Holster Discoloration

balance · April 7, 2012, 03:10 PM

I have a horsehide holster that I took a look at today when I took a picture of it for another thread. Looking at it, I'm wondering if this darker area is just wear from rubbing on clothes when being worn, or if it is mold growing on the holster? I'm a lefty, and this is the side of the holster that gets sweat on it if it is hot outside. This area has no smell and the black discoloration will not wipe off with a rag.

Any ideas? If it is normal discoloration from wear, then fine, but if it is mold, how would I take it off without damaging the holster?

Is this normal for IWB horsehide holsters?

Sixer · April 9, 2012, 03:04 PM

Well, if that's not dirt then it certainly looks like mold.

I work with horsehide quite a bit when making holsters... That is NOT normal.

A few suggestions to clean that puppy up -

- vinegar
- Lysol
- lemon juice

Before you try any of those, please note that I have never had to remove mold from a holster... So I honestly have no idea what results you might get. I've just read that these solutions can get rid of mold.

If it is mold... It's worth a shot. That mold can spread to other leather items. Not much to lose. Let us know what you decide!

BarryLee · April 9, 2012, 04:44 PM

Not sure, but does anyone know if you can kill mold by freezing it? Would freezing the holster damage the leather? Again, just a thought...

balance · April 10, 2012, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the replies.

It is definitely not dirt, as this holster is either carried IWB, or left in a safe that has about 10 desiccant pacts with no indication of humidity. The only moisture this holster receives is on hot days when sweat may get to it when being carried.

The more I look at it, the more I'm thinking that this is mold. I'm not too sure I want this holster rubbing on me for the time being.

If I choose to clean it with either the vinegar, lysol, or lemon juice, what is the method behind cleaning the holster with these chemicals? Would any damage the leather if left on for too long? Should I soak the whole holster, or just dab a bit on the effected areas?

I'll also look into freezing it or leaving it in the sun for a while.

Here are some more pictures:

And some of the other, non-discolored side:

gunsmokeTPF · April 10, 2012, 06:57 PM

Try bringing it to a shoemaker.Those guys have been around leather for years and might tell you what it is. If the leather is rubbing against your body and you're sweating, then it is going to at the very least discolor it. It may be nothing, but I wouldn't be too quick to apply anything to it, cause you could ruin it. That's a well made holster by Galco and maybe giving them a call would be wise.

AK103K · April 11, 2012, 05:43 PM

I used to use Galco Royal Guards a long time back. I used to use two of them a year, usually rotating one out for a new one each year. In the summer, they were both constantly wet through from sweat and never would dry out. There was usually discoloration, but I never remember seeing mold on them. Not saying it wasnt there though.

If this is an issue for you, Id highly suggest you check out a good kydex holster. It will eliminate 99.9% of any kind of moisture issues you have with leather, and the holsters are usually about half what a good leather costs.

This was the last Royal Guard I had. Its about a month old in the pic. The duct tape on the back was there to try and slow the sweat from getting through. It was a lost cause......

This is the Blade Tech that replaced it. Its got over 10 years of daily use on it. I still have it today, and its still just as useable as the day I bought it about 20 years ago.....

crankyoldlady · April 11, 2012, 06:41 PM

Mold is a living organism that develops spores and spreads. It thrives in dark damp places.

Bleach will kill it quickly but must be handled carefully. You do not want to soak leather. Dilute a small amount (tablespoon) in a cup of water. Take an old face cloth and barely moisten it with the bleach water. Wipe down the holster and place in sun. Repeat as needed.

saands · April 14, 2012, 05:14 PM

I've used vinegar on gym clothes and gym bags that were starting to get funky ... it yielded good results. With a holster, you definitely don't want to soak it ... wipe it down as suggested ... and letting it dry thoroughly between treatments will be a good idea.

Saands

High Noon · April 17, 2012, 10:26 PM

We have had good results with this http://www.highnoonholsters.com/_Que...stions.html#22

If you try the vinegar cut it with water. Maybe try 50/50 to start. No results increase vinegar.

Justin

MarkDozier · April 17, 2012, 11:18 PM

That looks like black mold in some spots.
Kill it before it gets any worse. The worst of all molds.

WESHOOT2 · April 18, 2012, 05:55 AM

I've used my Royal Guard since the late '90's without issue.
But I don't generate much sweat...

**Spats McGee** · April 18, 2012, 09:19 AM

Perhaps try some saddle soap?

