Next up: replace missing brass corners, replace missing leather piping along bottom front where canvas is worn. Any suggestions for the discolored canvas (mold, mildew, 100 yrs of stuff)? Am afraid chemicals may destroy the canvas.
This will be a long read , so apologies....
Well, I am not an expert on archivale cleaning of antique/vintage canvas, nor an expert on cleaning anything.... however, I have for the majority of my life owned/worn *cotton canvas, *waxed cotton canvas, to include sleeping under it (Tents) & being propelled by it (Sails).
Grease, oil & rust can be difficult to remove, but verdigris & mildew stains have been the most problematic for me. Despite, "waxed" or "oiled" canvas can repel some contaminants/stains, but that is subjective. Another consideration is the *weight in ounces i.e. thickness of the canvas , the weave/texture that allows contaminants to be collected in the fibers.
Most of my personal daily attire for the past 35+ yrs has consisted of CC Filson, Schaeffer & LL Bean products, so cleaning cotton canvas by hand (not mechanical) has been routine.
With your gun case it is hard to tell with pictures any specifics about the canvas, none the less the fact it is attached to wood is tricky, in addition to the stamps/documents that have been "glued" to it. For a full cleaning that falls into the realm of "restoration" the canvas would be removed & conservation techniques used. That certainly requires expertise, which is pricey & time consuming. If your goal is to just tidy-up the exterior of the gun case I would think Spot Cleaning is the best option.
I will preface, DO NOT attempt cleaning if you suspect the fabric/canvas is has succumb to dry rot! Moreover, isopropyl or denatured alcohol, white vinegar are useful in removing many contaminates/stains, the caveat being in your instance those could create other issues. So, with that in mind, below are the items & process I use to clean cotton canvas-
Items :
Brush with medium bristle (natural fiber/hair is preferred; I use horse and/or camel hair)
Brush with soft bristle (same bristle material as aforementioned)
Natural Sea Sponge (pricey & can be difficult to source)
100% cotton Terry Cloth towels/rags or old 100% cotton T-shirts - must be white
Q-Tips - again 100% cotton
Cotton balls - again 100% cotton
For Waxed or Oiled Canvas use -
Cornstarch for oil based stains
Castile Soap for other stains
[Recommended cleaners for your gun case due to the canvas being attached (glued) to the case.]
For non-Waxed or Oiled Canvas
Ivory Soap or Lye Soap , Vinegar , Isopropyl or Denatured Alcohol can be used to work out especially difficult stains.
[Although NOT recommended for your gun case, due to the application/gluing of canvas to the gun case.]
Medium sized Bowl/container for holding water
Small sized Bowl/container
Water - room temp
Cleaning Process:
Use Med. bristled Brush to remove as much loose material as possible. Even if it doesn’t look like there is any thing heavy do it any way, given the age of the case there will likely be accumulated dust in the weave. This will help open the fibers & loosen the contaminants/stains.
The next step is to use the Cleaning Agent on the stains -
If using Cornstarch just add water to make a paste, then apply to area and scrub using the soft bristle brush, Terry Cloth towels & Sponge, alternateing between each. Use circular motions & Do NOT use heavy pressure.
If using the Castile Soap apply
For small spots use Q-tips
For larger spots use Cotton balls
Then scrub using the soft bristle brush, Terry Cloth towel & Sponge, alternateing between each. Use circular motions & Do NOT use heavy pressure.
** Important to remember, in both instances, have patients and use lots & lots of "elbow grease". Also remember, do NOT be aggressive, some stains require multiple attempts, and will get fainter & fainter after each time. I find allowing the spot to "soak" can be beneficial.
You should also clean your brush & sponge regularly & use clean areas of the towel/rag.
After cleaning and you are satisfied with the result, use the Q-tips & Cotton Balls to wipe or rinse away residual cleaner and draw out moisture. This should avoid any warping or bubbling/delamination of the canvas from the wood.
I used the above process to clean a canvas gun scabbard I have with good results, as I did not want to have moisture soaking into the padding/lining.
Example of brushes I use.
Example of Medium bowl
Example of Small bowl
Castile Soap
Examples of stuff I've routinely clean
Gun scabbard
Cotton Canvas vest
Lastly, before attempting to clean, do a test in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won't have a detrimental affect, as already alluded to it is very possible the fabric has dry rot and the cleaning process could cause irreversible damage.
Apologies for the long reply, if you have questions just send a DM.
