Scabbard Repairs

[Aragorn243]

I picked up an 1886/35 Lebel short bayonet with hooked quillion today at the flea market. It came with a frog which looks to be in good shape but the threads have either broken or simply disappeared from about 50% of the stitching.

Should I replace the stitching or is this one of those no-no's. I personally look at it as maintenance but it's not like it is something I have to do.

If replaced, what would the correct material be and what is the stitch pattern?

The maker mark can just be seen but not read, it is very faint. The leather is pliable but does have a few age cracks in it. It holds its correct form but it an attempt were made to attach it to a belt, it would fall right off. The portion holding the scabbard is in a bit of better shape with original threads still holding the bottom half and the small "belt" loop.

Information

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[Aragorn243]

I just realized I have this thread named incorrectly, should have been "Frog Repairs". In any case I decided there is no harm in stitching it back together. I'm not likely to sell it and if someone doesn't like that the threads are new, they can always take them out and it will be in the same condition as before ti stitched it back together.

The project went well, there were only two areas where the leather was torn between the stitches. I used cotton thread and stitched each hole three or four times to give it the same "look" as the heavier original thread.

[gew8805]

The correct thread would have been linen, 5 chord. It is getting hard to find linen thread and may have gone over to the dark side and are using polyester thread, quite a shame, it looks like garbage. Sorry to say, cotton would not last in real use. Use a standard hand stitch. That is if you decide to do it over the right way, see the article below:

http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tut...herstitch.html

[Aragorn243]

I just replicated the stitch that was already used. About half of the original remains.

If I ever find the real thread. I'll redo it. I like the way it looks but it was a real pain doing the same stitch 3 or 4 times to replicate the thickness.

I did go to the dark side without realizing it. It's cotton covered polyester thread. I feel a little dirty.

The Hand stitch was the one I used. Lucked into that one.

[gew8805]

The dark? Good way to put it but sometimes "ya gotta do, what ya gotta do", right? Better to have it together rather than allowing it to unravel further. I have been working with leather for almost 40 years and am shocked at the fact that the natural linen thread has nearly vanished. The cost has had to go up and the artificial thread is a good deal less expensive.

For Barbour's linen thread - the best - see Campbell-Randall at:

Barbours LINEN: 5 Cord, Left Twist, Natural

I know, expensive but worth it.

[Aragorn243]

I got the camera out to take some photos of a sleeping bag I got this morning so I figured I'd take photos of the bayonet and frog while I was at it.

[gew8805]

You actually did quite well, it looks good.

[19c bayoneta]

looks great hunting for a 1941 spanish bolo bayonet frog at the moment noy much luck yet