yup dont be afraid of hitting to hard its the impressions that form the shadows that make the shape stand out then you can lift the edges for even more of an effect. A heavier maul may be what you need.
the deer here have a strong taste in their fat so we don't use it, we replace it with beef or pork fat. Maybe that's the case there too. as you say it doesn't hurt to ask. Those are small critters indeed, an adult Elk weighs about 800 lbs average.
your right beeswax has been used for thousands of years on leather and many other products. Mostly to seal and or waterproof the product its applied to. I've never read or heard of its primary use being to prevent NFO from going rancid, if it does that's great too!! . Beeswax rocks don't get me wrong i use it for about a half dozen different potions mostly very old concoctions for wood leather textiles and such.
good article if your going to eat the stuff. I have only found one study on leather productshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/43285442_Leather_coated_with_mixtures_of_humectant_and_antioxidants_to_improve_ultraviolet_and_heat_resistance
lol you have Deer in Denmark too just have to find a hunter that will give you the tallow fat off the rump. Here its hot half the time and cold the other half so mixing for the temperature isn't a consideration i worry about lol. I usually heat up whatever and let my conditioner soak in well.
thanks again for the great recipe and the how to pics. I have a gallon of elk tallow that i have rendered off for soap and other projects i think i'll make a tin for my self too.
if you cant find parts find a machine shop, they can recut the threads and make a new disc to fit them. The disc is cast iron so welding is iffy at best if you have both pieces. A machine shop can also make a disc out of decent steel or even a new pin also.
hit it a little harder to get those impressions deeper, make your main veins two sided instead of just one cut. you are doing great just light on the maul IMO.
leave it alone the bigger chance is your only going to ruin it. Dye wont get rid of the pattern of patina and wear around the decals, you don't know what other things like conditioners or water proofing have been applied that may effect the dying process and you still have the liner to contend with that will no doubt get stained in the process from small wear holes or loose stitching. Enjoy that beautiful coat and existing patina for what it is or sell it and buy a black leather coat. Sorry to be blunt but i see a wreck coming.
Someone posted this knife on a previous thread https://bladepoint.eu/collections/bladepoint-knife-blades/products/bladepoint-ghoul i made a few for folks here in the states who wanted to try one. I tried them they work really well IMO especially on the thinner leathers like you use.
the thread is called "A new knife" if you want to search and read it all.