Reclaimed leather

[Chris C]

Laugh if you will.
But I recently got a chance to strip some chocolate colored distressed leather from an easy chair that was getting tossed.

Any thoughts on weather this leather is worth a darn for anything other than chairs?
I was thinking of making some type of pack or large bag to keep clothes in for camp.
Reenactment purposes only.

I cannot figure out posting pictures yet but Im working on it.

thumb_IMG_3450_1024.jpg
thumb_IMG_3451_1024.jpg
thumb_IMG_3452_1024.jpg

 

[Cruzatte]

Laugh if you will.
But I recently got a chance to strip some chocolate colored distressed leather from an easy chair that was getting tossed.

Any thoughts on weather this leather is worth a darn for anything other than chairs?
I was thinking of making some type of pack or large bag to keep clothes in for camp.
Reenactment purposes only.

I cannot figure out posting pictures yet but Im working on it.

thumb_IMG_3450_1024.jpg
thumb_IMG_3451_1024.jpg
thumb_IMG_3452_1024.jpg

You can't upload photos onto the forum's server. You have to have an account at one of the on-line photo hosting sites like Imgur, or Postimage.org. These two are free.

 

[spudnut]

I use reclaimed all the time,Ive made pouches for flint and steels,shoting bags and belt bags that I line with cloth to prevent sagging,knife sheith covers over rawhide, all kinds of stuff,the had leather other than buckskin.

 

[BrownBear]

I use reclaimed all the time,Ive made pouches for flint and steels,shoting bags and belt bags that I line with cloth to prevent sagging,knife sheith covers over rawhide, all kinds of stuff,the had leather other than buckskin.

Same here. Each is different and kind lays claim to particular uses as you point out.

Upholstery leather is kinda unique, being thing and soft, but really tough. I mostly use it for drawstring bags of all sizes cuzz it's more like a soft cloth than leather. But it also makes excellent lining leather for bags fabbed from heavier leather. I've used it as panels behind "windows" cut in the flaps or faces of shooting bags and fishing bags, too.

Good score! It's not a universally useful leather, but in the right spot it's dandy. I'd hang onto it and be proud to have it in your locker, cuzz sooner or later it's going to make you proud.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Laugh if you will.

:nono: No, won't laugh.
What you are doing is resourceful. I'm often accused of being the original cheapo. I have made leather items from old chairs, boots, belts, etc. If it isn't dried out and cracking it is useful. And the price is right. No laugh here. Just an "atta boy". :thumbsup:

 

[NeilMacleod]

Old jackets from second hand stores can be worthwhile too.

 

[Katahdin]

Weight lifters belly belt is very thick,cheap at Goodwill.Motorcycle jackets,all at Goodwill good fur jackets to.

 

[Artificer]

OK, please understand this is somewhat dated info in part, but also some up to date info.

Back in the early/mid 1970's, the Wildlife boys raided the Nationals at Friendship, Indiana BIG TIME! They got some guys in the large flea market that is NOT part of the Nationals and who were selling obviously forbidden things like real hawk claws and they even got an idiot who was selling a couple of Eagle Feathers. I had absolutely NO empathy when they hauled him away.

However, they also harassed the folks on the primitive range who had antler handled knives and other things made out of antler and/or legal fur skins on their trading blankets. They were demanding to see the validation stamped deer and other hunting tags for the items. Now of course no one had their deer/bear/coyote/etc.,etc. tags with them to prove they had legally taken the game, but more importantly to be able to legally SELL/TRADE items made in part from them.

Different states have different laws on whether or not you can sell/trade hides/fur/antler, etc. that you legally harvested yourself and/or what you might be able to get from others who legally harvested the animals.

OK, since that time I have asked for and made sure I got a receipt from Goodwill, flea markets and other such stores/places of sale;, whenever I bought old fur coats/wraps/bolos/stoles/mounts and in many cases old Antler mounts and similar items and MADE SURE the items I purchased were put down accurately on the receipts. I made DARN sure I got a receipt at one such place when I bought three old black bear skins I wound up using for the floor of our lodge/tipi. I also save my validated Buck tags, because I cut up the antlers for knives and other items.

I hope no one ever has a run in with their wildlife management folks and in most states, they are on our side. But just a bit of caution might save some legal trouble/having to hire a lawyer.

Gus

 

[Rifleman1776]

Back in the early/mid 1970's, the Wildlife boys raided the Nationals at Friendship, Indiana BIG TIME

That incident was, indeed, a BIG TIME overuse of Federal authority. I was there at the time. Fortunately not involved. Although I was wearing a bearclaw necklace and might have earned handcuffs because of that. Agree, the wildlife laws are way-way overly strict and usually not evenly enforced. I wear a bearclaw necklace daily but have never gotten into trouble with them. One is a grizzly claw from Alaska and two are polar bear from Alaska. I'm told, in the state of Kentucky I would get arrested for wearing any bear part jewelry. Dunno. :idunno: Hope not, that would be sad. We own property in that state and I like Kentucky. But have no interest in becoming an involuntary resident. :shocked2:

 

[eggwelder]

I`ve used old leather coats and leather car seat covers for lining boxes and chests, boot leather for sheaths, etc.
occasionally that old cracked stiff leather can be brought back to life with a liberal application of the missus hand moisturizing cream. I like Dove brand when she has it.
I keep my carving tools wrapped in the piece of leather from the back of a coat my father wore in the early `70s. that coat was probably made in the early `60s. it is very good quality leather but not much left of it
some of those old leather coats are laced with 30 to 50 feet of leather lacing as well, depending on the style.
sheepskin lined coats I generally try not to cut up, especially if they look like the ones the Marlboro man used to wear...usually far too toasty and warm to justify cutting up unless they are damaged. the sheepskin linings are great for protecting rifles during transit and storage. I`ll be using a little in my new safe in the notches where the guns rest.

I do buy scrap leather, which is the only source of new leather I`ve ever used, and then I`m looking for a way to age it anyway.

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

I for one do not laugh at your standpoint in reclaiming materials ... from the leather of old furniture that was good enough to be reused I made myself belts, knife scabbards, a shooting bag and even a portmanteau... I saved some hundreds of dollars in this way and on the plus side, got some pride in my achievements, many happy hours spent on my (our) hobby, and several compliments on my craftsmanship! What could be more rewarding!

 

[Kansas Jake]

And you probably saved some leather from ending up in a landfill somewhere.

 

[BrownBear]

And you probably saved some leather from ending up in a landfill somewhere.

That's a big deal to me. I've ended up with more leather hanging around than I'll ever use. Much like my wife's assembly of old fabrics for quilt making! Another good thing.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I don't have the big collection of leather, but my wife qualifies on the fabric. Hopefully when we are gone it won't go to the landfill.

 

[nhmoose]

Uh leather in a landfill rots away becoming fertilizer.

Recycling madras or not.

 

[spudnut]

just finished up a bag useing reclaimed for the trim, gonna make my buddy a bullet bag next.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have a shot snake I made from the leather off an old leather sample case (like a big "doctor's bag).