Best Metal For Snap Buttons On A Leather Jacket

[user290389023]

Which is the most long lasting metal for snap buttons for a leather jacket?
Brass? Steel?

 

[Carlos840]

No difference...

 

[user290389023]

Surely the hardness of the metal must matter?

 

[Edward]

I've seen all sorts on various jackets over the years. Aluminium is common on the lower end, brass, in my experience, moreso at the upper end. Never seen any lose their functionality evne in seventy or eighty year old jackets, so I doubt there's any practical difference. Indeed, any prolbem I have seen have been more to do with poor insertion / placement / low quality hides than the snaps themselves.

 

[Carlos840]

Surely the hardness of the metal must matter?

What holds the snap closed is the spring in the female part, which will always be mate from steel.
I don't think the material of the snap really makes that much difference.
Like @Edward said, failure is usually caused by a bad riveting job, causing one of the part to separate from the leather, not the male nipple getting worn to the point where it doesn't clip securely into the female part.
(that sounds weird...)

 

[navetsea]

probably stainless steel is harder than brass, but I will pick brass for the potential patina.
unless you have several snaps at hand and compare them how the click, and check the thickness of the metal, you cant judge hardware quality from the material alone

but I can answer for the worst, the painted snaps, the way they age is horrible because the paint will chip off and hopefully what you see inside is brass and not rusty steel/ iron

 

[diabel]

Both stainless steel and brass will last extremely long time much outlasting the life of horsehide itself.

 

[Will Zach]

What holds the snap closed is the spring in the female part, which will always be mate from steel.
I don't think the material of the snap really makes that much difference.
Like @Edward said, failure is usually caused by a bad riveting job, causing one of the part to separate from the leather, not the male nipple getting worn to the point where it doesn't clip securely into the female part.
(that sounds weird...)

This. I have a jacket with one snap that failed like this. Male is stuck in female (weird, lol). Looking for quality solid brass replacement.