Army dye

[Holsterguy]

Have a booklet about the making of army leather in the 1870's. Kinda interesting. The part that talked about the different blacking really perked my interest. Said the side of leather was first dyed with logwood dye, the a concoction of iron rust and vinegar was brushed on.
OK, says I, whats logwood dye?

[Major 2]

Campeche wood also know as Blackwood ....comes from  South Mexico & Central America ( Bay of Campeche )
You can still get it , made in Belize , and sold on Amazon.com

It was developed in the 1600's  British Honduras  , what is Belize today.

[Holsterguy]

Thanks. Wondrin, did that have the same effect that Al Stohlman said -to get a true deep black, first dye either brown or blue.?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

With commercial dye, yes, it pays to do it blue before applying black. With vinegaroon, you get a much deeper black than with commercial dyes and it doesn't need to have the pre-dye job. Here's a comparison. The first holster is dyed with commercial black. The second one was dyed with vinegaroon. The difference is even more noticeable in person.

[Holsterguy]

Any ideas why it was done?  Far as I know, the booklet was originally put out in 1879, by a Lt. In the ordnance dept. at Benecia arsenal. Doesn't really go into much detail as to the why its done.

[St. George]

Leather goods were produced at Benecia - - not subcontracted -  the instructions were for the saddlers producing it to Army specification.

Scouts Out!

[Holsterguy]

This booklet tells how the leather was tanned. From green hide to finished product. Covers harness, bridle, buff, wax, Polish, etc.  Pretty interesting.