My Old 1907 Sling

[Bart212]

Hi guys,

I've got an old 1907 Sling that was made in 1918. Well needless to say it's seen better days. The leather seems dry and won't flex with out cracking. It still has pretty good strength I can shoulder my Garand with it and it still seems to be pretty tough.

What can I do to prevent further ruining the sling?

What can I do to repair crack damage that has already been done?

Thanks

 

[koldt]

Hi guys,

I've got an old 1907 Sling that was made in 1918. Well needless to say it's seen better days. The leather seems dry and won't flex with out cracking. It still has pretty good strength I can shoulder my Garand with it and it still seems to be pretty tough.

What can I do to prevent further ruining the sling?

What can I do to repair crack damage that has already been done?

Thanks

Preserving and repairing aged leather.... Now that is a problem that I have spoken to at lengths with many museum curators.

There is no great answer. And depending on who you speak with, will get just as many suggestions, ie. saddle soap, neadfoot oit, Picards, etc etc.

There is no way to repair, other than a sew and/or glue job. Anything done will usually be visible. If that is not a concern, glue, patch and sew. If you wish to maintain the historical or collector value, don't do anything to repair it.

As far as a preservative, wipe off any excess dirt and I personally just use vaseline. A little at a time and work it in. If it's OK to put on people/children's skin, should be OK for old leather, it's skin after all. I have tried most of the other stuff, and the vaseline seems to have worked the best for the leather I've worked on. It has to be reapplied periodically. It doesn't change the colour too dramatically or detramentally. Some of the other products will leave a permanent layer or residue. Build up can be a problem.

There's one guy's solution.

 

[Joe Turner]

Nothing can be done to repair the cracks. The damage is done. Use any good leaher care product to restore some mopisture and prevent water absorbtion. I use Pecard's Leather Care. I would retire the sling and get a reproduction as those old slings if complete have a signficant amount of value to collectors. Just my thoughts. Joe

 

[englishman_ca]

Leather restoration

I have had quite a bit of experience with working with old leather. Belts, boots, slings, bandoliers, all Victorian period.

Everybody has a favourite preparation that they like to feed the leather. Picards is good, neatsfoot oil, mink oil, dubbin, even peanut oil, the list is endless.

I have had very good luck with a US made product called Lexol. It is water based, contains emulsified lanolin and other tanning oils and soaks into leather very quickly. I soak the leather in a bath of it and when it is sodden, the leather is limp and sloppy like a wet noodle. I gently flex the leather to get the fibres moving and keep working it until I am satisfied that the snake oil is right though. I let the leather air dry away from heat for a few days and then inspect it. It always shows improvement but sometimes I will repeat the process several times.

Cracks cannot be repaired if you are going to use the item. Superglue will stick the crack back together, but then a new crack will open right beside the glue line when flexed.

So sometimes leather is just too far gone to be retrieved. It is afterall just a piece of dead skin, it will break down. If you catch it in time, it will come right back, but sometimes it is a lost cause. Best to use older stuff for display, onehundred year old leather just isn't durable enough for regular use no matter what you treat it with.

My tuppence worth.

 

[Bart212]

Thanks guys for your replies.

I ended up using vasoline I put on two rubbed-in coats.

One rubbing method I used was: Held the sling over my index finger and let it fold over my hand then rubbed the medium into the cracks.

I think that it still seems a bit dry, but it's flexing farther now before opening the cracks (as the sling was rather stiff before) so I bought some minkoil today to apply at a latter date.

Would it be recommened to put the sling in the oven at a low temp so that the vasloine has the ability to soak in as its more like grease than oil (not very viscous).

Thanks

 

[koldt]

I personally wouldn't put it in the oven, as I think it will do more drying rather than having whatever you are putting on it soak in.

It does take time to apply and let digest the vaseline/picards/mink oil/whatever. Just work it in with your hands/fingers and let sit, for weeks if neccessary. Remember it took 100 years to dry out, it may take more than a half hour to get it pliable.

Also some stuff may be beyond reversal. If you are looking for a historical collectible, might have to cut your losses and find a better one, or as mentioned if you want a servicable/usable one, give a gun shop a call.

There is only so much that can be done.