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Posted: 6/27/2026 2:14:08 PM EDT
[Last Edit: raf][Edited]
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Pistol: Both versions of this .380 ACP semi-auto pistol are long out of production. Repro leather holster was sold as a repro all-leather holster for a Walther PP pistol. There were some positive indications on the web that it might fit my very similar Sig pistol. OTOH, vendor did not allow returns. E-bay has scads of brown leather Repro Walther PP Holsters. Holster arrived well-made in materials and construction. It certainly did not fit my Sig pistol. So, I soaked the entire holster for a couple days in simple water, double-wrapped the Sig stainless steel pistol in plastic and jammed it into the completely soaked leather holster. With some "reasonable" force, repeated a few times, the holster came to fit the pistol jammed into it quite nicely, and over a few days the leather molded to the pistol, as expected. Relatively thick plastic wrapped around the inserted pistol, once removed, allowed fairly quick withdrawal of pistol from holster. I expect that leather holster, once completely dry, will greatly benefit from an inside and outside application of PECARD Leather oil. The mag pouch required some gentle "bending-inwards" to hold mag but not also require excessive force to withdraw the mag. Coating with Pecards oil helps reduce friction. Goal is to violently shake holster upside down, with pistol removed, without loaded mag self-ejecting. This sort of Repro/Leather holster is a "personal" project, and not at all a holster which I would suggest for anyone using this pistol in an EDC CCW mode. I will probably drill/punch a small 3/16" hole into the lowest possible point of the holster's Inside barrel channel to provide a(n omitted) water drain. IDK why omitted by the usually thoughtful (and over-engineering) Germans. It seems to have worked out, for a small cost and some small effort. Not my first time "molding" leather holsters to specific pistols.... Trick here is to do as much research as possible, including dimensions of the "intended" pistol, and compare dims with the "new" pistol. The more work you do, the more luck you are likely to have. Funny how that works out... One can "mold" an existing leather holster to a similar firearm, but there is a limit to how much smaller the "new" firearm can be. Likewise, one can stretch a leather holster, but "up to a point". IDK of any reliable and non-intrusive method for "shrinking" leather. |
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PPK Brown leather holster This type of this model of holster has free-standing end of pull-tab oriented downwards. Other styles have pull-tab oriented upwards. My holster has belt loop which will fit belts up to 2-1/2" wide. Other holsters are anyone's guess. No fake Nazi markings on my holster. Difference will be that stitching is dyed dark brown, and entire holster will be a little darker due to Pecard's oil being applied inside and out. It is true that some leather panels/surfaces will have "some" amount of original color/dye removed due to water immersion and subsequent dyed water expulsion due to forcing pistol into the wet leather. A highly variable situation, and folks might want to consider some application of leather dye. Re-dying the leather is always much better/more permanent than simply "hoping" Leather oil will make the leather suitably darker. Content added to OP. @Maguzi308 |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Leather does have that....appeal?...to it. Classic. After some investigation, some effort, and small money I have what I want. Inevitable digression: Found an open-topped M-81 Woodland nylon holster for this pistol, complete with ALICE clips in a junk holster bin for near nothing. Had local craftsman re-sew/adjust the 1" nylon thumb break webbing and installed a couple of MALICE clips. Kinda OK for CC, better for OC, but I'd much prefer a modern shoulder rig, likely made of sweat-resistant nylon, which also had weak-side dual mag pouch for balance. |
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Raf, I know a great shortcut. Put the pistol in the wet holster and vacuum seal it. It will mold exactly to the pistol. Take out of the bag a couple hours later, remove pistol, clean and oil pistol, let holster dry, treat/oil leather, and you're done. It's like magic. ETA- some holsters have a flat side. If that is the case, put a flat board of some kind in the vacuum sealer bag against the flat side, follow above steps. |
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