What to do with damaged leather items

[Aragorn243]

I picked up what I believe to be a WWI Luger holster the other day that has some damage. It is a little dried out and the closing strap is torn completely off at the last hole. I have photos posted in the "Other Military Service Pistols and Revolvers' thread.

Looking around the net, I found several sources that note the strap has been replaced on various holsters they are selling so it is done.

I'm not looking to sell this but to use it in my displays but I don't want to destroy it's collectability if it has any by repairing it. My personal preference would be repaired. I'd also like to treat the leather so it doesn't get worse. It is pliable for the most part.

One other area is the small loop next to the clasp. That is very close to tearing in half, any way to stabilize it?

Information

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[gew8805]

You are asking some tough to answer questions. Post photos to help us answer you questions accurately. Quite frankly, the best thing to do is nothing - leave it as it is.

[Aragorn243]

Already posted photos on the other thread.

[Aragorn243]

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=55753

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

As far as treating/preserving the leather I have had great success (short term anyway) with anhydrous lanolin slings & holsters. My thinking as to long term is that being a natural componet of sheep skin it has to be better than the chemicaled up commercial treatments. I suppose the long term results will be accessed by my heirs.

Good eye BTW.

[Aragorn243]

This stuff came highly recommended to me by a lady at the last gun show I was at. She cleaned up a pair of slings with it and they did turn out very nice. I haven't bought any yet, nor would I put it on the holster unless the experts say it isn't going to hurt it.

http://www.urad.com/product.cfm?product=4

[Seaspriter]

For Leather Preservation, in a double boiler, I mix a combination of 30-40% pure neats foot oil, 30-40% lanolin, and 30-40% beeswax (an old formula handed down to me from my grandmother). Go heavier on the oil & lanolin if the leather is really dry, heavier on the wax for leather in good condition.

For replacing the broken belt, the simplest way is very carefully undercut the threads of the old stub, find a leather belt of the same width (cut it more narrow if you can't find the right width) and color, and sew on the new belt end. You will need to learn a bit about saddle stitching. Match the threaded holes in the new belt with the old holes in the holster. You make the holes with a leather awl. Sew with waxed thread, which can be purchased at Michaels.

[WarPig1976]

If your looking to do the repairs yourself. I get my stuff here.
The sewing awl you'll need is the first item in the Stitching and Lacing section.
Tandy Leather | Leathercraft and Leather Craft Supplies

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I have modified a couple of modern leather holsters using seasprinters method. Harbor Freight stores have the sewing awl. Not so difficult. Having seen some of your other work. No problem.

[Aragorn243]

I am pretty confident I could do the repairs, I have done leather work before. It's just a matter of whether I should or not. I'm leaning toward it because In researching these, I've encountered quite a few that had the strap replaced. And it would seem as this is most likely the area most likely to fail they were replaced while in active service. So, in restoring it, not being a military repair, I know it would be an issue for some collectors. At the same time, I don't see a lot of individuals that would really be interested in it without a functional strap. My daughter already has the tools so I wouldn't even have to buy them. She probably has the leather too although I'll have to check. At today's gun show, I only found one, it had been dyed black which I believe was a post war thing and it had it's strap replaced and not even the original type strap. They went from the original straight strap to the angled strap like mine. The original thread holes were still there and pretty obvious. Asking price $325.00.

I have also come to the conclusion (probably not surprisingly to those that know me here) that I now need to find a Luger to put in it. Priced them on Gunbroker and while pretty far out there, if I stop buying the rifles every other month, I could afford one before the year is out. I even discussed that with the wife and encountered no objections, just polite interest which is another positive. Refraining from new purchases is the difficult part. For while there aren't many out there I'm actively seeking, these other "interesting" ones seem to fall into my lap. Already have my eyes on one at the next auction from hell although I rarely win the bidding wars there.