I recently picked up a campaign scabbard for my Albion Mercenary, which is a great sword and I am very happy with it. The scabbard is well made (I would have preferred more width taper than it has, but otherwise well constructed). The problem I have is that I ordered a brown scabbard, and now I don't like the color match with my Magenta handle. I want to re-stain the leather a dark, chocolate antiqued brown, and I purchased some leather antique dark brown dye, but when I tried to apply the stain to the scabbard, it ended up just washing off with water. Now, this is a testament to how well Albion has finished the leather, but I want to figure out some way to strip off the protective coating so that I can then dye the leather a darker color. Is there any way to do this without ruining the leather itself?

Leave it as it is, you will end up spoiling its value by damage.

rather try to exchange it for a brown one or sell it and buy a new one.

I'm presently tryng to put a liner of my conception in a norman helmet, it is an heck of a work and I'm spending more than I would have spent by purchasing an already lined helmet.

Surely i'm learning but in the meantime I'm wasting time and costly materials, while I'm not sure I will eke out a living by lining helmets. ...

I'll send them an email and ask. I have done several successful sword and scabbard repairs, renovations, and handle work so I am not unfamiliar with leather and woodcraft, however I have not done a lot of leather staining or finishing. I know that there are ways other than leather dye to stain and antique it, certain mild acidic solutions will artificially age leather pretty well, but I wanted a specific look for it . If they tell me that the leather is pretty much set the way it is I will probably strip it off and re-cover it with something I like better, or have it done by someone else.