Little Bear Custom Holsters

PROPER HOLSTER BREAK IN:

DUE TO THE FACT I AM BEING CONTACTED MORE AND MORE FROM CUSTOMERS SAYING THE HOLSTERS ARE TIGHT... YES THEY ARE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STEPS ONE MUST TAKE TO BREAK THEM IN. IF NONE OF THEM ARE FOLLOWED, I CANNOT HELP, PERIOD.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL ME THE FIRST DAY OF HAVING THE HOLSTER SAYING IT IS TOO TIGHT UNLESS SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG: SIGHTS ARE STUCK, STUCK IN EJECTION PORT, ETC. THE HOLSTER HAS TO BE BROKEN IN SO IF IT IS GRABBING IMPROPERLY, THE MARKS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN.

THIS IS HOW I BREAK IN A HOLSTER:

TAKE TWO (2) PLASTIC BAGS, PLACE THE UNLOADED FIREARM IN THE BAGS AND GENTLY PLACE THE WRAPPED FIREARM IN THE BAG. PLACE IT ON A HIGH UP SHELF TO ALLOW THE NATURALLY HEATED AIR TO HELP WITH THE BREAK IN PROCESS.

AFTER WAITING A FEW HOURS, PUT THE HOLSTER ON AND WEAR IT AROUND THE HOUSE/YARD TO ALLOW IT TO FORM TO THE BODY AND STRETCH IT OUT.

AFTER AN HOUR OR SO, ATTEMPT TO THE FIREARM FROM THE HOLSTER. IF IT IS STILL TOO TIGHT, TO DO SO, WEAR IT FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR SO.

DRAW IT AGAIN, REMOVE THE BAGS, AND PLACE THE UNLOADED FIREARM IN THE HOLSTER AND TRY SOME DRY RUNS, IN A SAFE MANNER.

IF IT COMES OUT WITH SOME RESISTANCE, WEAR IT SOME MORE. THIS COULD TAKE AS MUCH AS SEVEN (7) DAYS TO BREAK IN. IT ISN'T ALWAYS AN INSTANT THING. PLEASE BE PATIENT. YOUR SAFETY IS ON THE LINE. YOU WANT TO ENSURE YOU CAN DRAW THE FIREARM IN A RAPID AND SAFE MANNER TO PROTECT YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY.

DO NOT GO OUT AND WEAR IT THINKING EVERYTHING IS GOOD TO GO WITHOUT TESTING IT. IF YOU DO, I DO AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OUTCOME.

IF IT SEEMS TO STICK, USE SOME LEATHER LIGHTENING FROM MITCH ROSEN OR I USE A DAB (JUST ENOUGH TO LEAVE A VERY SLIGHT RESIDUE) OF A NATURAL OIL: NEATSFOOT, MINK OIL, ETC. DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF THIS, YOU SHOULD ONLY HAVE TO DO IT ONCE DURING THE BREAK IN PERIOD. THE HOLSTER HAS BEEN DYED W/ AN OIL DYE AND IT HAS BEEN SEALED W/ AN ACRYLIC FINISH MEANT TO KEEP WATER OUT.

IF THE HOLSTER BECOMES SOAKED DUE TO RAIN, ETC, ALLOW IT TO DRY NATURALLY, IN FRONT OF A FAN. DO NOT USE HEAT!!

IF THERE IS EXCESS SALT ON THE HOLSTER, TAKE A DAMP CLOTHE, GENTLY RUB THE HOLSTER AND ALLOW TO AIR DRY IN FRONT OF A FAN. DO NOT USE HEAT!!

I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED OTHER MAKERS AND WHAT THEY RECOMMEND. ALOT OF IT IS EXPERIANCE AND OPINION. I HAVE USED THE NATURAL OILS TO LIGHTLY SLICKEN IT FOR YEARS, W/O LOOSING SHAPE, ETC.

OTHER MAKERS THOUGHTS ON BREAKING IN A HOLSTER:

 Milt Sparks

 My holster is too tight! What's the best way to break it in? 

Tightness in a new holster is not uncommon and is much preferable to the alternative. If the draw is a little stiff at first, it is recommended that you work with it to see if it doesn't loosen up with a bit of use. About 25 to 50 presentations should be a good indicator of whether the holster will break in sufficiently on its own or if maybe a little blocking out of the leather is in order. There are many variables as to why a holster would be excessively tight ranging from the texture of your guns finish, to slight changes in climate or humidity from where the holster is made. Regardless of the reason, a too tight holster can easily be remedied by the end user with a method we have been recommending to customers for over 20 years. 

To block out (stretch) your new holster first UNLOAD your pistol or revolver and place the gun into the 4 mil plastic bag that your new holster was packaged in. Then carefully insert the bagged gun all the way into the holster (do not! I repeat, do not!! wet or spray the holster with any solution to aid in the stretching process). The blocking out process as described above will in no way harm the crisp detailed molding of your new holster, nor will it ruin its retention qualities. It serves simply to stretch the leather a few thousands of an inch larger than the gun. The amount of stretching time needed for satisfactory results range from a just a few minutes to overnight. Any clarifications or concerns on the above, or if you would rather we talk you through the process, then please call us.

 NM Holsters

 UBG:

1. Your new holster may be very tight when you receive it. If so, wrap your unloaded firearm in
wax paper, seran wrap, or plastic bags and insert it into the holster. Remove it after a few seconds and check the fit. If it still needs loosened, leave the wrapped firearm inserted for longer, overnight if necessary. You can also add layers of wrap, to speed the process. Another method is to simply use the holster. Being leather, it will mold itself to your firearm over time with use.

2. If your holster doesn’t seem to fit properly, contact UBG Holsters or your holster maker for
further instructions.

3. If you desire to shine your leather products, use only a paste wax, such as kiwi in the flat
cans. Buff to a shine. Never oil molded leather. It will soften the leather and take away retention.

4. Always remove your firearm from your holster when you aren’t wearing it. The leather needs
to breath and any moisture that may have collected needs to evaporate.

5. Never allow your holster to be flattened. The molding procedure leaves the holster 3
dimensional and it needs to stay this way. If it becomes flattened at any point, you can expect it to stay flattened.

6. If you need to remove your gun, for more than a brief moment, remove your holster from your
body. Without your gun, your holster will be more apt to become flattened and lose its rigidity. This is especially important if you wear your belt cinched tight or anticipate sitting or bending over without your gun in the holster.

7. If your holster becomes wet for any reason, remove it as soon as possible. Ensure the holster
shape is maintained by pressing around your unloaded firearm. Carefully remove your firearm and gently set your holster aside to dry, under a fan, if possible (don’t forget to dry and oil your gun, rust is ugly).