RUTHLESS;;FOR THE MOST PART ,THINNER LEATHER WILL BE WEEKER..THE LEATHER YOU BUY WILL BE GRADED (8-9 ) or (3-4) EXC'' GET THE IDEA,,LEATHER IS NOT A MADE ITEM AND WILL VERY SOME WHAT...ALTHOU'' SOME TANNERIES DO BETTER THAN OTHERS ,THE BELLY WILL BE THINER THAN THE BACK,,SO IF YOU BUY A SIDE THERE MAY BE SOME CHANGE BACK TO BELLY ,THAT IS WHY THEY OFFER DIFF' CUTS ...HOPE THAT HELPS ...if you skive a piece you should get the same results as thiner leather all else beening the same...thats why we have skiving machinery.....Doc...