Tanner's Oath Leather & Wood Salve

Left is a jacket the day it comes home from the thrift store. You loved the fit. You loved the shape. But the sleeves are so stiff they barely fold at the elbows, and the creases have gone a dusty gray. So you take it out of the closet, try it on in the mirror, and hang it straight back up. A week later you do it again.

You're nervous about putting anything on it, and you have a reason. Maybe a liquid conditioner once turned a lighter bag darker than you wanted. Maybe the internet gave you six answers and half of them were in your kitchen. Either way, you're not gambling with a jacket you finally found in your size.

So start where nobody will ever look. A dab inside the cuff, then wait until the next day and check it in daylight. If you like what you see, take an old T-shirt and rub in a very thin coat. Leave it overnight and buff it in the morning. If it still looks thirsty, give it one more light coat that evening.

The sleeves soften and the black looks richer. Every old crease is still there. Nothing about it looks new. It looks like the jacket you fell for on the rack, only now your arms bend in it.

Then wear it to lunch. That was the whole point.

Found this bag at an estate sale and couldn’t leave it behind. Beautiful brown leather, lovely old hardware, just the right size. But the handles were dry and stiff, and I didn’t notice how uncomfortable they felt until I carried it home.

Nearly tried something from the kitchen because everyone online seemed to have a different suggestion. Then I thought about how much I liked the bag and decided to test properly first.

Put a little Tanner’s Oath underneath a strap and waited a day. The shade deepened slightly, which I liked, so I used a thin coat on the handles and the rest of the bag. Left it overnight and buffed with a clean cloth.

The handles feel more flexible now, and the leather looks a little richer without losing the old character I bought it for.

The scratches haven’t disappeared. I wasn’t expecting them to. I just wanted it to feel better in my hand, and it does.

This was my mom’s coat. She wore it for years, and when it came to me it had been folded in a storage box for a long time. The collar held the fold from the box and the leather felt stiff in my hands.

I wanted to wear it, but I was scared of being the person who ruined it. You can replace a coat. You can’t replace this one. So it stayed in the closet while I kept looking up what I should put on it.

Started with a tiny dab underneath the lapel. Waited a day, checked it by the window, then worked on one panel each evening. Thin coat, leave it overnight, buff the next morning. I went slowly because I wanted to see how each part looked before doing more.

It moves more comfortably now, and the collar sits better. The worn edges and little marks are still there, which is exactly how I wanted it.

I’ve started wearing it again. It’s lovely having something of hers out in the world instead of packed away.

So it sat in the closet. Every couple years I'd take it out, look at it, feel bad, put it back.

Did this on the kitchen table on a Saturday with the newspaper down and a cup of coffee, same as he cleaned it. Ran the bores first, then rubbed the salve into the wood with my fingers and let it sit while I had breakfast. Wiped it off and that's the photo. No sanding, no stripping. The dents on the butt are still there. The worn spot on the grip is still there. The color just came back up out of the wood like it had been waiting. Looks like the gun in the picture of him on the mantel.

I'm taking it out for grouse in October. First time it's been in the woods since he was.

I always look through the belts when I thrift. This one was real leather with a lovely brass buckle, but it was so stiff it fought me every time I tried to thread it through my jeans. It ended up in a drawer with the other things I was going to “sort out.”

Took it out one evening, wiped it clean and tested a little salve on the back near the buckle. Waited until the next day before doing the rest. Used much less than I thought I’d need and buffed it the following morning.

It bends more easily now and feels better around my waist. The brown deepened a little, but it still looks like the same vintage belt.

I’ve worn it several times since. Such a small thing, but I’m glad I finally did something with it.

These were the boots I’d been hoping to find secondhand. Right size, low heel, proper leather. They looked lovely standing by the door, but the ankles were stiff and the creases had that dry, dusty look.

I didn’t want to soak them in anything or end up with greasy boots. Tested Tanner’s Oath on a hidden bit first, then worked a thin coat into the leather with a soft cloth. Left them overnight and buffed them in the morning.

Gave the drier areas another light coat the next evening. The leather around the ankles feels softer, and the brown looks deeper. They still have their scuffs and worn toes, which I’m happy with.

There’s a small crack near one toe and that’s still there too. This hasn’t repaired it. But the boots feel better to wear, so they’re finally getting out of the house.