Leather that is frequently exposed to rain or high humidity will become hard and brittle, if not treated adequately. BALLISTOL will keep all smooth leathers soft. BALLISTOL effectively protects leather against the impact of water, insects and fungi. Its use is recommended for carrying slings, belts, scabbards, holsters, boots, saddles, bridles, baseball gloves, saddle bags and motorcycle clothes. (Do Not use on suede)

If properly processed, leather will contain acidic residues from tannic acid. BALLISTOL will form a permanent chemical compound with these residues within the leather which will make the leather virtually impermeable to water.

Holsters, in particular police handgun holsters, holding non-stainless steel, or not chrome or nickel plated hand guns can cause corrosion in the areas where the holster and the handgun have direct contact. By treating the inside of the holster with BALLISTOL , the acidic residues from tannic acid will be completely neutralized and this source of corrosion will be eliminated.

How does the neutralization happen?
Well, there is an iron-clad rule in chemistry: whenever an acid and an alkaline substance interact they form a salt + water. When the alkaline BALLISTOL is applied to leather, which has been processed with tannic acid, BALLISTOL and the tannic acid residues in the leather interact forming a salt from tannic acid, called tannate, and water. While the water evaporates, the tannate remains in the leather making it water impermeable and protecting it.