Touring - Re-break the saddle?

A while ago I went through a fixed-gear phase and ended up with a pretty little leather saddle. A couple times around the block convinced me that life was much more comfortable when plastic. Now that I'm going through a touring phase (which will hopefully never end!), I'm giving my judgments second thoughts. Sheldon has told me that it's actually a decent saddle (Ideale from France) and that leather saddles are quite superb. So my question is this: the saddle is obviously well used and I assume it was "broken in" by somebody; should I try to "rebreak" the saddle to fit my tush or just scrap it?

From what I have read, keep riding it. It will "rebreak" on its own and form itself to your tush.

It depends on the distance apart of the previous user's sit bones and yours. As MMACH5 says, it might be OK. But it does look to me as though it has flared a little around the flaps and that you might need to consider lacing the sides together. There are threads here that discuss that.

Sheldon's judgment on it being a very good saddle, unfortunately, does not make it so if the rider is uncomfortable on it. For example it appears from the pictures that it would be way too narrow for me.

The only way you are going to find out is to go for several reasonably long day rides -- the sort of distances you would expect to do on tour and see if the discomfort is severe, moderate, insignificant or zero. If the first two, I'd probably ditch it in favour of a new ... well you know... but if the other two, persist.

Ideale were very good saddles, just like Brooks. However, from the cracking in the pic, I would just get a new B17. Splits that cover such a large area can lead to chafing. Leather saddles should have an unbroken, slick surface. The dimpling on some Brooks models does not constitute a contradiction - it is actually there to facilitate increased air circulation between the rider and the surface, and is only found on the larger models. Hang that particular Ideale on your shop wall.

In direct answer to your question: Yes, a leather saddle will re-form to a new owner.

I have two old Ideals that I have recycled and find them very comfortable.

Because I loved a prior Ideale so much, I probably would have bought one a few months ago, instead of Brooks, had that been possible. On yours, those lines look weird. But why not ride it for a few hundred miles and see what you think? A little leather treatment first might be nice.