I purchased a spray can of Ballistol for cleaning my revolvers. After reading the instructions, I noted that they recommend it for preserving leather. I would not give a second though to using it on my boots, but what about antique leather items such as civil war period holsters, cartage boxes, etc.

Any thoughts?

I would not put anything on a civil war period item. I have used it to clean my SASS rig and it worked fine for me.

I'd be hesitant to do that but I am a ballistol fan. I use it for my Mustang; hoses, tires, door seals, etc. Works great.

I also squirted some on an old hand bike pump leather seal that was not working and it works like a champ now.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I used it on a leather sheath for a WWII Ka-Bar USMC fighting knife that I hold dear.

It belonged to my now deceased Step-Dad, and saw duty with him in the South Pacific. There are notches filed on the spine that tell a story without words that he would not go into details about them. When I saw them and joked "Are those anything like the notches on a gunslinger's grip?", and he solemnly said "Yes", the expression on his face told me enough to know better than to press any further.

While aboard ship en-route to the islands, he like many others, customized his knife into what's known as a "theater knife". They used whatever materials they could scrounge up, I was told that the clear and black plastic was from the cockpit of a crash landed plane.

The strap with the snap was getting stiff and dry, I was getting concerned that the strap would continue to dry and eventually crack and break off, the Ballistol saved it.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Look into Lexol.

I use Ballistol for everything. Have for decades. Never been disappointed. It is so safe solvent wise you can use it on living plants and they love it. Not that I have any plants that need tending like that...

I just happen to have on a set of 40yr. old Chippewa boots that have seen nothing but Ballistol for maintenance and they are as waterproof and supple as the day I bought them,and they have had to walk through this white slop most of their life..

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My Daddy was a pistol..

I use it on my wife's vintage Chanel purses, including a vintage (immediately postwar) one. They are 1) not cheap (any one of them is worth more than any gun I have, and together they are worth more than all my guns together) and 2) doing fine.

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Now go make God proud...

So looking at the notches, did he leave the 2nd guy half dead?

Just asking! :d

As for the Civil War piece... It somehow is over 150 years without some magi treatment, but now you want to do a test run? Common sense says do what has kept it nice all this time.

Just like fine old guns that have never seen any of the wonder oils, they somehow survived in great shape but now require some experimenters potion. My guess is the magic is in separating the modern owner from his money.

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Dick Burg

ballistol is a great product and safe to use..there is a lot of information regarding it's uses on the internet

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO