Original leather sling colors

[rebracer]

While I do not claim to be an expert in anyway, I also do not consider myself an amateur when it comes to CW/19th century arms and equipment, but something that I just have never understood or been able to visualize is what color the various leather slings would have been when issued.

We see old/original leather slings and they are dark brown and my and think that's the way they should look, but then I see high quality us ISSUE reproductions that are light colored leather and they look wrong or ugly to me, but is that how they really looked?

The English slings are another issue as well, we see black ones, we white ones (personally I dont like the way these look and I wonder what CW soldiers thought of these when/if they got them), bare leather, what would the leather have looked like?

 

[Package4]

While I do not claim to be an expert in anyway, I also do not consider myself an amateur when it comes to CW/19th century arms and equipment, but something that I just have never understood or been able to visualize is what color the various leather slings would have been when issued.

We see old/original leather slings and they are dark brown and my and think that's the way they should look, but then I see high quality us ISSUE reproductions that are light colored leather and they look wrong or ugly to me, but is that how they really looked?

The English slings are another issue as well, we see black ones, we white ones (personally I dont like the way these look and I wonder what CW soldiers thought of these when/if they got them), bare leather, what would the leather have looked like?

They were originally issued as very light colored and with use became very dark.

 

[jepridgen]

While I do not claim to be an expert in anyway, I also do not consider myself an amateur when it comes to CW/19th century arms and equipment, but something that I just have never understood or been able to visualize is what color the various leather slings would have been when issued.

We see old/original leather slings and they are dark brown and my and think that's the way they should look, but then I see high quality us ISSUE reproductions that are light colored leather and they look wrong or ugly to me, but is that how they really looked?

The English slings are another issue as well, we see black ones, we white ones (personally I dont like the way these look and I wonder what CW soldiers thought of these when/if they got them), bare leather, what would the leather have looked like?

English would have generally been either white (more early war especially) or black. The white matched the accouterments that were issued in the same color mainly early in the war. Remember, the redcoats wore white leather on red. The English manufacturers were just making equipment to match regular British Army issue.

The CS Army also issued a canvas and brown leather sling later in the war which is unfortunately way over represented in the general reenactment population. I assume repro musket companies just used easy to make examples for their products because of survivor bias (later war issue so more survived the war).

 

[rebracer]

They were originally issued as very light colored and with use became very dark.

Thank you for his clarification, this is what I thought.

 

[Trooper "D"]

English would have generally been either white (more early war especially) or black. The white matched the accouterments that were issued in the same color mainly early in the war. Remember, the redcoats wore white leather on red. The English manufacturers were just making equipment to match regular British Army issue.

The CS Army also issued a canvas and brown leather sling later in the war which is unfortunately way over represented in the general reenactment population. I assume repro musket companies just used easy to make examples for their products because of survivor bias (later war issue so more survived the war).

The Zulu War was just over a decade after the end of the American War Of Secession and they mostly outfitted their troops with the white leather pipe clay equipment. Crimea was just prior to the AWOS and the same for that war so it stands to reason that imported Enfield equipment leathers would be white. US had white leathers also leading up to the big dance. Militias often with white as well.
So early war there was probably quite a bit of white leathers about.
The less production energies the better for large scale orders of leathers. I wonder why belts and cartridge box slings were black dyed. Rifle slings got short changed.
I have recently been perusing re pro leather gear and have seen some saber belts and whole Infantry leathers in "natural". They don't look right. I've never liked the Russert leathers and those "naturals" are even worse. Maybe after wear and usage they might look better. I would rather white leathers than "natural" leathers. But maybe that is the more period accurate leather color for some regions or supply depots.
Cheers!

 

[jepridgen]

The Zulu War was just over a decade after the end of the American War Of Secession and they mostly outfitted their troops with the white leather pipe clay equipment. Crimea was just prior to the AWOS and the same for that war so it stands to reason that imported Enfield equipment leathers would be white. US had white leathers also leading up to the big dance. Militias often with white as well.
So early war there was probably quite a bit of white leathers about.
The less production energies the better for large scale orders of leathers. I wonder why belts and cartridge box slings were black dyed. Rifle slings got short changed.
I have recently been perusing re pro leather gear and have seen some saber belts and whole Infantry leathers in "natural". They don't look right. I've never liked the Russert leathers and those "naturals" are even worse. Maybe after wear and usage they might look better. I would rather white leathers than "natural" leathers. But maybe that is the more period accurate leather color for some regions or supply depots.
Cheers!

As best I can tell (and this is totally reading other's research of period documents and equipment), most Reb produced leathers were black dyed but did potentially "fade" out after heavy use to brownish hues. I'd assume that this would happen close to the time the leather was ready to swap for a new issue. There were some exceptions in which depots issued leather in brown. These seem to be few in number.

 

[Hammons]

The Crimea War saw the use of the "Enfield" rifled-musket in various types and the leather in both white and black. They also had contracts in the US at the time to make both. Which were sold to various states prior to the war when the contracts for the war were voided.

Contracts even to southern states by northern manufacturers were fulfilled up to mid 61.

 

[Hammons]

What you are looking for is period dye recipes which you are not a stranger to. iron dyed, etc...

Leather blacking - Authentic Campaigner

Discussions About Primary Sources, Research, Original Accounts, Photos, History & Books.

www.authentic-campaigner.com

Military Leather in the 19th Century – Its Methods & Secrets

By David Jarnagin and Ken R Knopp (originally published in the Journal of Military Historians) Historians, collectors and reenactors are well aware that mid-19th century Federal military reg…

confederatesaddles.com

https://www.jarnaginco.com/cmharticle.pdf

period black iron oxide dye recipe

period black iron oxide dye recipe

traditionalmuzzleloadingcheap.com

 

[Hammons]

If you want to understand leathers etc in America in the 19th century. Read his entire website. I cross referenced all his documents in NARA they are there.

Missouri Boot and Shoe Company

Missouri Boot and Shoe has been setting the standard for quality and authenticity in reproduction Civil War Footwear & Equipment for over 35 years.

www.missouribootandshoe.com

 

[Old Soldier]

The standard sling color for the British army was white, but the rifle regiments (Baker Brunswick and Short P53s) and many of the Volunteer Force were black as was their equipment. The first attempt at camouflage/low visibility.

 

[jepridgen]

If you want to understand leathers etc in America in the 19th century. Read his entire website. I cross referenced all his documents in NARA they are there.

Missouri Boot and Shoe Company

Missouri Boot and Shoe has been setting the standard for quality and authenticity in reproduction Civil War Footwear & Equipment for over 35 years.

www.missouribootandshoe.com

Yeah, he's one of those I lean on for well researched info.