mlm

Thanks for the comments, JB. I never stated "do nothing" and that is where I would like everyone to begin reexamining their thinking. I suggest at least four specific things to be done to preserve (preserve, not alter) the condition, and of course value, of an old leather artifact. You mention some leather that has been water damaged. You might not want to preserve that as is but applying a chemical treatment may or may not have a positive effect. In general, water or other things that dry/stiffen a holster has removed some material or property of the tanned leather. Hence, the fibers have high degree of contact cross-fiber. Oils or other petroleum-based products primarily do two things if you read all the marketing claims about the products. First, they soften the leather (make "supple", plyable, etc.). This is accomplished by putting the fibers in an organic solvent that dissolves some of the cross-fiber attachments. Collagen is the principle protein in leather fiber and a solvent severs some of the cross-fiber attachments plus reduces the molecular attraction cross-fibers enabling fibers to once again slide along each other. Hence the flexibility. This enables leather shaping and movement. If you don't need to do this, the treatment is not appropriate. For slings and other misshapen items, it may be useful.


The second use of the petroleum-based treatments is water resistance. Because water and oil are not miscible, the water does not penetrate the leather easily. This is helpful for shoes and coats that are in active use in the rain. This is a weak benefit because leather is highly pourous and it takes a high boiling point (grease or wax like Pecards) product to have much effect. It is not helpful for antique items in a dry indoor environment.


There is a third and cosmetic benefit that is often mentioned but is an indirect side-effect. Petroleum products on leather will make them shiny. This is the same optical effect achieved when lubing a luger's metal surfaces. Unfortunately, with this comes darkening of the leather.


I appreciate your comments JB and have studied the leather product contents for some time to arrive at these conclusions. I do not want to suggest a "do nothing" approach, though. I am concerned that some people can not leave something alone and end up damaging an item that was fine to begin with. Although we should demand that we know what is in a product before we use it on a valuable and prized part of our collection, at the very least we can follow the first rule of conservation:


DO NOTHING YOU CAN NOT REVERSE


Thanks,

Dave