making leather old

[robino]

I have recently bought a beautifully made brown leather belt that holds 15 shotgun shells. Problem is, most of my leather is very well aged except for this belt.

Is there a way for me to give it a more worn look, without physically rubbing, scratching, dragging or simply wearing this belt for years on end in order for it to weather...

is there a speedy process that can do this so that my hunting buddies won't tease me too much on a newly acquired belt...

 

[Mahoney]

Get new hunting buddies that will admire your nice new belt...and let your new belt age naturally with dignity

There are a few tricks, but you've really hit on the answer already. Many things that will make the belt look worn will degrade it a bit. Sandpaper, beating it with a chain, etc. will put wear on the belt at the expense of a bit of life/wear. Probably the least destructive tricks to try involve neatsfoot oil, wax, and dust. Look at some of your old gear, see where it is darker from sweat, and possibly dusty or darker in the nooks and crannies. Neatsfoot oil applied sparingly in blotches will darken the leather, don't overdo it, neatsfoot oil also softens the leather and can change how it fits or holds shells. Dark shoe polish and/or dust can be used to make the nooks and crannies look more old. For a stage production I might also use mists of black, rust, beige, and light grey spray paint.

 

[Brenton]

Why not enjoy it for the beauty that it is.

 

[sheathmaker]

Please don't forget that whatever you decide to do to it, it should still match your shoes and purse!

Paul

 

[Bufford]

Wear it, love it and respect it. Be patient leather is like wine and with time it will develop that rich aged look and feel. Don't try to rush it.

You could try wearing it everyday under your winter gear as we are now soon getting into colder weather to help speed up the process, and at the same time it will wear into the shape of your waistline.

 

[GrizzlyBear]

You should be able to scuff it some with steel wool that should highlight some spots, then hit it with a bit of oil to darken those spots differently than the original color. Chuck Burrows has some interesting methods on "aging" his sheaths and leatherwork without sacrificing the leather itself. If you dont beat it to death or remove a lot of material, you're not really going to hurt it much.