Restoring holsters

[Angel Farré]

In a trade I have obtained a couple of holsters that need restoration an a lot of love.

One is a hardshell P38 in excellent state but someone change the loops for a system to attach it to a GI belt. Problem is that no way to know if done in 1944 or in 1995 so what to do, let it as found or try to restore, if restoring it how or, better, someone knows who can do it?

The other is a comercial P08 that looks like was stored in the bottom of a box and is heavily deformed and the leather is dry and hard, how can i soften it and reshape to its normal one?

Thanls for your help.

Angel

[Kurland]

Hello I think they are modified by the Norwegian army after the war.
See here an example of one restored.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/P08-2-WW2-Weh...0AAOSwgkRVS4Sk
It is not done that well. Belt loops are too thin and not the original stitching holes were used.

Cracked dry leather is -I think- impossible to make it flexible again. A possibilty is to put it in warm water, then it becomes more flexible, put it in shape with newspaper for example. Let it dry, before is completely dried out, oil it with some suitable leather oil. Be carefull, old soaked leather in water can break easily.

[me6_130]

For sure post war Norge rework. That one at ebay is a very bad work. I have restored some better than that.

About the second I agree with Kurland.

Contacta'm Angel.

Carles