Welcome to
Andy's Leather Shop @ www.shottist.com |
| Welcome to
Andy's Leather Shop @ www.shottist.com |
High quality bridle leather rifle slings and shooting accessories.
Leather Care
I treat each and every sling that I make with a natural leather dressing that adds water resistant qualities to the leather. Water is the demise of leather, it will make it rot, stink and stiffen it. With some care and forethought your sling will be passed down generation to generation.
I try to dry my sling out whenever I get it wet. Here in Vermont slings can get SOAKED. I air dry my sling or place it in a warm area that is not TOO hot (it will stiffen). Once or twice a year take some time to apply your favorite leather dressing. Some people like mink oil, some use Lexol. A coating of the appropriate color shoe polish, well buffed, will ensure a nice luster and provides some protection from the elements.
I use 100% neatsfoot oil on the brown oiled versions. A high quality shoe polish like Lincoln's Stain Wax, Angelus or Kiwi is applied over the dye to the black-dyed slings. You can touch up any edges on these that are worn with a dab of polish, then hold a lighter or candle up to the treated sling to melt the dressing in. This is often needed around the high wear swivel areas on the sling. (note, use Neutral polish to keep from staining your clothes)
NOTE: I will redye/oil your sling forever and ever. Just send me an email, then send the sling with return postage and I will refinish/re-oil as needed. (I will also do other slings, including vintage leather restoration, contact me for details), I have some proprietary equipment that is made just for this task!
Brass hardware is used throughout the slings (a brass plated steel slider is used for the middle strap) These screws can be removed and polished to a BRIGHT shine if needed. I keep them dull on my hunting rifle just "cause I like it that way". The same dressing that you use for the leather also provides corrosion protection to the screws, feel free to slather it on. (Note: I have been experimenting with black anodized screws but so far I am not happy with them for long term use.)
Black Slings: While I double dye the edges where the swivels go, the edges still wear and will show raw leather, for a quick touchup take a rag with some black shoe polish and dab a good size finger full on the edge and rub it in, with bits of the polish still on the affected area, take a match/lighter/candle and melt the polish into the leather using the heat of the lighter. (anyone who went to boot camp knows this trick!) This will keep the edges both colored and water resistant. Reapply and melt as needed.
Chicago Screw Notes
(Read This!)
Please note that the Chicago screws can and will come undone if not properly torqued down. Please use a proper sized screwdriver and lock them in tight after the sling has been adjusted to you and your rifle.
Added precaution: Use a dab of rubber cement or Loctite thread locker to REALLY make sure the screws don't come apart.
Screw Tarnishing: This happens with brass. A dab of brass or metal polish will brighten the screws up nicely.
Leather Care Products
I use the Lincoln or Kiwi on the black dyed slings after dying and before assembly for a nice shine and some weather proofing. I also use it on all my black boots with excellent results. I like Sno-Seal for weather proofing all my leather gear, slings, boots, jackets, motorcycle gear just about EVERYTHING I have. Most folks have Kiwi leather polish on hand, it works well, use it!
For further information contact Andy at: andy@shottist.com
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Updated sometime the last decade or so....ok, its pretty current!