You can buy a leather curb strap for a bridle in most saddle shops for under $5.00 bucks. Put the snaps you like on each end and have a glove or field leash that will last for years. Or take a leather strap and make your own. I paid $2.70 for mine at Jeffers Equine supply when I ordered some other stuff. I put a regular snap on one end and a french snap on the other. I have been using it for 3 years and it has lots of years left.
I thought at the curb strap yesterday oddly. My horse has a chain curb (cheaper) but my mom's horse might be losing his leather one soon.
With the leather cleaning if you have hard grim saddle soap (glycerin) scrubs it out with a toothbrush really well and olive oil and beeswax or neatsfoot and mink oil are very good preservatives. Neatsfoot does a hair better on dry leather than olive oil and from my experience makes things more flimsy so there are somethings I wouldn't apply neatsfoot too. I wouldn't mind knowing how well a neatsfoot & mink would do since they would both be more of a natural supplement for the leather coming from animals.
Never settle.
"There's nothing like the feeling of knowing that you've made a difference in someone's life, even if that difference is a lifetime of nightmares and a fortune in therapy bills." - Marilyn Manson
Matt, I don't like it. Looks to me like a fashion accessory, don't try & re-invent the wheel stick to what is commonly used & practical. The chain looks heavier than what it probably is. Are the links soldered / solid cast metal ? I use #18 gauge braided nylon masonry twine, that I then braid into leashes. I have also braided the same & used them for mews jesses as my male redtail is tethered to his jumpbox. As I mentioned & posted a photo in " Converting a welders glove ", (a previous article ) , I do use a shower rail clip, to secure the leash through anklets whilst out in the field hunting as it's lightweight & I allow myself some 4' of leash secured around the glove. I don't use a big diaper pin as I don't have one & am wary of the small point on the tip. I appreciate your request for opinions, the above was mine. "Keep it simple "
Matt, At least you used your initiative, experimented & asked for opinions. Unlike some of us, myself included. I'm sure you'll adapt some other piece of falconry furniture in the future. I started using the curtain rail clip as, I had a french clip on another glove attached to a leash for transporting the bird from the mews. I attached it to the glove through a grommet , to a " D " ring, unfortunately I lost the glove " in the field " didn't have an extra french clip & it was in the middle of the season & time was of the essence. " Keep it simple "