to polish or not to polish

[kilted redleg]

Ok Rabble I was watching the newest "Kilts and Culture" video yesterday [4/7/23] from USA Kilts hosted by Rocky and Eric. Towards the end of the video a poster asked a question that has been covered here a few times that being what is the best way to care for a leather sporran, i.e. to feed the leather, soften it up etc. Both hosts gave their opinions and then Rocky added emphatically " never ever polish a sporran with shoe polish and then wear it the polish will come off onto your kilt." I know there are members of this illustrious forum who do in fact polish their sporrans, some even "Bull" [spit shine] them, so what say you rabble do we polish or not? I for one have never had this problem, but if I hit mine with polish every now and again after shinning it sits over night to dry properly.

[Jock Scot]

I am talking specifically about traditional civilian kilt attire here , not band attire and not military attire.

Personally , I don’t think there is any real need for civilian leather sporrans, belts and shoes to have the military “ bulled” polished look and in fact it reminds me of those who are trying too hard to be authentic. At the other end of the scale there is no need for our civilian leathers to look scruffy either.
I have one sporran, a plain black leather one and on rare occasion I do clean it with a leather conditioner that nurtures the leather and cleans it and leaves the leather with a very modest shine. It is something that I perhaps do once every five or so years. But, if there is an important function to attend, then I might give the sporran a quick dusting with a cloth.
We need to be careful with what we use, I would most certainly not use boot polish under any circumstances. Saddle and horse leather polish and conditioners are rather dull and tend to be a tad sticky. However I do use a leather conditioner/waterproofing and modest polisher without being sticky that I use on my, shooting shoes, gun cases, gun sleeves and cartridge bags as well as on my sporran, belt and sporran belt with great success.
I am not sure that I am allowed to mention this excellent product here, that I have absolutely no connection with whatsoever but, I would happily mention it by PM, if necessary.

[Guiness gets my Irish up]

I use Lexol leather conditioner followed by a thin application of beeswax on all of my police boots, duty leather, and K-9 leads and harnesses. It does a very good job of nourishing the leather and keeping it supple. It may not produce the type of "shine" that you're after, but it gives a sort of "life" to the leather (if that makes any sense.)

[figheadair]

I am talking specifically about traditional civilian kilt attire here , not band attire and not military attire.

Personally , I don’t think there is any real need for civilian leather sporrans, belts and shoes to have the military “ bulled” polished look and in fact it reminds me of those who are trying too hard to be authentic. At the other end of the scale there is no need for our civilian leathers to look scruffy either.

I totally agree Jock. The only sporran I add anything too (a leather balsam) is the one which was made in 1896. If I was 100+ I think my leather might meed a little nourishment.

[Troglodyte]

There are various proprietary leather treatments - oils and creams - that are uncoloured and non-waxy and work well on the kinds of leathers used in sporran-making.

The 'khaki' pigskin range will take these treatments, but they have the tendancy to darken the leather somewhat - which can be very pleasing if you want a quick route to an 'aged and patinated' appearance for a new sporran.

Regular shoe-polish ought to be avoided - especially on the rear of the sporran, as the wax transfers to the surface of the kilt, and requires soome kind of solvent to remove.

Saddle-soap (of the kind used to treat horse-tack) works very well, and can be applied without the recommended damp sponge, thus saving the sporran from a wetting. But even using the sponge, the amount of dampening the leather receives is not great and will dry out over night. The result of saddle-soap is a dull sheen, not a shine.

Neatsfoot oil has long been a tried and tested treeatment for old and dry leather, but this also can darken the leather - but being a by-product of the leather industry and a natural animal oil, it gets used widely. It is also used as a carrier-oil for other leather-dressings, including petroleum-jelly (Vaseline).

Petroleum-jelly used neat but sparingly will do for leather what all mothers know it does for their baby's skin. If applied with the finger-tips, the natural warmth of the hands softens the jelly to allow it to spread evenly, and so is quickly absorbed. Any excess needs to be removed with a soft cloth or paper-towel (which is obvious) but it absorbs and dries in a short time, and leaves a gentle sheen without darkening the leather - rather like the newly-made finish on new leather items.

For most uses of the sporran, little treatment is required as the natural oils from the hands, which get transfered imperceptibly as part of normal use, are enough - so sporran leather-treating is a time when less is more in the long run.

[EagleJCS]

I'll admit to using a little Kiwi shoe polish on my leather accoutrements, but only to cover the occasional inadvertent scratch or two on the visible surfaces, never the backs. I don't have a 'mirror-like' shine to my belts or sporrans, just my footwear. I put on a thin layer with a rag, wait a few minutes, then buff it out with a soft brush.

I do the same with my shoes and have yet to have any polish transfer to the bottom of my trouser legs where they come into contact with the tops of the shoes, even if I wear my shoes immediately after polishing them. (I wear my trousers long enough to touch the tops of my shoes when I stand still, with a slight 'break' in the front crease.)

[Tobus]

It would never occur to me to use shoe polish on a sporran. I wouldn't want my sporrans to be glossy. For treating the leather, I am partial to mink oil paste, worked into the leather with bare hands and then buffed. Sometimes I'll use Black Rock Leather 'N Rich, which is excellent for slight restoration to the leather and hiding scratches. It says it has carnuba wax in it and will buff to a shine, but you have to work pretty hard to make that happen. In my experience, modest buffing will just give it a nice medium sheen, about the way leather should look. (I also use this product on my saddles and tack, as well as my riding boots.)

I will slightly disagree with Jock Scot about shoes. I do like to maintain a good shine on my shoes. Not just ones that I wear with the kilt, but the ones I wear to the office or for any trousered outfit too. I'm not saying I keep a parade shine on them all, but I do keep the toes and heels to a fairly high shine. Aside from looking nice, they are better protected against water and tend to repel dust more easily. And, being honest, I think it's a bit of a "lost art of manliness" that has disappeared from our culture. Call it my little personal defiance against the trend towards casual wear.

[Jock Scot]

Tobus.

Actually, I don't think we differ by much. I am all for clean, well polished shoes for smart kilt attire in particular and smart attire in general with particular attention to toe caps and heels. However excessive polishing seems rather unnecessary, to me.

[stickman]

In 1958 I was in the 101st airborne at that time it was our thing to have highly shined boots. One pair for everyday and one pair for inspection and dress. We used to take the laces out and spit shine the tongue and the bottoms between the heel and the sole of our dress boots. In those days we were not allowed off base in fatigues and our fatigues were starched and pressed. We had to be in dress uniform. I was on leave once and passed two older ladies on the street I heard one say to the other, did you see his boots? I have kept my footwear shined ever since. When I wear the kilt I like to look well dressed that includes shined shoes, silver, or brass.