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Hi I purchased my first Herman OAK un-died Skirting Hide and am planning to start making a set of turnout halters for an equine rescue facility that lost tack in the firesults of So Ca last year. I'm just getting into bridle making and will be donating my first run work to their facility that also trains under pribliged children in all things horses. My question to the group: What should I treat the straps with to soften them? I understand that skirting leather is tanned to facilitate being loaded with oil and wax which makes it resistant to weather and that some folks apply hot. The fibers loosen but don't stretch if done correctly...that' what I want! Thank you in advance for any information that might be provided going forward. Silverd

I need some leather about 7.5 oz and I have some about 9 oz. What i want: Somebody SPLIT this leather for me, OR Somebody SELL me a bit of W/C black drum dyed skirting, holstered and split to about 7.5 oz This is to keep some boys happy who have already ordered. I could give them back their money, but they don't want the money- they prefer the holsters they asked for (that's why the ordered!) Some would say since I'm closing, doesn't matter - but I don't like to "do business' like that, even if it's not "for a business". I've been known to refer others to do the job(s) when I couldn't fit them in to customer schedules. I like seeing the customer AND the crafter gettin' 'er done! But this time not do-able. One of these is for a Boberg pistol, that i designed a while back. Designed for my buddy Robert (mecopocketholsters.com) so not up to me to share the design. So, somebody got the means to do one or the other IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, just figure a fair price, and then DOUBLE IT, and let me know Not about the money. SO, if you got some as I described, send me a 2 foot chunk and a bill for what... $40? Call it $50 with the shipping? Gotta be pretty darn nice for that price, but if you got the good stuff, $50 is acceptable

Hey guys and gals, I have been ordering from Wickett & Craig for years now and I know that many consider them to be the best leather tannery/supplier out there, I was one of them. I used to get good quality backs from them when I was ordering the skirting in the russet color but since switching to the drum dyed black and brown backs I have been disappointed in the overall quality on almost every order. This is what I have been ordering: SKIRTING BACK - STD GRADE, 12 OZ. LEVELED, HOLSTER, REFINISH, PASTE On my last order I paid $9.45 s/f and I always order the standard grade which is the best available. I talked to Glenn a couple of times about my disappointment in the quality and even offered to pay more (gulp!!!) if I had to to get a more consistent and higher quality. He assured me that they would up their game but that didn't seem to happen. Even though these are top quality backs I typically have at least 30% waste due to scars, spots, stretch marks, soft belly areas, fibrous flesh side areas, spongey areas (despite paying extra for holstering), scratches, marks, etc. This is their best grade? Unfortunately I can't switch to another supplier because I need the hides to be 12 oz. and leveled and I know of no one else who offers that. Many years ago I used to order from Hermann Oak and I got great quality so I know what nice leather looks/feels like. Unfortunately my last order from them was pretty bad and I had to return it - the black pre-dyed color I requested was actually a grayish purple and the overall quality was pretty poor. Hermann Oak is no longer an option for me. So here are a few questions, especially for those who use W&C on a regular basis: 1) Isn't that much waste on a standard (best) grade back excessive? 2) Are they maybe sending me a lesser grade because I'm ordering the drum dyed black/brown darker color? 3) Would I just be better off going back to ordering in the russet color and dyeing it myself? I really don't want to do this because of health and time issues and it's difficult for me to get the color as consistent as the drum dyed. 4) What is your experience with the quality of their drum dyed backs or backs in general? I know they are capable of making a good product but don't know what else I can do to get them to send me consistent brown/black backs. I am not a high quantity buyer but that should not really be a factor in my humble opinion. Maybe it is though? I'm not trying to bash W&C by any means, I'm just pretty frustrated at this point to be honest. Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated!