M1861 sling repair

[Okc_bob]

My sling has degraded on one side, & separated from the swivel. What's the safest way to repair, or should it be left alone? Unsure how to care for the relic.
Thx

 

[Craig L Barry]

Leather being a natural material, it dries out and rots with time. If it were a bit less dry, you could attempt a stitch or two with single ply cotton thread but I think the sling might be too far gone. The stitches would just pull through the leather. Since you are just displaying it, you might try a bit of glue. All that said, if it were me, I would leave it as is.

 

[byron ed]

Not many things are worse than a degraded sling.

Things like this happen as we age.

 

[James N.]

try to find a way that it can be displayed with the sling supported by something and not just left dangling under its own weight, causing it to tear more.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Personally, I would attempt to gently remove it, if at all possible, and then preserve it out of any UV natural light.
J.

 

[Garandguy]

It looks about right to me. Actually pretty good given it's natural leather and 150 years old. Original slings are not hard to find, but the good ones are $$$....