[Trent]

Odd question and not exactly sure where to post it.

I have an old cowhide I bought a couple years ago rolled up under my couch; it's large enough for the project I have in mind.

What I want to do is make a leather cover / case for my DsHK (a rather large firearm), to keep the dust off while in storage.

My question is, having never stored a weapon in contact with leather for a long period of time, will the leather cause any bad things to happen to a well-oiled weapon if stored inside and in direct contact with the leather for long periods? I was thinking leather would soak up and retain less moisture from the air than a cloth cover..

Size of "Sweetie" (Russian term, not mine) compared to standard AK-47 - going to need to use the entire cow hide:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/415647_476634829034119_1069022871_o.jpg

[M-Cameron]

i keep my revolver stored in a leather holster 99% of the time, no ill effects after 2 years....

i do however wipe it down at least once a month with CLP...

if the gun is stored in a climate controlled room, and you wipe it down every now and then, you should have no problem.

Nice piece of hardware by the way....

[Trent]

Cameron, thanks. :)

One of these days I'll get the thing hauled out to the range to shoot. I haven't shot it yet!

(Although I've spent a fair amount of time fondling it, oiling it, and pulling that big charging handle to listen to the beautifully wicked sound it makes.)

[blarby]

Metal in contact with tanned leather for too long is a recipe for corrosion of various sorts.

Just make sure you keep an eye on it.

Nice beast !

[CWL]

People who report that they've never had problems with long-term storage of firearms in leather probably live in arid/dry places.

Try making this claim if you live in a high humidity environment...

I do not think leather is a good solution for long-term storage of anything. It will absorb moisture right out of the air and hold it against the metal of your firearms. Even if it absorbs moisture slower than fabric, it is still a bad idea because it still will absorb & retain moisture.

[460Kodiak]

I agree. If you live in a dry place and keep it oiled, you should be fine. But if you live in a humid place, I'd be careful.

I love my arrid home. No worries.

[Trent]

So what should I use?

I'd like to leave it mounted on the tripod in the vault, but with the cover on to keep the dust off - just like it's sitting in that pic. I'll be doing brass tumbling (for reloading) in close proximity, so there'll be a lot of dust in the air from time to time.

Every surface, nook, and cranny has a healthy coat of break free "collectors oil" on at present (used half a damn bottle, it's a big gun!). I was thinking leather wouldn't soak up (as much of) the oil and dry it out, like cloth would.

PS: I'm in central midwest, we have our periods of humidity. (Especially recently; I've recorded 7 inches of rain in the last week here... sucks).

[Elmer]

People who report that they've never had problems with long-term storage of firearms in leather probably live in arid/dry places.

Try making this claim if you live in a high humidity environment...

I do not think leather is a good solution for long-term storage of anything. It will absorb moisture right out of the air and hold it against the metal of your firearms. Even if it absorbs moisture slower than fabric, it is still a bad idea because it still will absorb & retain moisture.
Dry environments too. I've seen tons of guns wrecked from leaving them in holsters.

[SlamFire1]

Leather was tumbled with tanning chemicals that will eat up gun finishes.

[Elmer]

So what should I use?

I'd like to leave it mounted on the tripod in the vault, but with the cover on to keep the dust off - just like it's sitting in that pic. I'll be doing brass tumbling (for reloading) in close proximity, so there'll be a lot of dust in the air from time to time.

Every surface, nook, and cranny has a healthy coat of break free "collectors oil" on at present (used half a damn bottle, it's a big gun!). I was thinking leather wouldn't soak up (as much of) the oil and dry it out, like cloth would.

PS: I'm in central midwest, we have our periods of humidity. (Especially recently; I've recorded 7 inches of rain in the last week here... sucks).
Maybe look and see if any of the vapor barrier bag companies make anything large enough.

Here's one, but I don't see anything that big.

https://www.zcorrproducts.com/collections/firearm-storage-bags

[Trent]

What about Nylon or another synthetic fiber? Any problems with oil interacting with nylon?

I could go buy a bolt of heavy nylon, or some other sort of cloth. My first thought was to get a couple of yards of canvas, then I thought of "old Betsy" that I had under the couch...

I'm open to anything, just want to keep the dust from the tumbler off.

[Hardtarget]

If the leather is "chrome tan" process...don't do it. How about a grille cover? No matter what you choose...check it often with an oil cloth wipe down at every check. have fun.

Mark

[Certaindeaf]

I'd just go with a light to meduim weight cotton sheet.

[langloisandy]

I'm in the leather biz... find ANYTHING to cover that with other than a hide of leather.

Andy

[Doc3402]

For years it was thought that leather holsters accelerated holster wear. I have seen first hand that over time leather will tarnish a nickle finish. Other than that, I can't help you.

