TRX [OP]
December 1st, 2013
I've purchased a Galco Classic Lite holster and I'm trying to get an FEG GKK .45 into it.

The holster is "old school"; folded-over and sewn suede, not hard-molded. Galco's web site listed the holster as fitting a range of generic automatics, not all of them 1911s.

The GKK has almost exactly the same width and silhouette as a standard 1911A1, except the trigger guard is a bit larger. Given the generic fit of the Lite, I thought it was worth trying one.

The holster came in yesterday. It won't accept the GKK. In fact, it wouldn't accept a standard 1911. The package said, "accepts Bersa .380" among other guns, and the instruction sheet said to stretch the holster to fit by wrapping the gun in a plastic bag and basically screwing it into the holster.

I managed, eventually, to get a 1911 in there. After sitting overnight, it seems about as tight as when I started; it goes in with no more effort than pulling a size 9 boot on a size 12 foot.

The holster is formed by cutting away all of the bottom *except* for the trigger guard, folding it over at that point (about 1-1/4" wide), and sewing all the way along the top. So the entire holster is dependent on that short piece of thin suede. If I tear it, I have a leather taco.

Unfortunately, to accept the GKK, I need maybe another quarter inch stretched out of that little piece of leather.

Should I expect to be able to stretch the leather sufficiently (I was thinking of doing it a little at a time, with cardboard shims over the 1911's trigger guard, until I could get the GKK in there), or should I just put the holster back in the package, get an RMA, and pay shipping back?

TRX [OP]
December 1st, 2013
Originally Posted by high pockets
I think you would be better off getting a holster made for your gun.

That's shipping and FFL fees both ways, anywhere from $100 to $150, just to get the gun to a holster maker and back again. Plus the "making the holster" part. My pockets aren't that high.

TRX [OP]
December 6th, 2013
I scouted out some of the leatherworking forums, and the standard method of forming or stretching is to wet the leather. So, even though Galco's instructions specifically forbade it, I put the holster in a pan of warm water (from the sink), let it soak overnight, then replaced the hot water and let the holster warm up for ten minutes or so.

The gun was still in its plastic bags from the fitting instructions, so I stuck it in. A little wiggling and it fit just fine.

It took a bit over a day for the leather to dry completely. After making sure it was going to stay stretched, I punched new holes for the snap, screw, and spacer block that went ahead of the trigger guard, since the trigger guard on the GKK extends a bit further forward than a 1911.

I was amazed at how stretchy the wet leather got. I'd never noticed anything from leather shoes, belts, or gloves getting wet, but I guess that's the difference between suede and slick leather.