How to: Cleaning and Preserving Vintage Leather Relics -Sling, Holster, Boots

[@davidyager8817]

Awesome video and this info can be used for so many leather products out there.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Thanks!

[@MilledSteel]

Good insights on leather

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Glad you found it informative

[@BigPeter1313]

Great info!! I have a Eddystone 1917, M series built in 1918, that I'm restoring and everything on it is original. Furniture and receiver/barrel are in excellent condition, but the leather sling has some mold and the brass hooks have a lot of corrosion. Also, someone tried to fire a .308 out of the 30-06 and jammed the gun. after breaking it down to it's basic parts, and then knock the shell out with a clearing rod. Functions great now!! Just ordered the saddle soap and neatsfoot oil. Thanks Brother!!

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Awesome! Hope it works out well for you

[@BigPeter1313]

@@BattlefieldCurator I'll send some pictures once I'm finished. This was a rifle that was given to my father at least 45 years ago.

[@BigPeter1313]

@@BattlefieldCurator The leather itself has zero cracks in it which has me believing that a bit of moisture can be helpful if there's no oil on the sling. Afterall, there's healthy mold that forms on moist leather. Especially on saddles.

[@davidcaylor4286]

Dan, thanks for the video. I have several leather items these tips will help preserve. One of them is a civil war sling that needs much help.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Hopefully this helps, and it definitely helps to gather as much information from legit sources and professionals.

[@MidwesternFC]

Good video. I've had great luck with Neatsfoot oil too. Pecard leather dressing has become my go to. Thanks for sharing this...always looking for new ideas and suggestions.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yep I’ve heard of that, and I think it has been used by many collectors

[@ProjectEric2024]

Hey I know these guys! Great video you two.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Thanks!

[@shaangill6047]

Thank you so much for this video. I was looking for advice on how to best care for rifle slings I have on a k98 Gewehr 98 and M1917 Rifle.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

You're quite welcome! I have a Yugo M48 sling I want to try Precard Leather Dressing on for a future video. I have seen Precard mentioned throughout the collecting community

[@shaangill6047]

@@BattlefieldCurator I look forward to that thanks again

[@Potentialtobefunny]

I’m looking to restore my great grandfathers mail bag from the 1960s do you have any tips?

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

W upload

[@arisukak]

What truly preserves organic material is a stable environment. What museums have found for leather is that leather conditioners may make the leather more usable in the short term, but ultimately hasten the destruction of the item.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

In the full length video, we talk about storing leather items/ relics properly. A lot of collectors use Pecards leather dressing. Personally, I’ve not used it. I also have Renaissance Wax, but not sure how it does with leather.

[@RedneckAdonis]

I'd love to restore my Granddaddys western belt and holster. That thing sat forever in an old farm house with no insulated walls and a wood heater. Idk if I'd mess it up or make it better. Help!

[@jerryjin3427]

One question I had was if there are some buckles on a sling which corroded pretty badly, but the leather that goes around the buckles were stitched. What should I do to take care of the buckles? Should I cut the stitches?

[@BattlefieldCurator]

I would not suggest cutting the stitches. Maybe use a cue tip?

[@luckystranger4312]

I have a original nagant revolver holster and i want to give it the best maintenance i can

[@KJ_PARA9MM]

“Now when you’re dabbling in necromancy and working with a particularly dried out corpse what you wanna do is go ahead and use a little bit of neatsfoot oil working it right into the leathery flesh of the undead. A little neatsfoot oil will not only restore metaphsical life to the dead the but will also help to really bring out that “just died last week” looking skin.”

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Wow lol 😂

[@teresagibson4946]

Bickmore saddle soap

[@michaelkaminsky9914]

Forget kiwi products, Alot of petroleum distillate in those products that are harmful to leather, they don't allow the leather to breathe. Pecards antique leather dressing is an all natural product and much better suited. Along with Renaissance wax for some added protection. To each their own however....it's pretty easy to destroy old leather that's in reasonable shape.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yes I’ve heard about Pecards and will have to make another video soon

[@ya-silly-goose623]

This is terrible advice. A professional should specify that you should probably only use white saddle soap (castile and beeswax specifically) instead of some other types. It's the softest on leather for saddle soap types. Otter Wax sells one. Neatsfoot oil darkens material and will soften it, so be careful and don't use a lot. Montana Pitch Blend Oil is where it's at and what I'd replace as my recommendation. Kiwi brand is absolutely garbage. Use something that has petroleum based or silicone based ingredients. Try something else like Saphir, or Montana Pitch Blend Leather Balm ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE TRYING TO RENEW ANTIQUE LEATHER

[@ya-silly-goose623]

Typo: *Use something that DOES NOT have petroleum or silicone based ingredients*

[@luckystranger4312]

I have a original nagant revolver holster and i want to give it the best maintenance i can

[@luckystranger4312]

I have a original nagant revolver holster and i want to give it the best maintenance i can

[@arisukak]

That's made of Kirza, not leather.

[@luckystranger4312]

@@arisukak thank you for the help, since i don't read Russian, i didn't know, anything else you can recommend?

[@8brahmanas8]

​@@luckystranger4312Don't put it near flames.

[@luckystranger4312]

@@8brahmanas8 just that?