Leather Restoration on MOD 'Culloden' Brass Cantle Sporran

**jesuisprest** · 12th January 18, 11:19 AM

I was lucky enough to find one of the MOD 'Culloden' brass cantle sporrans. It was issued to the Gordon Highlanders. I was able to pick it up for a real bargain which was quite a relief!

I was thinking of keeping the age on the brass cantle but I was going to see about trying to restore the leather or at least try to recondition it first before possibly sending it to someone for a rebagging in deer leather. I just thought I would see if anyone on here has tried reconditioning their and to see what products they reccommend.

Here is the bag!
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**Tobus** · 12th January 18, 02:55 PM

I'm surprised to see it with unfinished leather. As far as I know, these were intended solely as dress sporrans, and the leather should be finished in white. I seem to recall from past discussions that the ones in existence with unfinished leather were probably unissued, and the whitening was to be done by the end user. However, yours seems to have markings on the back indicating that it was issued to at least one person, and it sort of appears that there is some residual whitening that didn't come completely off. So my best guess would be that it was indeed issued, whitened, and then stripped.

If that's the case, then the question is whether you want to put it back in the white like it's supposed to be, or if you just want to condition the leather and make it usable as is (in other words, please clarify your intent with the word "reconditioning"). On the ones that I have, where the whitening has worn through, it was rough leather that wouldn't necessarily take a traditional finish and might be a mess if oiled. Is yours rough-side out as well, or is it smooth leather?

**jesuisprest** · 12th January 18, 11:59 PM

Thanks for your response! Looking at it again I think you are right, it was finished in white and has been stripped. The back where the numbers are has been heavily worn and is rather thin. That may be my main cause for rebagging the sporran. What I meant by reconditioning it was to apply a neutral coloured cream or softener to the leather to try and give it some life again. I was not thinking of turning it white again.

**figheadair** · 14th January 18, 01:38 AM

Nice find Adam. I'm not a leather expert but I'd have thought saddle soap or some such would work but make sure that whatever you use won't rub off onto your nice new Struy kilt.

**jesuisprest** · 14th January 18, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Nice find Adam. I'm not a leather expert but I'd have thought saddle soap or some such would work but make sure that whatever you use won't rub off onto your nice new Struy kilt.

Thanks Peter. I was actually thinking the same thing about it rubbing off onto the Struy and I can't let that happen! And because the leather is worn through rather heavily on the back I think I will probably send it up to Tim at House of Labhran to get it rebagged in their lovely deerskin.

Best,
Adam

**LKM** · 15th January 18, 05:12 AM

Products used in restoring the leather will very based on how the leather was tanned. Normally a natural oil, such as a mink oil, a natural saddle soap, or a bees wax based leather treatment could be used to soften and protect most leathers. As there appears to be a color that was stripped off the leather this might not be the best option as what was used to remove the finish might have done more then just remove the white coloring. From the pictures the leather looks to be in a good condition, yet there is a lot that a picture can not tell about the leather. It is hard to tell from pictures if what was used for stripping of the finish damaged the leather or not.

This is a nice find. On a quick search I found that the badge on this sporran was used from 1881 - 1958.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/55/72/c4/5...wren-scott.jpg