Softening VERY stiff leather,( Rick !!! )

[bearcatter]

Picked up my new old guns today. I'm very pleased with them, like new! It wasn't in the listing, but they came with holsters. Military type with a flap, magazine pocket, and a thick welt. They look like new, but the leather is stiff as wood. I know if I try to move the flap it's going to have a thousand cracks. I already see one crack, but I didn't do it! I need to get the flaps usable, and the mag pockets are caved in.
I got some mink oil paste. I knew Neat's foot is bad, so mink oil it was. Right now, they are covered in it, every part of the finished side I could get to. Hopefully it will work through to places I couldn't. I'm planning 2-3 applications over a few days.

Did I make a good choice, and am I using it right? They may not be salvageable, but I'm going to try.

[OV-1D]

  I've soaked like my leather products down (till its dripping wet) with good old WD-40 . Been doing it for years and absolutely no problems with the leather stiffing up or degrading . Darkens the raw leather some but its subtle as a babys butt . Only done it once years 8-10 ago on all my leathers and the leather hasn't changed from the day I soaked them all down .I imagine if I wore the pieces more I'd have to reapply MAYBE . It worked so great on NAA flap holsters and such .I do not have any color leathers except browns but I doubt it would mess with any dyes except darken them .

[Bigbird48]

Coconut oil works wonders on stiff leather and it smells better then wd40 

[Rick_Jorgenson]

It's difficult to determine if they will continue to crack or not but, you are on the right path. Several days, several light coats and a little warmth from the sun might help it soak in.

I usually clean with soap and warm water, not hot water (a little Dawn dish soap in the water or, Saddle Soap works too)

That can make the leather more pliable to allow whatever conditioner or oil you use to soap in and you can get to places you couldn't reach before if the leather was closed.  Conditioner can be applied while the leather is damp as well.

I would think anything you use at this stage to soften it is ok. Mink oil, Pure Neats Foot Oil, or like Bigbird said, coconut oil.

The WD40 has worked great for OV but I wouldn't go with it (JMHO) 

[bearcatter]

Thank you for your expertise. My biggest issue is being stuck in a box for storage, the flap is folded over 1 1/2 inch too high for the catch, A leather tab snaps over a brass post. I think I'll modify your idea. The holsters aren't the least bit dirty, so I'll just wet them from the inside and see if I can move anything then. The mag pockets are squashed too.

[OV-1D]

  Theres also peanut oil . Never used it but I've seen people use it on some products . I think I've worked with the dyed side of some military stuff and hadn't any luck softening that outside at all , it just kept cracking to some degree seems nothing could penetrate it if I remember correctly . Good luck anyhow .

[bearcatter]

They are now history. After some hot water, they seemed more supple. Tried to get a finger in a mag pocket, and it split up the front. They are just too old and neglected. I'm not out anything, they weren't even listed as part of what I bought.
The Uncle Mike's I bought fits pretty well.

Now I gotta find a new mag loader. The MakerShot loader for my .32 Guardians doesn't fit these .32 Zastavas.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

Sometimes the leather is beyond reviving. But, its fun to try!

[bearcatter]

The holsters could be as much as 50 years old. I've asked the company if they could date the guns.

I'm sure there are no blue guns for it!