barrel section and trigger guard on the inside of the holster. DO NOT apply break-in liquid or denatured alcohol to the outside finished side of the leather. It can damage the finish. The Break-in Liquid makes the leather more flexible and helps in its absorption of moisture.
2. Protect your gun. Completely unload your firearm and put it in a small plastic bag. During the break-in, the bag works as a spacer and protects the interior of the holster and the gun’s finish.
3. Applying strong but controlled pressure, carefully slide the bagged gun into the holster. This preserves the general contour of the leather while stretching it in strategic places.
4. Repeat if needed – to help the leather in adopting its new form, draw and re-holster the firearm several times.
5. Let it set. To ensure that the leather dries and maintains its customized fit, leave the gun holstered overnight. By the next day, your holster should still feel secure but significantly more accommodating.

Pro tip: Avoid heat sources like hair dryers and direct sunlight as they might cause the leather to dry out and crack. Instead, let the holster dry naturally at room temperature.

Leather Strap Adjustment

Snapping the thumb break of your new leather holster closed is probably the most frequent problem with brand new leather holsters. Although it takes a bit more force than the first method, you won’t need anything but the following to be successful:

• Your unloaded gun
• Your new holster
• A bit of force
• Break-in Liquid 

We recommend using the professional Break-in Liquid in order to wet the leather for significantly easier stretch. Apply a thin coat of liquid on the inner side of the thumb break strap and let it soak in. Next, grip the strap between your thumb and index finger, holding it firmly. Place your gun inside the holster. While pushing the gun into the holster, pull the strap in the opposite direction. For better effect, gently twist and bend the strap as you pull. This process will help stretch the strap, allowing the gun to fit more comfortably and making it easier to snap the thumb break closed.

Please note: Use reasonable force while pulling on the strap—excessive pressure could tear it. When closing the snap, ensure the two parts are aligned and coming together smoothly. Under pressure, misalignment may cause the snaps to deform. Never use pliers or other tools to close the snap, as this can damage the holster. Never apply the liquid on the outer surface of the holster as it may damage the holster finish.

All of the methods for holsters break-in mentioned above are reliable and should do the trick if properly executed – with no special tools needed. However, to make the leather break-in method even easier and more efficient, try the Craft Holsters Premium Care Kit, which includes everything you need for the break-in process and ongoing holster maintenance in one package. 

Holster Care and Maintenance

Only clean the inside of your holster if filth or debris is affecting your draw; otherwise, take frequent care of the outside. The interior of your holster will naturally form over time, so it normally doesn’t require special care. 

Leather balm protects and restores the finish of your leather holster. If you carry out proper holster maintenance using the leather balm every now and then, your leather holster will look fresh and remain in good condition even after years of use. 

How To Fix Holster Scratches 

Every day use and carry will eventually lead to scratches or scuffs. Some our proud to show them off as battle scars and some want to remove them. Identify the type of the scratch before you get to the point of removal.

A minor scratch means that only the coating was harmed and the leather beneath is not harmed. This is the best case. You can fix it by using leather conditioner from the holster care kit and apply by the sponge or wool pad included.

A deeper scratch means the damage went through the leather’s outer layer and exposed its inner fibers. Even while this kind of scratch is more severe than a minor surface blemish, it is still recoverable. Although the damage to the leather fibers is irreversible, the scratch won’t go away entirely. You may reduce its look and keep your holster durable by applying rubbing alcohol to the scratch. Be sure to clean the leather before applying the alcohol to maximize the effects of it. Rubbing alcohol dries quickly, so you can repeat the process each 10-15 minutes to achieve your desired look. Apply leather balm after to help restore the finish.

A through cut is the worst part. It goes through the whole holster and a part of the gun is visible. This is the saddest aspect which is non-repairable. If this happens, check your warranty details and reach out to the holster customer service team for further assistance.