I picked up a nice older leather M1907-style sling last weekend at a show to replace the beat-up one on my Marlin 336C. It needs a little cleaning and I was wondering what people do to maintain their real leather slings? Reading stuff online seems to be all over the place from saddle soaps to special-purpose cleaners and oils to Armor-All. Any thoughts from this community?
Leather Sling Care
- Thread starter Airgead
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Many old military leather collectors swear by Picards.
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Leat...90&sr=8-1&keywords=pecard+leather+conditioner
It's a little greasy, messy, and sticky for my tastes though.
I actually use Kiwi Leather Lotion on my old holsters and knife sheaths.
http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Leather-...d=1455073649&sr=8-1&keywords=kiwi+shoe+lotion
I see now that Picards has a similar product that might be as good, or better???
http://www.amazon.com/Pecard-Chemic...id=1455073779&sr=8-3&keywords=pecards+leather
rc
http://www.amazon.com/Original-Leat...90&sr=8-1&keywords=pecard+leather+conditioner
It's a little greasy, messy, and sticky for my tastes though.
I actually use Kiwi Leather Lotion on my old holsters and knife sheaths.
http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Leather-...d=1455073649&sr=8-1&keywords=kiwi+shoe+lotion
I see now that Picards has a similar product that might be as good, or better???
http://www.amazon.com/Pecard-Chemic...id=1455073779&sr=8-3&keywords=pecards+leather
rc
ColtPythonElite
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I also use Kiwi Leather Lotion on various leather goods. My 2000 Harley Road King Classic came with hard leather covered saddlebags. About once a year, I grease them up with a heavy coat of mink oil and sit them out in the sun. The mink oil gets hot and soaks in. Those bags have seen plenty of rain and sun. They still look like new. The bike has 95k miles. It is hardly a garage queen.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
But, how will you know it really works on your Indian until 2115?? 
rc
rc
ColtPythonElite
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I was wondering the same thing^
AndyJ
Member
Same same for me
ApacheCoTodd
member
Skidmores.
I buy it from them in the display boxes - what, 6-8 tubs at a shot?
But then, I go through more than most folks I guess.
Todd.
I buy it from them in the display boxes - what, 6-8 tubs at a shot?
But then, I go through more than most folks I guess.
Todd.
Panzerschwein
member
Neat's Foot oil works well for me on all my leather goods.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Bad stuff in the long run.
Leather eating bacteria thrive on it.
And it causes cotton tread to rot early.
Plus, it softens fitted leather holsters and such.
rc
Leather eating bacteria thrive on it.
And it causes cotton tread to rot early.
Plus, it softens fitted leather holsters and such.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Neatsfoot oil!!
rc
rc
ApacheCoTodd
member
Neatsfoot is my go-to for new-stiff or age hardened leather revival but as RC said - it's hard on some stitching... then Skidmore's or Blackrock Leather-n-rich.
Todd.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Your modern leather will be stitched with nylon or Dacron synthetic thread.
So no worries there.
It's the old collectable leather that is most likely sewn with cotton thread.
They hadn't invented Nylon & Dacron thread and started using it until after WWII.
Even then it took many leather companies into the modern ages before they switched over to rot & bacteria proof synthetic thread.
rc
So no worries there.
It's the old collectable leather that is most likely sewn with cotton thread.
They hadn't invented Nylon & Dacron thread and started using it until after WWII.
Even then it took many leather companies into the modern ages before they switched over to rot & bacteria proof synthetic thread.
rc
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
John Bianchi dips his nearly completed rigs into hot neatsfoot oil before doing the final finish work.
Neatsfoot and other oils are only bad news if they are over-used.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
John used Nylon or Dacron thread too..
rc
rc
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