What to use for dried out leather?

[Johnny Peppers]

Have used the Pecards to treat dried out Model 1907 slings. Use it sparingly in repeated coats, and don't use heat to speed up the process. When leather passes a certain point you cannot restore any strength to the leather, but the slings are now supple enough to display on period rifles.

Neetsfoot Oil takes the prize for being the worst thing you can put on old leather.

[browningautorifle]

Have used the Pecards to treat dried out Model 1907 slings

Now you show up...

[gew8805]

...................
Neetsfoot Oil takes the prize for being the worst thing you can put on old leather.

Far from it, the worst thing for old leather is a lack of knowledge and a "get it done fast and/or simply" attitude. Proper preservation is a hard-earned thing and ham-handed application of anything - even neatsfoot oil - will damage leather. Over the last 40 years of work with leather, new and old, I've seen that too many times.

When applied incorrectly, there is nothing that is good. Neatsfoot oil will beat petroleum any day, that's why I avoid Pecards and all other second-rate products on anything collectable. Even lightly applied, overtime Pecards clogs the pores and does the damage. Pecards is fine to use on user grade items that you will use and, when worn out you will throw away, but not something you want to preserve for your own pleasure and that of generations to come. But, Johnny, we've had this discussion before....

Properly applied, neatsfoot oil restores leathers flexibility and especially it's needed moisture content better than anything else, grease doesn't. And keep this in mind - that is why neatsfoot oil is used in the tanning process for all vegetable tanned leathers.

[Johnny Peppers]

I have been using Pecards for almost 40 years, so speak with some experience. I have a Randall knife sheath that was treated with Neatsfoot oil almost exactly 40 years ago by my late father. It was a Xmas gift I gave him with his name on the blade. Just like his boots, he gave the Randall sheath a regular dose of Neatsfoot oil and the sheath is coming apart today. Neatsfoot oil does make old leather softer because it breaks the fibers down, and then it falls apart.

The first thing I used on old leather was Mink Oil, and I have slings today that were treated with Mink Oil that develop a white substance on them from time to time. It wipes right off, but always comes back. If the Pecards has worked for the last 30/40 years, I see no reason to change now. The leather today is in much better condition than when I first applied it, so I will continue to use and recommend it. If you like 10W30 motor oil, that is your business, but I will continue to use what I know works.

[Peter Laidler]

Any comments about the lanolin treatment Johnny? I heard of it being used to preserve some leather artefacts from the Mary Rose. Mind you, they'd bee under the sea and undisturbed for a couple of hundred years and as they admit, they are just preserving what's left as opposed to ever using them

[gew8805]

Johnny, again, we have had this discussion before. Here is one of our discussions from the past:

Leather preservation

As said then, the knife sheaths shown are two very differently treated scabbards of equal quality. The one your father treated with neatsfoot oil was obviously used and carried in the field quite a bit. In other words, it has been heavily used but preserved correctly with neatsfoot oil - your Dad used your gift and preserved it lovingly, he was proud of it and I am sure was appreciative - but he used it. Nothing wrong with that, he benefited from it as he should have. The scabbard shows wear and tear from use and that is good, that is what it was made for. The one that looks new has never been carried in the field, as a matter of fact it shows no use whatsoever. It is a safe queen and that's fine - it didn't need neatsfoot oil or Pecards. If the used one had been treated with Pecards it would look the same as it does now or worse. The abraded corners and edges and the cracked strap would look the same, that damage was caused by use, not neatsfoot oil. True, the neatsfoot oil may have darkened the leather somewhat, but exposure to sunlight, rain, sweat, heat, cold and half a dozen other things also caused it. Safe queens don't wear out as quickly as a used example does.

Sorry, I do not mean to offend, you have two very nice examples, but to me, your father's knife is more valuable due to his use and the obvious care and attention he gave it. It shows his use and that is something to be proud of, it makes it part of your family's story. He gave it care and as such, it has a story to tell. It far outweighs the unused example unless you only value the monetary value of an object.

[WarPig1976]

I used the Neatsfoot oil on the belt and WOW what a difference.Brought that thing back to life! Thanks gew8805! The reason I chose not to use Pecards was due to it being a paste but, I did use it on my new shitkickers for water proofing and break in. I even bought some Lanolin to try, used it on a pair of pig skin gloves but I didn't care for it as it never seemed to soak in.
I would say in my case neatsfoot was the best option and that each treatment has its place. Thanks again for all the input fellers....

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Any comments about the lanolin treatment Johnny? I heard of it being used to preserve some leather artefacts from the Mary Rose. Mind you, they'd bee under the sea and undisturbed for a couple of hundred years and as they admit, they are just preserving what's left as opposed to ever using them

I also used several liberal coats and a plastic bag to restore the dried and shrunken leather handle on a US number 3 knife. Swelled the disks back up to a tight fit.

[gew8805]

Glad it worked for you WarPig1976.

The thing to remember is that, no matter what you choose to use, neatsfoot oil, Pecards, mink oil, etc., etc., use the minimum to do the job. Overdoing - drowning the leather - will cause damage regardless of what you use.

I still think that the best thing to use is nothing. Leather items that are kept inside at a regular humidity and temperature at which you yourself feel comfortable and out of direct sunlight will last nearly forever without observable deterioration. We can see that in Johnny Pepper's scabbard on the left. Use of a good leather item is not wrong, it is what the item was intended for and you should enjoy it, but it does put the leather in a different ball park requiring proper care if you want it to give good service and last. Johnny's knife on the right demonstrates that. Well worn is beautiful in it's own way, especially if the history of it's use means something to you. Johnny's Father took good care of his cherished knife and it's scabbard.

[Peter Laidler]

What about all the sweat that's soaked into my leather whips and bondage gear...........?