Suggestions on "refreshing" a leather scabbard?

[DarylBruce]

Pecards is what I use, but a little goes a long way. I find it best if used very sparely. Just a small dab will do ya. I have used Pecard Antique Dressing on light leather and it had little effect on color. .
Attachment 2920

[Johnny Peppers]

If you read the ingredients lable on Pecards, it states that it contains petroleum distillates. There is no indgredients list on the Lexol container but their website states that Lexol contains no "chemical solvents". Pecards reminds me of the old "Sno-Seal" paste we used to use on boots for waterproofing. You'd smear it on, wave the boot over a gas burner, and the paste would soak into the leather. I think this is what Pecards does, but at a slower pace since no heat is recommended. What can I say? This is all trial and error without a controlled study.

I have also used the Sno-Seal on boots, and can assure you that Pecards is an entirely different product. I believe Sno-Seal would sit on leather forever if it wasn't heated. Pecards can be put on dress shoes, and buffed to a shine with a brush when it works in.
I too have no idea what is in Lexol, but know my experience in using it on old and dry leather was not good. The carrier seems to be water, and water is not good on old and dry leather.
Pictured below is a 90 year old Boyt holster that has had an application of Pecards approximately every six months for five or six years, and the color is only slightly darker than it was before it was ever treated.
I will admit that I have been using Pecards for only 25 or 30 years, but so far have not had a bad experience in restoring old and dry leather. Probably not scientific, but I do know what works and what doesn't for me.

[old-smithy]

Petroleum distallates cover a huge ramge from Tar for roads to very light solvents, gun oil is among the lighter and WD40 eventually dries and is not pleasent. I woudl think a lanolin would probably be best as it is a natural product, and if it don't rot sheep it shouldnt bother the leather either

[Iceman66]

I too use the Pecards Antique. I don't recommend Lexol except for saddles. I have no ingredients list on my Pecards container and have never found one on their website either.

[mbarrad]

I have used leather CPR with good results. Leather CPR will not destroy cotton stitching. I have used this on a dry 130 year old leather Trapdoor sling with great success. Viewing the previous posts, I will try Pecards and see how it compares. Leather CPR will not discolor the finish.

[Arnhemjim]

Everyone seems to swear by Picards, and I know it has excellent restoration properties. I would like to offer an alternative, and that is Bick 4 Leather Conditioner. The bottle states it will not darken leather. That I'm not sure about because both antique scabbards I have used it on were black. However, I have successfully restored the scabbard to an 1850 Pattern US Army Foot Officer's sword, and the scabbard to a Bayonet, Common, Complete w/locking ring ("Pattern 1876"). The bayonet scabbard came from the Nepal Martini-Henry cache, and obviously had been in storage for approximately 100 years, in not the best of environments. In both cases the Bick 4 did an outstanding job.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

If you really want the expensive stuff check with the local museum for what they use for preserving leather. Comes in a small plastic tub. Unfortunately I have forgotten the name.

[Paramarine]

If you really want the expensive stuff check with the local museum for what they use for preserving leather. Comes in a small plastic tub. Unfortunately I have forgotten the name.

Renaissance Wax?
(sorry for the necro-post)

[bigduke6]

Bert,

If its just looking a bit sorry then boot polish would be ok, thats what i use on all my scabards,



There is a good thread on the restorers corner started by tbonesmith,

Leather restoration/preservation

was looking myself for something to help some boer war leather, but while having a look on the internet found an article which may be of interest

The Reenactors Guide to Leather Care in the 19th Century

[saddler]

Ko-Cho-Line