Reproduction Scope Tins?

[Simon P]

This is the strap on my 1955 dated tin. The strap can not be removed due to the spliced joint being to large, it has prbably swollen slightly with age.

It has 3 rivets at the buckle end, instead of the stitching, and the opposite end is marked
MC3650

Information

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[grant580]

Well, my better half just got back from Calgary and I had her go to Tandy leather for me to pick up some leather strapping so I can make a repro strap for my repro scope tin. They sell the one inch wide straps in various lengths, I got two at 72 inches which will be enough to make a couple without splicing. Only problem is the leather is slightly less than 3/16 inch thick and too thick to go through the steel straps on my repro scope tin. It would appear that the leather can't be any thicker than about 1/8 inch to fit my scope tin. How thick is the leather on your scope tin straps Cold Zero? If my scope tin was a real (non-repro) one, would this thick strap I have fit??

[Cold_Zero]

Well, my better half just got back from Calgary and I had her go to Tandy leather for me to pick up some leather strapping so I can make a repro strap for my repro scope tin. They sell the one inch wide straps in various lengths, I got two at 72 inches which will be enough to make a couple without splicing. Only problem is the leather is slightly less than 3/16 inch thick and too thick to go through the steel straps on my repro scope tin. It would appear that the leather can't be any thicker than about 1/8 inch to fit my scope tin. How thick is the leather on your scope tin straps Cold Zero? If my scope tin was a real (non-repro) one, would this thick strap I have fit??

Put a micrometer on the strap along the length, thickness ranged from 2.80mm(0.110") to 3.30mm(0.129")

[rayg]

Only problem is the leather is slightly less than 3/16 inch thick and too thick to go through the steel straps on my repro scope tin. It would appear that the leather can't be any thicker than about 1/8 inch to fit my scope tin.

Just a thought, I've thinned leather by closing it in a vise between two plates or even pounding it between two flat plates. The width of the strap will probably increase a bit though and may have to be trimed a bit to fit in the scope case loops.
Not that easy to get 72" long leather straps and this might be worth trying, Ray

[grant580]

Just a thought, I've thinned leather by closing it in a vise between two plates or even pounding it between two flat plates. The width of the strap will probably increase a bit though and may have to be trimed a bit to fit in the scope case loops.
Not that easy to get 72" long leather straps and this might be worth trying, Ray

Well, I might have another alternative as my better half also brought me back a very nice (and sharp) "skivving" (sp?) tool. This things is kinda like a razor and I think with practice I could shave enough thickness off this 72 inch belt to make it work. Funny you should say that a 72 inch leather strap is hard to get rayg, Tandy has tons of stuff in their store like that. I guess it must of course been likely an Alberta cow to get a piece of leather that long? LOL

[Baal]

I just measured my original scope tin and the slot looks to be 0.16in deep. 1/8th inch leather seems to be the goal if you're making a strap.

[grant580]

I just measured my original scope tin and the slot looks to be 0.16in deep. 1/8th inch leather seems to be the goal if you're making a strap.

Thanks Baal, guess I will be taking those straps back and apparantly they do sell slightly thinner leather at Tandy.

[Warren]

Straps don't seem to make much sense. Here are three cans: one British and two REL Canadian cans. One REL has the split strap and the others: one British and one REL have the one piece strap. Two other straps that I have seem to exhibit similar differences in both length and buckles. Some brass and some steel. Go figure........