Heat-treated or no?

[Dan D'Silva]

Yep.  It's going to take a while, though, 'cause the bulky top means there's a lot of wood to remove, and I no longer have access to a belt sander to reduce it quickly.  That part isn't a process that I feel the need to document, since I did it back in 2015.

The one new thing I'd like to try is trying to attach the leather facing with some kind of pitch or resin, since it's outdoor gear and waterproof glue would be an advantage, and I want it to be as period-appropriate as possible this time -- no more rubber cement if it can be avoided.