Repairing a small crack in leather: How do you do it?

March 12, 2020, 06:50 PM

Hey all-

I bought a correct leather sling for my Israeli Mauser. I found one that is probably 1950's vintage and in relatively good shape, considering that it's 60-70 year old leather. In one spot where it has been bent a lot, it has a crack that goes maybe 20% deep into the leather. It probably will hold, as is, but I would like to reinforce it and then give the whole thing a good drink of Pecard's Antique Leather salve.
I see "Vinyl/Leather Repair Kits" that say that they repair cracks in leather and remain flexible but I have never tried one.

What says the group? Feed it and drive on or repair it?

Bruce

"The designer of the gun had clearly not been instructed to beat about the bush. 'Make it evil,' he'd been told. 'Make it totally clear that this gun has a right end and a wrong end. Make it totally clear to anyone standing at the wrong end that things are going badly for them. If that means sticking all sort of spikes and prongs and blackened bits all over it then so be it. This is not a gun for hanging over the fireplace or sticking in the umbrella stand, it is a gun for going out and making people miserable with." -Douglas Adams

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March 12, 2020, 07:07 PM

ScreamingCockatoo

I've used plain old super glue.
Gently fold the crack open a little and apply it in. Then gently fold the crack closed.
Not folding the strap over, just enough to close the crack and place a piece of tape across the arch on either side to hold the crack closed until the glue dries.

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.

March 12, 2020, 08:14 PM

Rover88

I'd give SC's method a try. The leather/vinyl kits I've used (my family had a furniture store, so I had to learn how to do leather repairs)are geared toward upholstery repairs, and require getting a supporting backer behind the crack/tear because you can't just glue the edges. Color matching and graining can be a bitch.

March 13, 2020, 01:44 AM

KMitch200

I've never owned a period correct sling for an older gun so that has never been on my list of problems.
PLEASE keep us posted on what fix you go with and how it turns out. Just because I never owned one doesn't mean I won't ever need to know how to fix one.

quote:
Originally posted by Rover88:
I'd give SC's method a try. The leather/vinyl kits I've used (my family had a furniture store, so I had to learn how to do leather repairs)are geared toward upholstery repairs, and require getting a supporting backer behind the crack/tear because you can't just glue the edges. Color matching and graining can be a bitch.

Thanks for this post Rover. I just noticed a couple of small cracks in pieces of leather on a couch that this will come in handy trying to fix. At least I know how to start thinking about the process.

--------
After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.

March 13, 2020, 02:50 AM

YooperSigs

I understand you want to keep the sling as it was issued. I had a similar sling that had cracked like yours has. I took it to a shoe repair shop and had the cracked area cut out and the sling sewn back together. It turned out pretty nice and It seemed to be a stronger repair then just trying to glue the cracked area.

End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles

March 13, 2020, 03:10 PM

RNshooter

quote:
Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I understand you want to keep the sling as it was issued. I had a similar sling that had cracked like yours has. I took it to a shoe repair shop and had the cracked area cut out and the sling sewn back together. It turned out pretty nice and It seemed to be a stronger repair then just trying to glue the cracked area.

I will try the superglue method first, then your method second. I'm not worried about collector value, just appearance and cost.

Bruce

March 13, 2020, 04:36 PM

YooperSigs

No help, but a while back, I bought a WWII era Quartermasters knife off e-bay. Either the seller missed it, or just did not bother to mention it but the sheath had the places and battles the owner was involved in during the war. As I was examining the sheath, it fell apart. Killed me to see history dissolve in my hands!