What Color Is This?

[NewYorkerInSydney]

Hi everyone,

I really would like to replicate the color that you see on these leather pouches. I have purchased Tandy dye in light brown, walnut, saddle tan and canyon tan. None of those look anything at all like what you see in the two photos, particularly the photo of the pouches. Does anyone know what sort of dye I would need to get close to that color? I really appreciate it. Thank you.

NYIS

Edited September 1, 2010 by NewYorkerInSydney

[wildrose]

Looks more like acorn brown to me. But they are pretty aged. Could've started as russet.

The straps look like they were left natural and the top coat "browned" them slightly.

[wareagle]

They look like natural with a top coat of some short that browned them then the pouches have a ton of patina on them(age and use) to the point there is no way to know the original color.

Hi everyone,

I really would like to replicate the color that you see on these leather pouches. I have purchased Tandy dye in light brown, walnut, saddle tan and canyon tan. None of those look anything at all like what you see in the two photos, particularly the photo of the pouches. Does anyone know what sort of dye I would need to get close to that color? I really appreciate it. Thank you.

NYIS

[NewYorkerInSydney]

Hello friends,

Thank you for your replies. The pouches could have started as a variety of colors, I suppose. What I would like to know is how to recreate that color. Is there a dye that is very similar to those pouches? Thanks very much.

NYIS

[Somawas]

I'd pick up the Tandy Eco Flo product brochure. The color samples in the brochure are pretty close. Alternately, go to the store and ask the manbager if you can try samples from his class supplies.

My guess is that Briar Brown is closest.

[David]

Not meaning to start a big argument here, but the Eco Flo line of dyes will NEVER stand up to the use that those pouches have seen.

Look for Fiebings on line and use an alcohol or oil based dye.

They have a variety of brown dyes including russet that should be able to be used to mix the color you want. They are available in 4 oz bottles so a half dozen different colors won't cost you an arm and a leg.

http://www.fiebing.com

David Theobald

Edited September 2, 2010 by David

[rdb]

Can't speak to the watch strap, but the pouches look like just natural horsehide, to me. Just years of patina, I suppose. Horse was a standard leather for military application for most of our history.

[LNLeather]

Howdy: I am not sure if this will be of any help for these particular pieces/colors. Although to me it looks like others have mentioned. "The pieces look like they were left natural and the top coat "browned" them slightly." Maybe a combination of top coat or just Neatsfoot oil and years of sun and leather care - saddle soap or some other sort of oil.

Something else I thought I'd mention is you can get lots of different shades of color from each different bottle of dye, by diluting it – I just use water. I have some small bottles and measure the water and use a small glass 'eye dropper' to measure the dye with. It is also a good idea to write on a piece of tape on the lid what the measurements are so you can recreate the color. Testing on a scrap piece is also a good idea…

When I first started doing leatherwork I made a color sampler for each different color of dye and started out on each piece of leather with a diluted coat at one end and up to full strength at the other end.

Antique med brown - Antique Mahogany - Antique saddle tan - Antique tan - Feibings dyes -124 dark brown - Mahogany - Professional oil Dark Brown - and the last one is just Neatsfoot oil.

Hope this helps

Edited September 6, 2010 by LNLeather

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Hello,

I believe what you have are Yugoslav SKS ammo pouches, if they are the shorter version they are for the Yugo M48 Mauser. I worked at a place where we had those for sale. Some were never issued, some had seen a lot of use. The new ones were natural in color, the older ones ran from light to almost black. The colorization is probably a combination of cleaners, oils, greases, dirt, sweat, and general usage, IE: Patina.

The Yugo surplus we had varied greatly in materials, and construction. With the web gear the fabrics ranged from coarse weave to very fine, they had various piping in the edges, and closures varied. This is in stark contrast to U.S. web gear where the various contractors made items that looked alike because they had to meet more stringent specs.

[NewYorkerInSydney]

To all of you who responded,

I wanted to thank you for your assistance. It helped. I really appreciate you taking the time to post a response.

Many kind regards,

NYIS