treatment of leather, e.g. rifle slings

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I've got a new rifle sling, being a US-style sniper/precision shooting
type sling. It came fitted to a M1903 Springfield rifle and is made
from thick hard leather, dry as a bone. Previously, I've treated
leather with Sno-Seal which comprises mainly bees' wax. I wanted
something better, something that 'feeds' the leather not merely seals
it.

A trip to the saddler's produced Connolly's 'Hide Care', a mix of
lanolin, bees' wax and white spirit. For those who may not know, lanolin
is the natural oil that keeps sheep dry i.e. their fleeces are coated in
it. This Hide Care is good stuff, feeding and softening the leather and
leaving a wax layer for waterproofing.

In case you can't find it locally, the label describes them as Connolly
Leather Ltd, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0SA. There is a phone
number but it gave discontinued.


--Jonathan

"Justice is open to everybody in the same way as the Ritz Hotel."
Judge Sturgess, 22 July 1928

 

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"Jonathan Spencer" <jms@NOTMEjonathan-spencer.co.uk> wrote in message
news:CPSGOzMXHx1AFwia@salvage.demon.co.uk...
> I've got a new rifle sling, being a US-style sniper/precision shooting
> type sling. It came fitted to a M1903 Springfield rifle and is made
> from thick hard leather, dry as a bone. Previously, I've treated
> leather with Sno-Seal which comprises mainly bees' wax. I wanted
> something better, something that 'feeds' the leather not merely seals
> it.
>
> A trip to the saddler's produced Connolly's 'Hide Care', a mix of
> lanolin, bees' wax and white spirit. For those who may not know, lanolin
> is the natural oil that keeps sheep dry i.e. their fleeces are coated in
> it. This Hide Care is good stuff, feeding and softening the leather and
> leaving a wax layer for waterproofing.
>
> In case you can't find it locally, the label describes them as Connolly
> Leather Ltd, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0SA. There is a phone
> number but it gave discontinued.
>
>
> --Jonathan
>
> "Justice is open to everybody in the same way as the Ritz Hotel."
> Judge Sturgess, 22 July 1928
some years ago I was a manager at Timpsons and I used to supply a liquid
leather softener which was amazing stuff treat liberally then apply leather
food to keep the strap supple. I understand the stuff is still available
from a company in Sharston Manchester if you need details I'll spy out next
time I go past
Derek


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The message <CPSGOzMXHx1AFwia@salvage.demon.co.uk>
from Jonathan Spencer <jms@NOTMEjonathan-spencer.co.uk> contains these words:


> A trip to the saddler's produced Connolly's 'Hide Care', a mix of
> lanolin, bees' wax and white spirit. For those who may not know, lanolin
> is the natural oil that keeps sheep dry i.e. their fleeces are coated in
> it. This Hide Care is good stuff, feeding and softening the leather and
> leaving a wax layer for waterproofing.

> In case you can't find it locally, the label describes them as Connolly
> Leather Ltd, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0SA. There is a phone
> number but it gave discontinued.

That's interesting. The pot I have here ( I've had it for years) is
called Hide Food and the address given is: Wandle Bank, Wimbledon, SW19
1DW.

It really is the best stuff you can get for dressing leather exposed to
extremes of weather, particularly moisture and rain.

It is best applied by hand, using one's fingers to work it deep into the
leather. But it's an absolute ah heck to get off your hands. I wear latex
gloves. It saves scrubbing my hands and also allows me to continue
working on the leather until it's really supple.

Very dry and neglected leather should be dressed liberally with Hide
Food and allowed to soak over night. It's good stuff, but try to work it
too soon and the leather will crack and could be damaged beyond repair.

--
Kim Sawyer
Sutherland
Scotland

 

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>It really is the best stuff you can get for dressing leather exposed to
>extremes of weather, particularly moisture and rain.
>

Hi, I found Neetsfoot oil to be a cheap and effective treatment, cheers,
Norman.

 

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>Subject: Re: treatment of leather, e.g. rifle slings
>From: seaangling@aol.com (SEAANGLING)
>Date: 21/06/2004 23:01 GMT

>Hi, I found Neetsfoot oil to be a cheap and effective treatment, cheers,
>Norman.

Indeed it's good stuff but beware that some leather dressings can rot natural
fibre stitching.

Steve. Suffolk.
remove 'knujon' to e-mail

 

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In message <20040621180131.06753.00000315@mb-m13.aol.com>, SEAANGLING
<seaangling@aol.com> writes

>Hi, I found Neetsfoot oil to be a cheap and effective treatment, cheers,

Yes, I used it for some years. It penetrates into the leather and makes
it supple to the point of being floppy. That's not what I want for a
rifle sling but it was fine for a hawk's jesses. This Hide Care softens
the leather a bit but it doesn't lose its form.

--Jonathan

"Justice is open to everybody in the same way as the Ritz Hotel."
Judge Sturgess, 22 July 1928

 

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use neatsfoot oil for any leather..by kiwi..douglassville penna. usa
19518-1239

writesoon!