Where to find exotic hides?

[RunningRoan]

Looking for wholesale supplier of stingray in solid colors and neato prints. Also looking for hair on cowhides in wild prints (zebra, leopard, tiger, etc). Actually hoping to find those in smaller calf skins if possible...I don't want to buy an entire dead cow done up as a zebra just yet. I've searched eBay, but feel I need a more reliable supplier. Anyone got any suggestions?

[JustWakinUp]

I was dealing with Roje leather for exotics.

also these folks seem to have a variety of stringray colors

http://www.charleshardtke.com/

Edited October 22, 2008 by JustWakinUp

[RunningRoan]

I'll check those out! Thanks!!

[hidepounder]

For exotics try John Fong, www.johnfongexoticleathers.com.

For hair on hides try Don Fleming, www.yourcowhide.com

[Kowboyboots]

I buy most of my scraps from Penny Fabric & One Cent Fabric (brothers) on ebay. Pieces are well priced an they are so wonderful & dependable.

Also Leatherwise has small sample pieces for sale all the time. Their prices are a little higher but not bad if you just need a little.

I also buy most of my hair on full hides on eBay. Only thing I didn't like on most of the hides was the edges was trimmed an I like the raw edges for some of my looks.

I know any of these folks if you get a hold of them will try to find what you are looking for.

Good luck.

Leatherwise

PennyFabric

OneCentFabric

[DCKNIVES]

This is where I get mine and they are a supplier and have a large inventory.Dave

http://ostrichmarket.com/

[ClayB]

Have you seen the acid washed hair on calf hides that Tandy is selling? It's pretty wild stuff. The hair has been burned off in places by the acid, left on in others and it comes in fun colors like purple and blue. I don't see it on their website, but if you want, I can take a picture of the one I have and post it here. Someday I am going to make a purse out of it for my wife.

Here's a link to a purse made out of this leather for sale on Etsy

Edited October 25, 2008 by ClayB

[Kowboyboots]

I have bought several of those acid wash ones on eBay, both whole & pieces. The pieces I got again from penny fabrics, in fact they have some on there today along with some scrap zebra print.

[RunningRoan]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I've got lots to look at now!

Hey Kowboyboots, I think we have crossed paths before. Do you set up at the BRN4D finals barrel race in Pasco? I bought some scraps a couple days ago from PennyFabrics on eBay. I've never bought from them before, so I'm glad to hear that you've been happy with them. Can't wait to get my stuff!!

I went to Tandy today and spent way too much . I picked up their 2009 catalog and yep, they're carrying full cowhides in acid wash and in exotic prints too.

[rawhide1]

RunningRoan

I've also been looking to buy scrap hair on pieces. I've found this place triggbrothers.com I haven't bought anything from them as yet so I don't know about service. They had a pound for six dollars or 50 pounds for a hunderd dollars. I don't know if ya can buy 10 or 20 pounds and where the price changes. The pieces are from hand size up to 8 square feet. I haven't looked enough yet to know what a fair price is for scrap. But just another possible source.

Mike

[Kowboyboots]

Mike, PennyFabric & onecentfabric both sells scraps for around a $1 a pound, just ask them for how ever much you want and tell them what you are looking for. They will do their best for you. Their direct email is "fabsee38 @ yahoo.com" (take out the spaces)

I have been buying from them for 3 yrs.

Heather, you probably meet Andrea & Connie from Rodeo Cowgirls, they use to have their shop set up here with me.

Did you find the copper spots? I have often spray painted my brass ones with that "hammered" copper paint, they turn out great. I stuck them slightly into a piece of Styrofoam stuff to paint them.

Penny Fabrics pieces are always bigger then they say also.

CalfHide prints

Here is another place I have bought smaller hides, but seems they are just about as expensive as the full hides, LOL.

I use ebay alot, can you tell. Another place that has a big assortment of concho's if you need them is Concho Cowboy

If you want really off hides this is a great place, i buy my powder horns from them Chichester

Edited October 27, 2008 by Kowboyboots

[MADMAX22]

Ive bought several (about 7 hides) from this shop on ebay. All pretty good stuff from what I can tell. Never had a issue with it. http://stores.ebay.com/Acazii-Shop

[RunningRoan]

Very cool! Thanks for all the sources and ideas guys! This should keep me busy for a while.

I just placed my first order with Trigg this past weekend, so we'll see how it goes. They do have some NEAT adapters that allow you to replace the ugly screws on your license plate with pretty conchos. I couldn't resist I am hopeless!

Thanks for the email address KowboyBoots! I think I'll contact them directly next time to get the hide patterns I want instead of buying a lot of mixed ones. Are you coming to the finals next year? There was talk of combining north and south into one big finals in Winnemucca, but they decided to stay in Pasco and Tulare for 2009. There were some upset vendors at Pasco in 2007 and only a few came back this year. The building was pretty empty. But that means less competition for the vendors that do show up.