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I just received a new leather pancake holster for my S&W M&P. This not my first pancake, but it is extremely stiff. I can draw with some difficulty holding it in my hands, but when on my belt, the holster is pinched, and the gun is impossible to draw. Great retention protection I guess :) .

I'm not a leather expert. What can I do to loosen this up or soften it? I thought about neats foot oil. Right now, it is unusable. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Wrap you pistol in a plastic bag and put it in the holster overnight. If in the morning it is still to tight for you holster and unholster with your pistol in the plastic bag over and over. Just in case others do not know of course unload your pistol first.

Don't put anything on it.

Boxerrider wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2026 9:17 pm
Don't put anything on it.

Forgot that, but you are 100% correct. A lot of people ruin their holster by trying to saddle soap it or some other not so smart things.