[Rembrandt]

I love my Boyt leather cases....used for transport, not long term storage. Boyt made military leather goods, holsters, and cases during WW1 & WW2.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/001.jpg

[FROGO207]

How about a simple painters clear drop cloth?? It is oilproof and you can see the "item:D" through it for display purposes. I will do this to a project on my workbench if I will be leaving it for a length of time in a dusty environment.

[hso]

Most leather will promote corrosion.

[tarosean]

There is a good example of what leather can do to a pistol in the For Sale section.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=679182


Ive never ruined a gun but have ruined bullets left in leather cartridge holders.

[bannockburn]

I would think that a painters drop cloth would make for a good dust cover.

[Doc3402]

If all you're looking for is a dust cover you might want to visit a fabric or hobby shop to see what is available. I don't think leather is your answer, and I would be concerned about trapping moisture under a plastic sheet. Another solution might be a twin bed sheet with a high thread count.

[Drail]

Blue tarp. Leather would be just about the worst material you could possibly use.

[Trent]

Don't want to use a tarp, would contain moisture. Had a friend who used tarps over his classic car in the garage once, moisture was trapped between the tarp and metal over the winter, was not pretty when he uncovered it in the spring...

I think I'm going to buy a few yards off of a bolt of heavy canvas and go with my original idea of a canvas cover.

I'll probably still make a leather transit case for it with Ol' Betsy; I don't have a bag big enough to put it in to take the the range. The guy I bought it from, dropped it off in the bare, no case or transit chest, which is actually not a legal way to transport it in IL. (There's some argument that since you can't charge the thing without it being mounted to the tripod component, it's a non-functional firearm and can be transported in the bare, but... I don't want to argue the finer aspects of the law on the side of the road with Johnny Law, risking lock up of both me and "Sweetie".)

[Certaindeaf]

Heavy canvas is essentially a tarp. Back in the old days they were only made of canvas.
A thick canvas tarp to a certain degree will be similar to an impermeable plastic tarp.
I'd go with a light to medium grade cotton sheet. Remember, you said you just want to keep dust off of it. That'll do it but still "breath" well.

[Trent]

Hmm... I'm thinking that the answer is far more simple than I was making the problem out to be. From the way it sounds, the best solution is tossing a bed sheet over the thing, like in those haunted house type movies, where they throw sheets over the antiques.

[Certaindeaf]

I throw sheets over my reloading presses/gear and garaged (unheated) motorbikes. Sure keeps the dust off with no issues.

[CWL]

Have a cover custom made from heavy canvass. Then soak the whole thing in beeswax, let dry & brush the fabric before use. You could also oil the canvass, but it will be messier to use.

I'd still keep some sort of humidity absorber inside the case though.

[rcmodel]

I would be real wary of a cow hide of unknown origin you bought somewhere.
No way to know whether it was properly tanned or just salt cured to keep the hair from slipping.

I think if I was you?
I would commision a upholstry shop to make a cover out of OD green canvas, as orginial looking as possible.

Or better yet, buy an orginial military cover from one of the surplus places like Sarco or somewhere.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-S-WWII-1919A4-Browning-30cal-Canvas-Gun-Cover-/300789176306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46086e97f2
http://www.cranetechnologiesinc.com/50CalM2GunCover.html

rc

[homatok]

Try to find a "car cover" of the type used for long term storage of automobiles. These covers breathe so moisture will not collect and lie on the metal. Air circulation is your friend!

[22-rimfire]

There are acids used in the tanning process. I would suggest a sheet.

[oneounceload]

Folks with multiple homes who close them up for periods of time have been using plain white sheets for eons - since your stated concern was simply dust and not long-term corrosion protection, I would use the sheet - preferably a fitted one with the elastic edge to keep it snug (and get a solid top for your tumbler so you and the gun aren't exposed to that dust)

[Ehtereon11B]

I only have one firearm that has a corresponding leather holster. And it is never in said holster other than carry. I purchased it off someone who didn't even know he had it and stored in the holster for 30 years. Even though it was a relatively dry area, it still had quite a bit of rust on it. Bought it for $60 not even knowing it would fire again. Thankfully it did.

Air circulation and dry air. Weapons will love you.

[jhco50]

A lot depends on what part of the country you live in. In Texas I would never store any kind of gun in a holster, but in Colorado I don't have a problem with storing in a holster. It all depends on the humidity level in your area. I would add to make sure the leather is vegetable tanned.

One thing you might try is to polish your firearm with auto polish such as 2000 Washes or Nu-Coat. Polish it inside and out, including the barrel and stock. This is what I came up with when I lived in Texas and got tired of sloshing oil on my firearms. This is a long term storage method. You can remove it with Hoppe's #9 or a similar solvent.

[Trent]

jhco50, neat idea; I never thought of using a wax based coating.

If it's good for my '73 mustang, I'm sure it'll be good for my boomsticks.

[TrueTexan]

Check out a sailing center and get some sail cloth you don't want anything that traps moisture.

[Trent]

Doesn't sail cloth = canvas?