Should Pistol Stay In Hoster?

[jotuntroll]

Hi all

Store it apart from the holster.

Oil every part good.

Keep the temperature steady and accurate.

Remember that taking it out from a warm room to a colder place outside can make the gun rust. Especialy during hunting wintertime and living in tent.

Use a humidity control.

Do not store a weapon with a barrel cover.

When used old amunition like german ww2 always cleane the barrel.

Remember to lock it away from children!

[Stahlhelm]

Hi all

Store it apart from the holster.

Oil every part good.

Keep the temperature steady and accurate.

Remember that taking it out from a warm room to a colder place outside can make the gun rust. Especialy during hunting wintertime and living in tent.

Use a humidity control.

Do not store a weapon with a barrel cover.

When used old amunition like german ww2 always cleane the barrel.

Remember to lock it away from children!

Excellent advice!!!

Chris

[Von Hoth]

I must agree with the others who have said, "Never store your firearms in the holster." Even though the holster was made for the gun, the gun was not originally made to be collected and protected for all time. The holsters were, of course, meant to serve the practical, functional purposes of the gun during its time of use, not for the purposes of preservation. Those are two entirely different purposes. There are likely corrosive acids or chemicals of some sort in the leather which may not be so good for your gun. That's just my opinion.

Chris

that's not an opinion, that's a fact. you speak the gospel my friend.


they used acid to treat the leather. the acid destroys the finish pretty hardcore when you add up the decades.



I've always wondered how lucky it was for people that find 99 percent finish guns with equally minty holsters. Did the original owner/s really keep the gun out of that holster? or do most of these "rigs" come from a collector buying the gun and holster seperately?


i just don't see people knowing a long time ago to not store the gun in it's holster that they already keep.

I guess it's pure luck if you find a gun that was not stored in a holster and for that reason the 97 to 99 percent finishes command such high prices?

[Jokka]

So how about storing a gun in those english/canadian web holsters that is not made of leather?

[Paul R.]

There are several reasons not to store a pistol in a web, or leather, or canvas holster. Many fellow collectors that I have been in contact with don't what to believe that nothing will happen. Many collectors ignore that something bad may happen to there pistol that they have spent a lot of money on if the keep the two pieces together. The first lesson in conservation is that all material man made, or natural will in time disintergrate. Some disintergration can be slowed down a bit. If you read throught this thread and others in the search area. You will find that leather is very unstable material. Webed cases or canvas cases are not as bad as leather, but they also have there own problems. The web type holster, or canvas will hold in the material weave (use a hi powered magnifier to see the everday combat soil and grime and the soilders applied oil). This old imbedded grime will lay next to, or on top of that pistol you had just cleaned. The web material will also attract moisture, dust. Thus causing all sorts of potential problems. Also by storing a pistol in a web, or canvas holster you will break down the web/canvas material faster, because that material itself being streached out over time. Not to mention putting stress on the stiching and rivits. Of course keep moisture down, and do not expose to sunlight. Hope this helps you in making a good choice. Paul

We spend a lot of money on our hobby. Spend a few dollars more to preserve History!

[Johnny R]

Pistols

I have worked in two Museums with firearms, pistols are never kept inside holsters. In general it is a bad idea to have any two different materials in physical contact with each other for long periods of time.

[Lon]

From what I have been able to gather, there are two main objectives regarding firearms and holsters. Display and storage. If displayed in the holster and are willing to accept possible damage to both, that is a personal decision with the obvious tradeoff. If storage is the goal, there is no reason that I can think of that would necessitate keeping it in a holster.

I hope I don't start WW3 here, but I don't believe in keeping guns well oiled. I keep my guns in a temperature controlled safe, mostly dry. If the weapons are to be fired, especially a Thompson smg (they like lots of oil), then by all means oil away. If firearms are on display in the open air, oil will attract dirt and dust. My only concession to wiping a gun down would be with a silicon cloth. I realize that suggesting guns and oil are not always a good combination may sound like heresy, but that's just my opinion & it works for me.

[Von Hoth]

temperature controlled safe?

I didn't even know you could get or make those.

how are they temperature controlled? thermostats, fans, and everything?



anyways, in regards to oiling.. some of us have no choice like in florida where humidity is usually over 40 percent and sometimes even higher than that.

even in air conditioned homes, it is not uncommon for fridges to begin rusting within 4 years of purchase.

only the most well built and backed up systems of humidity controlled environments could keep moisture from landing on pistols here, so we count on oil rubs to combat this.


now people who live in arizona or nevada, etc.... yeah, I would be down with just a silicone rub.

but Nimble and me live feet away from salt water on top of the humidity. yikes.

[Lon]

Sorry, "temperature controlled" is a bit vague. I was referring to the electric heating rod in my safe that adds heat to control moisture.

That's a good point about the different parts of the country determining rust control measures. Oil might not get it done in Hawaii, might have to use cosmoline!

[Ammersee]

Generally, I agree...don't keep it in the holster. Having said that, here is a pic of a Luger that has been in a holster since 1945.
Also, the very best product I've found for keeping off rust is called RIG. RIG is "rust inhibiting grease". It has silicone in it. NEVER use WD-40. It forces moisture into cracks and crevices. It's also too thin and don't last long. RIG lasts the longest. I speak from experience...I've been a firearms engraver since 1982. The guns I store are stripped of their finish for engraving...bare metal with fresh cut engraving will rust quickly without protection.
RIG testimonials here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

[Ammersee]

Krieghoff 1 of 200

[Ammersee]

Amazing...no rust and it has been stored in Central Illinois..."the little Amazon" since 1945.
I can assure you that this pistol is resting in this holster right this minute. Ammersee

[Jokka]

This Luger is re-blued, is that done before 1945 or after ?

[Ammersee]

It's a rare parts gun that was assembled hastily in the Krieghoff factory at the closing days of the war. A vet in the 174th artillery brought it back. He was the company cook and traded a hungry German food for the pistol. The German inscribed the vets name and date on the side when he assembled it. The grips he put on it are WW1 I believe, and are factory grips. He carved the vets initals in the grips for him also. I was told there are about 200 of them out there, but I doubt all had the engraving. No serial numbers or stamps, except a number on the barrel and some proof marks. Do you want to see more pics?
Ammersee

[Ammersee]

Close up of the side with engraving. Pfc. Benjamin Hawes passed in the 50's. I am good friends with his son, who still owns this gun. Ammersee