What to do with damaged leather items

[villiers]

The role of an `original´ item is to document its historical connection. This can hardly be done accurately if it is not in the condition it was at the time. You could not accurately portray a uniformed, WWI active soldier in a faded, moth-eaten uniform, wearing disintegrated and tattered, leather equipment. As there are still some remaining leather craftsmen here in Germany (and in the former German provinces in Poland), making Luger holsters on exactly the same lasts and using mil. spec. leather and twine, I can see no purpose in reparing an old Luger holster, unless it is intended for use.

[henry r]

I am a fan of restoration for use as long as an item is not rare or in as new condition

to add one to this (my personal biggest hate) restoring a well cared for and unmolested but aged original. thankfully it doesn't seem common here, but you see it far too regularly on car forums and it makes me want to cry every time.

[Aragorn243]

Seems like some still haven't seen the photos on the other thread so I'll add them here, and the reason I am asking is not HOW to repair it, that I can do. It is solely WHETHER I should repair it. What I don't know because I do not collect these specifically is whether this is an item which is something that is worth more in current state or in restored state and I'm not asking that because I want to sell it. I prefer having items in useable states for personal reasons but if this item is so rare or collectible that I am damaging that aspect of it somehow I will leave it alone.

[gew8805]

Thanks for posting where we could get a look at it. My recommendation is to leave it as is, there is nothing wrong with it in the current condition.

[Peter Laidler]

Where I stand on this is.......... In the REAL world of the Army, and it'll be the same in any service in any nation you like at our workshops we had a trade called 'equipment repairers' and it really speaks for itself. If we had a stack of rifles in for repair or small-asms associated stuff such as No4T's, Brens or L42's with torn or damaged accrutrements, handles, straps, eye caps etc etc, they be sent down to the equipment repairers who'd repair them to an acceptable serviceable standard. I bet that the German Army did too!

When my brother was rebuilding his old 1945 Bedford QL Lorry with a torn and well used canopy he just asked the local sailmaker to patch it and re-attach the missing straps just like this pistol would have been repaired in 1943!

Look at it this way. If we still repair parachutes to serviceable condition why shouldn't someone repair a holster.

[gew8805]

Good post Peter, as always.

[Peter Laidler]

Thanks Gew, I just try to relate how it rally is in the real world

[Flying10uk]

How you intend to repair an historic item depends on if you intend to use the item or if it is just being preserved for display.

[Aragorn243]

I have now made it a quest to find a WWI Luger so it will be used lightly and displayed occasionally, otherwise probably be in the safe. Just spent all my gun money yesterday so the Luger quest is starting off almost broke. Details to follow on the Blackpowder Thread, I found myself a Trapdoor Springfield on Sunday.

[Aragorn243]

Sorry, Other US Service Rifles Thread