What is the best thing to treat leather frogs for bayonets or other vintage leather milsurp gear?
I have neats foot oil which is used on saddlery and slings. Would this be good to use on other leather items or would that change the condition of some antique leather goods?
I'm sure others have lots of ideas and methods.
The one I've used most successfully is a blend of Beeswax (40-50%) with Neatsfoot Oil (25-30%) with Lanolin (25-30%) melted in a double boiler, blended, then cooled. (I put it in an old, empty shoe polish tin).
If the leather is extremely dry or stiff, I use a higher percentage of Neatsfoot Oil and Lanolin and less wax. If the leather is not cracked and still flexible, I use a higher proportion of wax. It keeps the leather quite supple, and improves over the course of a week or two as the oils and fats ease their way deep into the leather.
Have used this concoction on old boots, leather scabbards, slings, gloves, frogs, and ammo pouches. In particular, I've bought a number of leather ammo pouches of European origin on the surplus market (typically 50-70 years old); they seem to love this mixture. Have not seen any adverse effects over the years.
Seaspriter's advice is very good, but I will add one suggestion; be sure to use pure neatsfoot oil, not the commonly available neatsfoot oil compound. The compound will contain mineral oil and other things that are not the best for leather.
Pure neatsfoot oil is also good by it's self. Apply a light coat, adding more later if needed, too much of anything is bad.
Thank you very much gentlemen, I appreciate the info.
Try Pecards antique leather dressing.
I have had very good success with anhydrous lanolin (avalable at phamacys and apothecarys). It comes in one pound jars and is quite inexpensive. I think the addition of pure neatsfoot & bees wax is well worth a try.