treating k98 ammo pouches

[coloradocowboy]

i just picked up three ammo pouches. is it ok to treat them with leather oils or is it best to leave it alone?
thanks,
chris

[Stinch]

There are various schools of thought on that. I leave my WWII K98 pouches alone. Do a search on "leather" in the Conservation Forum and you'll get some interesting posts on the subject.

I do have a WWI pouch that is dry as a potato chip. I've thought about soaking it in a 10% PEG solution to see if I can "return it from the dead".

Rich

[coloradocowboy]

ill look into it thanks rich!
chris

[rick1]

Hi, I personaly like Pecards antique leather dressing...museums use it, it does not make the leather darker, and it cleans the dust off, it will prevent further damage but it cannot make dried hard leather new. Works great. Oils will make it darker. Has the consistency of vaseline, the leather only absorbs what it needs, any liquid type saturates the leather too much and makes it look unnatural.
Rick

[coloradocowboy]

thanks. where can i get some?

[rick1]

A google search will take you to their website...I usually get mine off ebay.
Rick

here...http://www.pecard.com/en-us/dept_9.html

[coloradocowboy]

ordered some just now thanks!

[PanzerJager1944]

I would also recommend when you apply the picards, use your fingers, use a little at a time and really work it into the leather. Leather likes to be flexed, the longer it sits over time the stiffer it will get. On items like belts and the flaps of the pouches you want flex the leather carefully while your working in the picards. I learned this form a friend who’s a conservator for the state museum of North Carolina who also has a large personal collection of civil leather items. Hope this helps some.

[coloradocowboy]

I would also recommend when you apply the picards, use your fingers, use a little at a time and really work it into the leather. Leather likes to be flexed, the longer it sits over time the stiffer it will get. On items like belts and the flaps of the pouches you want flex the leather carefully while your working in the picards. I learned this form a friend who’s a conservator for the state museum of North Carolina who also has a large personal collection of civil leather items. Hope this helps some.

we'll do. thanks for the tip!

[CWP]

Pecard's will rot stitching and destroy leather over time. It will darken leather, try it on a piece of light-colored leather and see. There are threads on this in the conservation section. Museum professionals agree that leather dressing has no positive effect and can contribute to deterioration in the long term.

[rick1]

.