Ukrainian Leather Slings, question about quality....

[grelmar]

Wanting to put a reasonably nice tooled leather sling on one of my rifles. Been doing a bit of poking around, and there seems to be a glut of Ukrainian leather out there.

The pictures online make it seem pretty reasonable, and the prices are really, really low... Like half or less than something comparable I'd see retail in Canada.

Anyone here have any experiences with these? The tooling quality at least passable, and is the leather going to hold up, or just dissolve with the first drop of rain, like cheap flea market "leather" belts?

 

[BigUglyMan]

Ukrainians, like most eastern bloc people, have fairly light and thin skins and as such make poor leather unsuitable for slings.

 

[MiG25]

I thought I was going to see a sling made of baler twine.

 

[c-fbmi]

Ukrainians, like most eastern bloc people, have fairly light and thin skins and as such make poor leather unsuitable for slings.

 

[grelmar]

Har har...

 

[Johnn Peterson]

That's half of my heritage that you speak of!! I never learned how to write the language. I did however, pick up a good selection of verbal curse words and phrases at a young age that I've had no difficulty remembering. Listen carefully.

Let that be a lesson to you both.

 

[kamlooky]

Seeeeeee.......tizz what Biggly'n........speaks..........errrrrr............. types..........

That's half of my heritage that you speak of!! I never learned how to write the language. I did however, pick up a good selection of verbal curse words and phrases at a young age that I've had no difficulty remembering. Listen carefully.

Let that be a lesson to you both.

 

[owlowl]

Ukrainians, like most eastern bloc people, have fairly light and thin skins and as such make poor leather unsuitable for slings.

You find that funny?

 

[jjohnwm]

You find that funny?

I find it hilarious, and I come from 100% Ukrainian stock on both sides as far back as records go.

I can definitely state that my father spent years attempting to tan my hide when I misbehaved, and despite his efforts he was unable to turn my backside into anything remotely close to decent leather.

Stay tuned for upcoming related discussions:

1. Borscht as a bore solvent...yes or no?

2. Pyrohy (perogies)...the ultimate reactive target?

3. Vodka...it's not just for breakfast anymore!

 

[owlowl]

I can definitely state that my father spent years attempting to tan my hide when I misbehaved, and despite his efforts he was unable to turn my backside into anything remotely close to decent leather.

Seems like he failed to teach you any history too. Making use of human leather is only hilarious when you grow up to be completely unaware of what it means.

But I guess its a culture thing, my apologies.

 

[grelmar]

Any chance of this turning to the actual question? Or just more Andrew Dice Clay level humour and bickering?

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Any chance of this turning to the actual question? Or just more Andrew Dice Clay level humour and bickering?

I'm not insulted but some of the comments do seem to be a little on the derogatory side, show poor taste and/or a lack of consideration. If similar statements were made about some of our indigenous groups or African Americans, the s**t would hit the fan and mods would be allover it like ugly on an ape.

 

[Nipigon Jack]

Wanting to put a reasonably nice tooled leather sling on one of my rifles. Been doing a bit of poking around, and there seems to be a glut of Ukrainian leather out there.

The pictures online make it seem pretty reasonable, and the prices are really, really low... Like half or less than something comparable I'd see retail in Canada.

Anyone here have any experiences with these? The tooling quality at least passable, and is the leather going to hold up, or just dissolve with the first drop of rain, like cheap flea market "leather" belts?

Well now I'm curious.
Tell me where I can buy one. I'd be willing to give one a try. Maybe I'll be helping some poor, long lost relative employed.
BTW
Thanks for the laugh BUM. I laughed so hard, I almost spilled my Vodka

 

[c-fbmi]

Well I'm here to tell you we Irish have hides dat make some damn fine ledder, and it ain't tin needer.

Sorry OP I couldn't resist...........I make all my own leather goods, me fadder was a trained saddle and harness maker so needless to say I learned the whole trade as a very young man. Sorry I can't be of any help with the off shore products you refer to.

 

[grelmar]

PM sent, Nipijon....

For the price, I think I'll just order one and risk it myself.

 

[grelmar]

Well I'm here to tell you we Irish have hides dat make some damn fine ledder, and it ain't tin needer.

Sorry OP I couldn't resist...........I make all my own leather goods, me fadder was a trained saddle and harness maker so needless to say I learned the whole trade as a very young man. Sorry I can't be of any help with the off shore products you refer to.

I'm the same with "things made out of wood" from the very small, to house sized objects My Grandfather was the last one in the family to do woodwork for a living, but the skills (and the tools) still keep getting passed along.

 

[cody c]

someone post a link, let's see these things or where you can get them.

BTW, as to making leather out of people, if the question had of been about buying slings from folks of Jewish descent I think you could understand the reason why some folks wouldn't find the comments funny.

 

[Magellann]

Ive seen those sling straps advertized on Ebay, they're priced pretty reasonable.

 

[grelmar]

Ok, I'll risk posting the link in the open, was just avoiding it based on the "not a sponsor" thang....

http://www.ebay.ca/usr/extremestyle_ua

Tons of different gun leather, and really well priced, even with the shipping added in - and in a lot of cases, it's free shipping.

 

[jjohnwm]

Hard to tell just from photos, but a lot of those straps seem to be sized for the smaller Euro loops...3/4-inch, I think? If so, they don't really look right on our traditional 1-inch sling loops. They photos also seem to show a lot of potentially stock-scratching hardware.