putting the shine back on old leather?

[Hidebound]

I recently bought an old horsehide leather jacket that dates roughly from the 50's. There are some parts of it that have a sort of shiny, smooth surface (which I guess is how horsehide looks when new) but there are a lot of places where the "shine" has worn off to the point that it has a texture similar to very short grain suede.

Is there some kind of coating that wore off, or is this just the natural progression of wear on the leather?

I'm mostly interested in preserving this jacket and preventing further damage, so I'm wondering if I should treat those worn places or leave them alone.

 

[handymike]

Pictures would help...
I tend towards conditioning these old jackets (others don’t). There are many to choose from depending on what you want to achieve.

 

[GHT]

This question crops up from time to time. As in previous answers I admit to being ignorant of the hides used in the manufacture of leather garments. However, leather car seats are a different matter.
Leather Balm. https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/L...MI8NK59eGo4gIVL7HtCh3bsQ7TEAQYASABEgK7cPD_BwE

 

[Seb Lucas]

You can't hurt it by putting on a good conditioner - even though it probably won't help much. May prevent further drying out. My experience over 30 plus years is that conditioner makes the leather look better right away but evaporates out and does nothing to fix cracking and wear.

I conducted an experiment with two identical chairs as per the car seat photo above. The chair with treatment looked like the after photo - restored. In a few weeks it looked like the before photo again and just like the chair I didn't treat.

Leather is meant to look worn - dye fades and leather creases. Enjoy.

 

[Downunder G Man]

In the recent past I have used this product on a 30 year old jacket ( that I had worn from new and had "worn out" )

That jacket was an Eastman Luftwaffe in black Horsehide , and it had 'tea-cored" to the max , looked brown and tired !

I had the jacket relined , and then "treated" the outside with Kiwi Kids Scuff . Comes in black and brown from the supermarket here in Australia. It works really well , and made the jacket appear "new" , so much so that some of my motorcycling mates thought it was a new jacket !

 

[dan_t]

In the recent past I have used this product on a 30 year old jacket ( that I had worn from new and had "worn out" )

That jacket was an Eastman Luftwaffe in black Horsehide , and it had 'tea-cored" to the max , looked brown and tired !

I had the jacket relined , and then "treated" the outside with Kiwi Kids Scuff . Comes in black and brown from the supermarket here in Australia. It works really well , and made the jacket appear "new" , so much so that some of my motorcycling mates thought it was a new jacket ! View attachment 169467

Huh?
That’s basically the same as painting it.
Not really in the same vein as restoration or preservation approaches.

 

[Peacoat]

@dan_t I think that product is a dye, rather than a paint. I haven't used that particular product, but I have used another Kiwi product that was a dye. Haven't used it on a jacket, but have used it on shoes.

 

[Downunder G Man]

I was answering the OP's direct question

"Putting the shine back on old leather"

So Scuff Stuff sure will do that ! I wish I had "before N After" photos of my original Eastman Luftwaffe.

3+ years on the jacket still looks OK from that treatment. Contains beeswax yada yada..

Several mates of mine have since used the same technique and product on motorcycle jackets and all worked out well.

I had it to hand as I have used it for years on the heels and sole sides of "Western and Cowboy" style boots

 

[dan_t]

That’s exactly how I use it, on the heels of my RMW’s.