Leather cleaning question

[DuncaninFrance]

I just received a scabbard for my 1907 pattern SMLE bayonet. It is covered in grease - not cosmolene as far as I can see, but there is a lot of it!
I would really appreciate any guidance on cleaning this stuff off and then treating the leather so it doesn't deteriorate.

[Niner]

Try W40 or something like to work on the grease. If you get the grease off I'd suggest Renaissance wax.....it's good enough for the British Museum.

[DuncaninFrance]

I was thinking more of Ballistol to remove the crud and then maybe Saddle Soap

[DuncaninFrance]

Well, I made a start...........
I put it on an old towel and used an electric paint stripper to blow hot air over it. The grease liquefied and I wiped it off with paper towels. I then sprayed it with Ballistol and have left it to soak in for a day.

[ArchFluffy]

A big part of the milsurp hobby is finding ways to clean stuff.



-ArchFluffy

[DuncaninFrance]

Went back and heated it again, still a lot of grease coming out of the leather. After it looked cleaner ( I could see the stitching! ) I left it overnight and today it is almost solid..........
Now waiting for delivery of some RENAISSANCE WAX to help it back to life perhaps. If not I will need to get some saddle soap.

[dhtaxi]

http://www.mooreleather.co.uk/

[DuncaninFrance]

Thank's Dave. Looks as though he doesn't maintain his site as there are a lot of missing photo's and the updates are 2016........

I will wait for my stuff to arrive, it should have been here on the 23rd!

[Niner]

Put some of that RENAISSANCE WAX on the metal of your wall hanger rifles as well. Shines the metal and counter acts surface rust from developing.
Reminds me... I need to go give my 1878 Nepal Martini another coat since it's been a couple of years ...or more.

[DuncaninFrance]

The 'Finished' article!
I kept heating it with the paint stripping electric blower and eventually the grease stopped oozing out and the leather stopped going hard when left.
The first time that I inserted the bayonet it stuck in the scabbard and the only way to release it was to remove the woos and place it in a vice so I could get enough purchase on the scabbard to pull it off!
A considerable amount of Ballistol and vigorous working of the scabbard on and off the bayonet seems to have sorted this problem and I can now withdraw the bayonet from the scabbard with ease.
Coats of Renaissance Wax have been applied to the leather and the metal and so we will see if it does what it says on the tin!