Very period leather finishes and dyes

[Wild Billy Potts]

Here are some of the recipes from the 1861 Ordnance manual for Army leathers. I will copy them verbatim. All numbers are in parts.

Varnish for Holsters, Scabbards, &c., (or Patent Leather)
(For first and second coats)
Prussian blue, in lumps...............4.
Sugar of lead...........................0.7
Aqua fortis..............................0.7
Linseed oil, boiled.....................70.
Spirits turpentine.....................24.6
The ingredients, except the turpentine are boiled together in an iron kettle for 8 hours, when the mixture will assume a brilliant black color. When the varnish is nearly cool stir in the turpentine. The kettle in which the varnish is made should be of a capacity to hold double the quantity of varnish to be boiled.
(For the third or finishing coat.--Copal Varnish)
Gum copal (in clean lumps)........26.5
Boiled linseed oil.......................42.5
Spitrits turpentine....................31.
The varnish is made in a copper vessel, smallest at the top, in the form of a still.
Put the copal in the vessel, set it on a charcoal fire for one hour, in which time it will melt, and all the watery particles will evaporate. Add the oil while the copal is warm, but not boiling hot. When nearly cool, add the turpentine, which will give it a proper consistency for use.
For 5 lbs. copal and the proper proportions of oil and turpentine, the vessel should hold 6 gallons.

[Wild Billy Potts]

Part 2... (I will give comments here)

Dye for Blacking Belts
Extract of logwood...........................2 lbs
Broken nutgalls.................................0.5 lbs
Pyrolignate of Iron.............................0.5 pint
Soft water.......................................1 gal
The logwood and nutgalls are boiled in water till the logwood is dissolved. When cold, add the pyrolignate of iron. Stir it well and let it settle. When clear, decant it free from sediment and keep it well corked.
The pyrolignate of iron is made by dissolving iron filings in pyroligneous acid, -as much as the acid will take up. (Vinegaroon)
The addition of the logwood is not essential.
A solution of copperas may replace the pyrolignate of iron, but is not so good.

Kit. (Supposedly used on thread for Army leather gear, and looks real nice when used)
Composiition.- 9 rosin, 6 pitch, 6 beeswax, 1 tallow. To be melted together and poured into water; then worked with the hands until it becomes soft and pliable.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Wild Billy Potts

     Great information you have posted here, I'm sure there will be some that will give these recipes a try, thanks for taking the time to do this and post it for all of us to share.

           tEN wOLVES 

[santee]

I thought a nutgall was a bird. Wait, that's a nuthatch.

Thanks for posting the info!

[Wild Billy Potts]

Glad to share what I've found for free. I hope if anyone manages to duplicate these formulae that they post pictures of the finished products.

[Forty Rod]

I thought a nutgall was a bird. Wait, that's a nuthatch.

Thanks for posting the info!

Nut hatch.  Ahhhh, sounds like home.