Green coating on old leather sling

[Iron Sights]

Hello all. A friend of mine has a very old rifle with the original leather sling. It is held together with metal clips which have developed a green coating. There is no rust on the rifle and the bore is bright. Without taking the whole thing apart, and possibly causing damage to it, is there a way to clean and preserve the sling and metal clips? Thanks for your help.

[Shodan]

Do you think the clips may be brass? Try Brasso or some other metal polish. Try not to get any on the leather, but it will probably just wash off if you do. Then use some type of leather cleaner/conditioner on the sling.

[Iron Sights]

Thanks Shodan. Thanks for the info, I'll try some Brasso. Any suggestions for the leather? + rep sent

[DennisH82]

While Braso is an old tried and trusted item, I would also point out the NEVER DULL impreganted cotton wipe that cleans brass and usually doesn't leave the braso film if you can't remove the clips, buckles or tips.

[Shodan]

No specific recommendations. There should be a lot of choices at Walmart or similar store. I'm assuming the leather is not about to fall apart or decomposing.

[GreenBlood10]

Thanks Shodan. Thanks for the info, I'll try some Brasso. Any suggestions for the leather? + rep sent

Any good leather preservative should be fine. When I first got my C&R license the holster that my Nagant 7.62 revolver came with had the brass rivets in the leather that did the same thing. Brasso and leather clearner. Done and done.

GB

[Steven Dzupin]

Neats foot oil for leather.

You can clean the sling with saddle soap.

The above are available from any saddle or tack shop.

The green is caused by a reaction between the brass frogs and the chemicals

used to tan the sling.

Regards,

Steve

[jpg5080]

I like using baseball glove conditioner on my leather slings and holsters, look in the baseball section at any sporting goods store.

[CHEMICAL]

Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner.