September 29, 20232 yr #1 Hi Guys Was needing some advice please. I Have several US Naval swords all pre 41, and was wondering is there any Maintenace required for the leather scabbards?I live in Az where the humidy most of the yr is very low, haven't seen any issues yet, but want to preserve as long as possible. Thanks in advance, Jay
October 1, 20232 yr #3 > If it were mine to do, I'd give serious thought to applying a uniform light coating of microcrystalline RenWax. It restores just the right amount of moisture to leather (and other things) and a nice barrier to excessive climatological changes without permanently altering anything. It will tend to darken, or actually return, color to something approximating original. We used it often in museum preservation projects. https://www.hollingermetaledge.com/renaissance-wax/
October 1, 20232 yr Author #4 Bluehawk,I'm familiar with this product and have used it for yrs my daggers and sabers,but was unaware you could use it on leather. Will this harm the leather?
October 1, 20232 yr #5 Since leather is animal (as opposed to vegetable or mineral), I prefer to use another animal product, mink oil paste, to moisturize and protect my WWI scabbards. One originally belonged to my grandmother's oldest brother, and the other to a submarine officer, here pictured with his sword on his Wickes-class destroyer in the early 1930s. He went on to command a cruiser in the southeast Pacific during WWII. Slight darkening of the leather can occur when using this material, but certainly not a problem with black scabbards. The Angelus Shoe Polish Co., a family owned American business has been around since 1907, and making leather care products in Los Angeles. Here's their website, list of distributors and extensive product line. https://angelusbrand.com/pages/16-grid
October 1, 20232 yr #6 3 hours ago, Jay V said: Bluehawk,I'm familiar with this product and have used it for yrs my daggers and sabers,but was unaware you could use it on leather. Will this harm the leather? > I've never known it to, Jay V... since 1975 😊 I believe, as we've seen before here on USMF, there may or will be collector specialists who would differ with me on RenWax in this application for their own reasons, and with accuracy from that standpoint. As aerialbridge noted above, historicity/authenticity can be a debatable matter, but as you've described the conditions I feel confident about my suggestion and would have no hesitation; his is a fine idea too. That's my professional advice in this case, as described. RenWax is a sort of miracle preservation chemical, not unlike RustBan is for metals.
October 1, 20232 yr Author #7 Aerialbridge, awesome sabers. Thanks to both of you for the advice,much appreciated
October 1, 20232 yr #8 Thanks, Jay. Get those scabbards protected, since your climate is even drier than here. Although this summer has been amazing for S. Cal, as far as much lower temps, a tropical storm, and considerable other rain. 68 and partly sunny today-- by rights should be at least 90 and cloudless. If this is climate change for S. Cal, I'm all for it.
October 1, 20232 yr #9 16 minutes ago, Bluehawk said: > I've never known it to, Jay V... since 1975 😊 I believe, as we've seen before here on USMF, there may or will be collector specialists who would differ with me on RenWax in this application for their own reasons, and with accuracy from that standpoint. As aerialbridge noted above, historicity/authenticity can be a debatable matter, but as you've described the conditions I feel confident about my suggestion and would have no hesitation; his is a fine idea too. That's my professional advice in this case, as described. RenWax is a sort of miracle preservation chemical, not unlike RustBan is for metals. Ditto, Bluehawk. Not meaning to criticize your product of choice. Just mentioning another option. Forgot to post a pic of what I use. My neighborhood leather/shoe repair guy recommended it. Been using it for about 12 years, no problems. Here tis.
October 1, 20232 yr #11 I'm in North OC. Santa Fe Springs where the Mink oil is produced is Santa Fe Springs, 13 clicks west of me. This summer has been so mild, and a lot of overcast days, I'm wondering if my Washington navel oranges and Hass avocados are going to be different than usual. My persimmon tree seems to be behind in ripening from past years.
October 1, 20232 yr #13 Coronado? Point Loma? San Clemente Island (lol)? How's the weather been in Phoenix this summer, usual?
October 1, 20232 yr Author #14 El Cajon. Weather is getting better, upper 60s early and about 100 during the day. FYI meant E of SD lol
October 1, 20232 yr #15 Just a voice of dissent, but I am of the mind to use nothing. The cow is long dead, and while the various products will temporarily improve the look and feel of the leather, unless you keep doing it, it will eventually dry out and end up worse than when you started. I had a friend that used a leather treatment on his German helmet liners and besides staining them dark, after a few years years they turned into something like "nacho chips" and would crack and break. Again just my .02.
October 1, 20232 yr #16 Different opinions are good, and one thing we all agree on. You don't want to damage your leather trying to help it. Curious, Mr. Jerry, if you can find out what your friend was using. jay- I figured given your dolphins avatar, when you said west of SD, you meant on a fast attack sub at Point Loma, or maybe "keeping score" on San Clemente Is. lol. Interesting that if I understood correctly, your Phoenix summer has been a bit milder than usual.
October 1, 20232 yr Author #17 No this summer was a killer, like 55+ days over 110 a record. Just this time of yr it starts cooling off. Jerry Thanks for your thoughts
October 1, 20232 yr #18 Darn, sorry to hear that. This year could just be an anomaly out here as far as not being the usual heat. But it sure has been nice. We're supposed to have an El Nino wet winter, which I'm down with if it pans out.
October 2, 20232 yr #20 3 hours ago, aerialbridge said: Ditto, Bluehawk. Not meaning to criticize your product of choice. Just mentioning another option. Forgot to post a pic of what I use. My neighborhood leather/shoe repair guy recommended it. Been using it for about 12 years, no problems. Here tis. > No offense taken whatsoever, happy to see another view.
October 7, 20232 yr #22 I have used Pecards antique on leather for about 15 years or so on various items It is mostly white spirits and beeswax. It does darken, it does penetrate. I'd post em all but here are two. A dead Western L-77 and 230 year old scabbard that was literally turning to red dust. I've more treated with Pecards and have had great success. One more, a desiccated sabre. Cheers GC
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