M1 Restoration of old dried up Leather (Bayonets & Slings)

[ChipS]

When I was a kid it was called Bag Balm. Probably would do fine on leather.

Yes, I remember it also being called bag balm (maybe a slang term?), long ago when I was a kid. I think I'm going to get a can or at least check out the ingredients. You would think it would be organic and non-toxic, probably not petroleum based as calves will ingest it. Something in the back of my mind recalls glycerin but it's so long ago. I was not a farm boy but I grew up with a bunch of farm boys in southern Indiana so I know a little about the industry. If I try it on old leather I will post the results. ChipS

[browningautorifle]

Bag was the term we used for udder...when I was a kid. Southern Ontario farmer...with cattle...

[CINDERS]

When I was a kid it was called Bag Balm.

I remember now as well we used to put that on the dry and cracked teats of the milking cows, do not miss one aspect of that job placing on the cow the cups in a herring bone system and that is dodging all the afterburner and flash floods that are emitted from the cows posterior section........

[browningautorifle]

Or having them set their foot on your rubber booted toe...while hand milking.

[ChipS]

Sounds like we have a few old 'farm boys' in the crowd!!!! I do remember the term 'green arm' but I don't think we want to discuss it here. LOL

I did search bag (udder) balm and it is an old (1899) compound that appears to contain lanolin and some other chemical component(s) that I am not familiar with, including some antibiotic properties. I may check Tractor Supply or Rural King and see if I can get a small container and give it a try on some expendable leather. I just retired and it can't hurt because all I have now is time. ChipS

[browningautorifle]

'green arm'

Nope...I just had a flash of gross. I haven't talked about some of this since I was 17...maybe we should go over to off topics and then get down and dirty...

Let's see now...leather preservatives...rejuvenation...

[CINDERS]

How does Dubbin and Balistol fare with leather they say the latter is ok but I am very wary of putting it on 07 scabbards and just use Dubbin sparingly 3 - 4 times a year on the scabbards TIA

[INLAND44]

Ballistol is okay on leather but I would not use it on delicate/valuable/old leather. Obenauf's does the trick.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I used to think that all of the things people have said for years about 'Pecards' was brainwashed junk they had read, but I used it for the first time a couple of years ago and it worked wonderful for me. It wasn't 'greasy' days later, and the leather felt like dry new leather. I used 'neatsfoot' oil all of my life as my dad did, but Pecards was amazing in my results.. It just may have been have been in my situations, but it really worked great for me.... It didn't seem to work any better than other treatments at first, but days/weeks later the leather was in good condition and not 'greasy' feeling as neatsfoot oil, etc did... I still have a couple of very old slings I treated with lanolin/neatsfoot oil years back, and they still feel a little 'greasy' to me. Who knows on this subject(?) I have really had some different reasults. I think we all get different results depending on the leather and it's age/production.

Jim, (browningautorifle), I'll get you for THAT... If you start telling us about having to put your arm up the rear-end of cows, and the other stuff I'll block you!

My dad made me do it at our neighbor's milk farm when I was a kid and I still have a hard time keeping it out of my memory..... They didn't even use those long rubber gloves then.. (I'll get you for that one buddy)

[CINDERS]

Thanks Inland I will google Pecards also and see if it is available in Aus.

Harlan please I know I said stuff but I still remember the end result of a cow calving and a few days after milking them in a herringbone dairy, getting swished in the face by it when you are putting cups on, then there were the Pesseries O'er no more please I am having flash backs right now!!!!