April 7, 2012, 03:10 PM	#1
balance Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Posts: 396	Holster Discoloration I have a horsehide holster that I took a look at today when I took a picture of it for another thread. Looking at it, I'm wondering if this darker area is just wear from rubbing on clothes when being worn, or if it is mold growing on the holster? I'm a lefty, and this is the side of the holster that gets sweat on it if it is hot outside. This area has no smell and the black discoloration will not wipe off with a rag. Any ideas? If it is normal discoloration from wear, then fine, but if it is mold, how would I take it off without damaging the holster? Is this normal for IWB horsehide holsters?

April 9, 2012, 04:44 PM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	Not sure, but does anyone know if you can kill mold by freezing it? Would freezing the holster damage the leather? Again, just a thought... __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

April 17, 2012, 10:26 PM	#9
High Noon Junior Member Join Date: October 2, 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 13	We have had good results with this http://www.highnoonholsters.com/_Que...stions.html#22 If you try the vinegar cut it with water. Maybe try 50/50 to start. No results increase vinegar. Justin __________________ www.HighNoonHolsters.com

April 18, 2012, 05:55 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	weird I've used my Royal Guard since the late '90's without issue. But I don't generate much sweat... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 18, 2012, 09:19 AM	#12
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	Perhaps try some saddle soap? __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

April 9, 2012, 03:04 PM	#2
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	Well, if that's not dirt then it certainly looks like mold. I work with horsehide quite a bit when making holsters... That is NOT normal. A few suggestions to clean that puppy up - - vinegar - Lysol - lemon juice Before you try any of those, please note that I have never had to remove mold from a holster... So I honestly have no idea what results you might get. I've just read that these solutions can get rid of mold. If it is mold... It's worth a shot. That mold can spread to other leather items. Not much to lose. Let us know what you decide! __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

April 10, 2012, 06:26 PM	#4
balance Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Posts: 396	Thanks for the replies. It is definitely not dirt, as this holster is either carried IWB, or left in a safe that has about 10 desiccant pacts with no indication of humidity. The only moisture this holster receives is on hot days when sweat may get to it when being carried. The more I look at it, the more I'm thinking that this is mold. I'm not too sure I want this holster rubbing on me for the time being. If I choose to clean it with either the vinegar, lysol, or lemon juice, what is the method behind cleaning the holster with these chemicals? Would any damage the leather if left on for too long? Should I soak the whole holster, or just dab a bit on the effected areas? I'll also look into freezing it or leaving it in the sun for a while. Here are some more pictures: And some of the other, non-discolored side:

April 10, 2012, 06:57 PM	#5
gunsmokeTPF Junior member Join Date: February 14, 2012 Posts: 268	Try bringing it to a shoemaker.Those guys have been around leather for years and might tell you what it is. If the leather is rubbing against your body and you're sweating, then it is going to at the very least discolor it. It may be nothing, but I wouldn't be too quick to apply anything to it, cause you could ruin it. That's a well made holster by Galco and maybe giving them a call would be wise.

April 11, 2012, 05:43 PM	#6
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	I used to use Galco Royal Guards a long time back. I used to use two of them a year, usually rotating one out for a new one each year. In the summer, they were both constantly wet through from sweat and never would dry out. There was usually discoloration, but I never remember seeing mold on them. Not saying it wasnt there though. If this is an issue for you, Id highly suggest you check out a good kydex holster. It will eliminate 99.9% of any kind of moisture issues you have with leather, and the holsters are usually about half what a good leather costs. This was the last Royal Guard I had. Its about a month old in the pic. The duct tape on the back was there to try and slow the sweat from getting through. It was a lost cause...... This is the Blade Tech that replaced it. Its got over 10 years of daily use on it. I still have it today, and its still just as useable as the day I bought it about 20 years ago.....

April 11, 2012, 06:41 PM	#7
crankyoldlady Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Posts: 25	Mold is a living organism that develops spores and spreads. It thrives in dark damp places. Bleach will kill it quickly but must be handled carefully. You do not want to soak leather. Dilute a small amount (tablespoon) in a cup of water. Take an old face cloth and barely moisten it with the bleach water. Wipe down the holster and place in sun. Repeat as needed.

April 14, 2012, 05:14 PM	#8
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	I've used vinegar on gym clothes and gym bags that were starting to get funky ... it yielded good results. With a holster, you definitely don't want to soak it ... wipe it down as suggested ... and letting it dry thoroughly between treatments will be a good idea. Saands

April 17, 2012, 11:18 PM	#10
MarkDozier Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2010 Posts: 363	That looks like black mold in some spots. Kill it before it gets any worse. The worst of all molds.