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Insightdriver wrote:<snip>...I will, however, state that I am not destroying my leather using neatsfoot oil on it. Like any manufacturer, they want you to use their stuff to take care of their product. It's normally a mixture of commodity ingredients sold in a small container for a high price.

You state information in a way that implies there is only one proper way to treat a leather saddle. I suggest you don't know much about the history of use of leather. For example almost all leather is vegatable tanned nowadays for one important reason: it's an environementally friendly way of tanning leather. If I were to spend big money on a premium western saddle I would want cromium-tanned leather because it produces a tougher, longer-lasting leather.

For an excellent introduction into leather go to this link:
http://amol.org.au/recollections/2/2/03.htm

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Gotta disagree, a lot, about this with you. While Neatsfoot oil may be good for horse saddles and others that have a base or support from underneath, Brooks saddles are unsupported fore and aft. Neatsfoot oil will soften the leather and allow it to stretch. As the Brooks saddle leather stretches, the sag has to be taken up with the tension bolt, which will eventually stretch the leather fibers beyond their capacity and allow the leather to weaken and tear.

The leather of the B-17 is the thinnest and most flexible of the Brooks non-sprung saddles. Using Neatsfoot oil is not recommended because Brooks wants to sell their stuff, but because it can/will shorten the useful life of the saddle. Check with *any* vendor of Brooks products and they will say the same.

Brooks saddles have been around for over 100 years, making the same recommendations they make today. I would think if they thought Neatsfoot oil was better, they would market a "Brooks Proofoil" with the same vigor they market their Proofide now.

Edited by Dave_Thompson (06/26/06 03:30 PM)

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