Leather Lightning

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

Post Reply
User avatar
RockingRook
Senior Member
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:03 pm
Location: Universal City, Texas

Leather Lightning

Post by RockingRook »

Has anyone used this product?

Chuck :cheers2:
Born in Brooklyn, NY joined AF in '65 as a 2nd Lt. Went through Naval EOD School in 67. Spent
the next 8 years in and around South East Asia. I was stationed in Texas in '84. Retired from the AF in '85.
Remained in Texas, raised my 2 kids and here I stayed. I hope it Rains!!
User avatar
Grapevinebill
Senior Member
Posts: 225
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 2:00 pm
Location: Grapevine

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by Grapevinebill »

Never heard of it my friend. What is it used for?
I've spent a lot of money on guns, bullets and holsters.... The rest I've just squandered away!
User avatar
RockingRook
Senior Member
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:03 pm
Location: Universal City, Texas

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by RockingRook »

Grapevinebill wrote:Never heard of it my friend. What is it used for?
It is a leather dressing for inside the holster to give it a smooth draw and assists in "break in". It is sold by Mitch Rosen
on their web site. Not supposed to harm gun finishes or harm the holster. Seems to be popular!!

Chuck :cheers2:
Born in Brooklyn, NY joined AF in '65 as a 2nd Lt. Went through Naval EOD School in 67. Spent
the next 8 years in and around South East Asia. I was stationed in Texas in '84. Retired from the AF in '85.
Remained in Texas, raised my 2 kids and here I stayed. I hope it Rains!!
cubbyjg
Senior Member
Posts: 382
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:07 pm

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by cubbyjg »

they tried to sell it to me when i was ordering a holster from them but i didnt buy it. I used a thin plastic bag around the pistol with great success.
Hook'em Horns!
Class of 2007

“I am actually for gun control. Use both hands." - Gov. Rick Perry
User avatar
RockingRook
Senior Member
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:03 pm
Location: Universal City, Texas

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by RockingRook »

cubbyjg wrote:they tried to sell it to me when i was ordering a holster from them but i didnt buy it. I used a thin plastic bag around the pistol with great success.
I have used the plastic bags, wax paper etc. Still a bit tight around muzzle area. I figure I can just use a bit of the stuff
deep inside the holster and after a while it will loosen up.

I have 6 holsters and this one is just a bit tighter than I like it.

Chuck :cheers2:
Born in Brooklyn, NY joined AF in '65 as a 2nd Lt. Went through Naval EOD School in 67. Spent
the next 8 years in and around South East Asia. I was stationed in Texas in '84. Retired from the AF in '85.
Remained in Texas, raised my 2 kids and here I stayed. I hope it Rains!!
User avatar
cbunt1
Senior Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:48 pm
Location: NW Houston, TX
Contact:

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by cbunt1 »

I've not used Rosen's "Leather Lightening" product, but I have used Galco's similar product "Draw-EZ."

The Draw-EZ goes on about like those black-magic thick silicone tire dressings, but doesn't absorb into the leather the same way. It's slicker than owl snot at first, and doesn't leave a residue on your gun (at least it didn't on my stainless guns).

My experience with it was that it's just fine. it makes the interior of the holster a little "slicker" but obviously doesn't stretch the leather at all. On a brand-new tight-fitting semi-custom holster, you may have either or both elements going on...the leather dressing will help with part of it, but there's no substitute for a slight stretch (putting the UNLOADED gun in a thick plastic bag, and putting the whole thing in the holster for a couple of days).

I keep a bottle of the draw-EZ around for occasional use. One of the shops close to me carries it, and another shop here in town carries the Rosen version...I wouldn't drive across town to pick up another bottle of either, but I'd pick up one if I happened to be there anyway, and remembered that my bottle is low...

Bottom line, it's good stuff, but most "new holster break-in" is about stretching to fit, not slickening the surfaces in my experience.

Don't know if my input really helps LOL :cool:
American by birth, Texan by the grace of God!
User avatar
RockingRook
Senior Member
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:03 pm
Location: Universal City, Texas

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by RockingRook »

cbunt1 wrote:I've not used Rosen's "Leather Lightening" product, but I have used Galco's similar product "Draw-EZ."

The Draw-EZ goes on about like those black-magic thick silicone tire dressings, but doesn't absorb into the leather the same way. It's slicker than owl snot at first, and doesn't leave a residue on your gun (at least it didn't on my stainless guns).

My experience with it was that it's just fine. it makes the interior of the holster a little "slicker" but obviously doesn't stretch the leather at all. On a brand-new tight-fitting semi-custom holster, you may have either or both elements going on...the leather dressing will help with part of it, but there's no substitute for a slight stretch (putting the UNLOADED gun in a thick plastic bag, and putting the whole thing in the holster for a couple of days).

I keep a bottle of the draw-EZ around for occasional use. One of the shops close to me carries it, and another shop here in town carries the Rosen version...I wouldn't drive across town to pick up another bottle of either, but I'd pick up one if I happened to be there anyway, and remembered that my bottle is low...

Bottom line, it's good stuff, but most "new holster break-in" is about stretching to fit, not slickening the surfaces in my experience.

Don't know if my input really helps LOL :cool:
Thanks for your input. I ordered a bottle of the Leather Lightning. Yes, I use the plastic bag stretching technique but this one is just a bit
tight. I figure with a dab of the dressing and wearing the gun it should stretch out in time. When I got it was really tight but I
used 2 plastic bags and within a couple days I was wearing it for my daily carry. But, like I said, it still seems a bit tight around the muzzle.

Wearing the holster and drawing it will eventually break in and the addition of the leather lightning I can continue to wear it
while it finishes it's break in cycle.

Lately the weather has gone from warm to cold back to warm and this will continue. With the fronts passing through we have
been having a lot of warm, damp days. I notice it is on those damp days that the holster gets a bit stiff around the muzzle.
A little "slick" in the bottom third of the holster hopefully will do the trick. Beautiful holster BTW.

Chuck :cheers2:
Born in Brooklyn, NY joined AF in '65 as a 2nd Lt. Went through Naval EOD School in 67. Spent
the next 8 years in and around South East Asia. I was stationed in Texas in '84. Retired from the AF in '85.
Remained in Texas, raised my 2 kids and here I stayed. I hope it Rains!!
fm2
Senior Member
Posts: 859
Joined: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:54 pm
Location: TEXAS

Re: Leather Lightning

Post by fm2 »

I have had good luck with Leather Lightning.
“It is the belief that violence is an aberration that is dangerous because it lulls us into forgetting how easily violence may erupt in quiescent places.” S. Pinker
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”