Leather slings.

[Plain Old Dave]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not; Mods feel free to move it if necessary.

Just got a repro BAR sling for my 1936 National Match 1903 in an M1922M2 stock. The rifle bears a strong resemblance to the M1903 NRA Sporter, and has the only King Reflector front sight some experienced collectors have ever seen on an 1903 but that's beside the point. The sling, though, smells rather strongly of leather and the Question of the Day is what are some good ways to neutralize or remove the leather smell from the sling? I always hunt with Old Iron on the last weekend of the year, and would really like to tote this 03. See, the BAR sling is considerably longer than an 1907 sling (the normal leather USGI leather sling) and that makes the rifle more carryable over heavy late-season hunting clothes.

Floor's open.

 

[tsc]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not; Mods feel free to move it if necessary.

Just got a repro BAR sling for my 1936 National Match 1903 in an M1922M2 stock. The rifle bears a strong resemblance to the M1903 NRA Sporter, and has the only King Reflector front sight some experienced collectors have ever seen on an 1903 but that's beside the point. The sling, though, smells rather strongly of leather and the Question of the Day is what are some good ways to neutralize or remove the leather smell from the sling? I always hunt with Old Iron on the last weekend of the year, and would really like to tote this 03. See, the BAR sling is considerably longer than an 1907 sling (the normal leather USGI leather sling) and that makes the rifle more carryable over heavy late-season hunting clothes.

Floor's open.

Don't worry about it,if a deer smells that sling,he's already smelled you too.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Clarification :this is not just a slight smell. You can smell this several feet away.

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

 

[DaveB]

Sounds like the leather has not been properly tanned. I'd dump it and get something that worked for me.

Not because I am afraid the deer will smell the sling but because that odor bothers me.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Put it in a bag of baking soda for a few days and then use some leather conditioner on it

Completely submerge or a heavy coat on the sling?

 

[Ken45]

Friend of mine was showing his dad's ww11 rifle with leather sling,when I hand him the rifle back he took it by the sling ,the sling broke so did the stock in three pieces,if that leather sling is old I would replace it