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With campaign-style hardware, there are many choices out there for different budgets and aesthetics. You can go for full-on rustic, sand-cast hardware – this looks great but can be tricky to install because every piece of hardware is slightly different. Or you can opt for modern die-cast hardware – easy to install but a little too-consistent looking to look historically accurate.
I have installed both kinds of hardware, and I generally prefer the rustic sand-cast stuff, even though it doubles the time it takes me to install each piece.
So this week I was a bit wary when I ordered some hardware from Lee Valley for an officer’s trunk I’m building. The straps and corner guards I ordered were “pressed brass,” which is quite thin – only .035” thick.
However, this British-made hardware looks surprisingly nice in person, is precisely made and is easy to install – thanks to the consistent manufacturing tolerances. I’m combining these straps and corner guards with some 60-year-old sand-cast brass pulls, and the pressed brass pieces fit right in.
So consider these Lee Valley pieces if you are looking for stuff that is easy to install and looks consistent with the old stuff.
The pressed chest straps are here.
The corner guards are here.
Note: I paid full retail for these pieces of hardware. I was not asked to do this review. And etc.
— Christopher Schwarz
