"Vertigras" (SP) - Green Crap!!!

[Mike Haas]

You know the Green Crap thats around the brass on leather slings and holsters etc. Anyway.. the "old WW2/Korean War Vet" that owns it came here yesterday and insisted it should be cleaned up some.
I was very reluctant since it's a USN Boyt "43" shoulder holster for a S&W 4" Victory .38 Cal Revolver. (I posted ID request Info on the 1911 Forum acouple of weeks ago). Anyway 'Bernie said he wanted to clean it up some and see if we could get the name to show up. The entire unit was well used and sweat/dirt covered with oil stains on the retainer strap and holster face. Certain areas were very dry in paticuliar the belt loop snap. Bernie unlatched that and the belt loop broke at that point!. Bernie said "Oh Well" and then started to use 'Kiwi" saddle soap on the other straps. Amazing how well the straps cleaned up. Plenty of marks there yet but much better.
Back to the "Green Crap". Bernie then very lightly scubbed the face of the holster with the Saddle Soap using a soft old tooth brush (frequently rinsed); he paid particulier attention to the rivets & snaps. He then wiped with a wet/damp sponge and that was the end of it for the day.
I went back to it this morning and resoaped around the rivets and snap on the holster face, wiped it off some and used a dental pick to clean around them. Kinda amazing how clean they came up. I used a small primer pocket cleaner brush & Q-tips to clean the snap pocket. The "Green Crap" was abit gooey but using another clean/dry toothbrush it removed easily.
Once the holster is cleaned to "Bernie's" satisfaction it will be treated with Pecards Antigue Leather Dressing per instructions.
I'm only posting this to point out how well (IMO) the method worked to get rid of the "Green Crap". Sadly the belt loop is broken but I tend to think that the balence of the rig will be better off for the process. Preserved, not restored so to speak.
Before anybody jumps me for removing "Patina" - it was Bernie's rig, all I'm doing is helping the ole Boy doing what he wants to do.
Pic's to follow next post.

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