"Grade A" HO 8/9 from Springfield looks terrible

[Cumberland Highpower]

Actually, your side looks ok to me.  From the photo it looks like an A grade piece that came from SLc with a  couple added pallet rack scuffs and a little short term warehouse dusting.  Normal in the trade to a degree..........

The honest truth, is that ALL leather isn't as good as it was 10 years ago.

Depending on what you make, HO leather is the best on the market.  Its' firm, consistent in weight, has been rolled (having a smooth surface) and takes dye and water very well.  (Evenly).  It also dries quicker than most other leathers.  They also tend to grade it better when splitting.

In this country, Only Wickett and craig is close.  W&c isn't as firm and tends to stretch more.

I'd say the worst downhill slide is that Chahin that Weaver sells.   Before covid it was ok.  Now I'm looking elsewhere.

Veg tanned leather tends to have blems, scars, wrinkles, etc.  After you use a few thousand sides, you'll realize what you received is actually looking pretty good.

Bellies are filler/junk/liner, shoulders are used for items that take the neck wrinkles well.  Your bend is usually pretty clean, maybe a brand.  HO looks at the bend area first, then shoulder.  Weight wise, I think they allow 1/2oz +/-  

I haven't shopped at SLC,  but I do find that price rather high.  Wholesale pricing should be around $250.

 

When you dye/work/tool this leather the looks will be more to your liking.  You mentioned you didn't like the finish? It doesn't have a finish....That will be your job.   If you don't like this piece, you probably should look into a different tannage/leather,  something chrome tanned with an aniline top coat.   No other tannery will produce a cleaner, smoother veg tanned leather at any sort of affordable price than HO

 

 

Edited June 3, 2024 by Cumberland Highpower

[palehorse]

I just got off the phone with their general manager.  He's a really nice guy.  We went through a lengthy conversation about the leather, the condition, etc.  Based on what I'm gathering, he's saying that the scuffs, burnish marks, etc. are just an artifact of handling and can't be avoided.  He also said that the wrinkles and other issues of that sort are more due to the fact that HO (and other domestic tanneries) are limited to using some extremely large cattle... this isn't the case with imported hides from smaller animals that will have shorter lives, less size, and less inconsistencies in the visuals of the leather.  Honestly, it all sounds reasonable.

That being said, he said that the discoloration in the photos isn't something that is acceptable and warrants a return / exchange.  However, I was told that he didn't want to just replace it with something else that I"m going to complain was almost the same as what I returned.  I asked him to grab a side that he was personally comfortable was a fair representation of what SLC could provide as graded A by HO, inspect and approve it, and send it over.  I want to be reasonable and I also want to know what to expect in the future.  At the risk of spending $$ on something that will disappoint me, taking this course of action is a learning experience, I guess.  If the replacement comes in looking very similar, which it very well might, I guess I will actually carve up a piece and see how it goes.  Like Cumberland said above, perhaps I need to actually use it and see what it produces.  As I said, I don't want to come off as unreasonable... so I'll do that much and then decide if it works for me or not.  My personal experience is limited to buying hides from various Tandy locations.  I've seen lots of hides and bought lots of hides, but if they all fit into the framework of what SLC's manager said above about imported veg tan, I guess it would make sense that it is more "clean and even" in appearance in the shop.

Thanks again for your input, everyone; as well as providing alternatives in case the HO doesn't work.  I have a reasonable amount of experience for a hobbyist, but I'm not a pro and have a lot to learn so I welcome the advice.  I would also say that I'm impressed with the treatment I got from the staff at Springfield.  I wasn't thrilled with the side (right or wrong, it's yet to be seen); but they are doing all the right things so far.  Even if I don't end up deciding that buying future leather from them is the right thing for me personally, I wouldn't have a problem purchasing other related goods from them.  I do wish I had two or three grand laying around to place a direct order with HO for a bunch of sides... that would probably be enough leather to last me years.  

[Doc Reaper]

I don't know what grade you order but from where I'm sitting it looks like number two possibly a number three, I had a problem with Tandy where they sent me a side of Leather, but the hole in it was big enough for two large men to fit through Drew was manager at that time. We all have to go through it. When you get a chance, just give him a call on the phone. Tell em what you got. 

[HandyDave]

A place I have used many times online that doesn't get brought up very often is Frogjelly Leather. They are near fort worth and I think they have a store front. Might be worth checking out 

[Mablung]

31 minutes ago, HandyDave said:

A place I have used many times online that doesn't get brought up very often is Frogjelly Leather. They are near fort worth and I think they have a store front. Might be worth checking out 

The business certainly has an attention-demanding name. 

[CdK]

14 hours ago, jrdunn said:

@palehorse & @WendlingKnives,  For you and other DFW guys, you might look into Makers Leather Supply.  They are north of Waco.  I haven't visited their store but have ordered from them.  They have treated me right.  It seems to me like overall leather prices have went up and quality has went down in the last few years.  If I were closer, I would definitely visit their store.  JM2C,  Jim

https://makersleathersupply.com/

I have been a player in the crapshoot that is online ordering of leather. I recently did a road trip and visited Makers Leather Supply and left there with a good feeling, loaded truck and lighter wallet. Being able to select your own hides/sides in the warehouse and the helpful, welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly attitude of the staff was refreshing.

I went through a number of HO sides and all of them were way better than any veg tan I had ever seen at my local Tandy store. Their offerings of what they call Texas Oak is also very good. They stock a large variety of other types of hides as well.

I live about 6 hours travel from their warehouse but I would do the trip again, if needed. If you are in need of any leather and cannot stop in yourself, call them and explain what you are looking for.

[Cattleman]

I can speak from experience... Most all blemishes can be hidden with tooling. My first HO side was an "Economy Grade" from SLC... It had many bot marks, a few butcher cuts, and the entire but had a signifcant amount of rawhide left in it on the flesh side.

 

Even with all that ive never been able to see even a flicker of thise blemishes once it was tooled... And the rawhide in the butt turned out to work EXCELLENT for pancake knife sheaths, I've even had a couple customers say those sheaths "click" almost better than a molded Kydex sheath.

[Hags]

Goliger leather in California sells HO. Reasonably priced, and the branded hides are a bargain. Some of the brands are cool and I can work them into a note book cover or some thing. You'll  have to call them, you can see product and pricing online,  it's cant order online. Tell Cheryl that Gary in Sequim sent you. Ask for some HO tags and stickers. They'll include them for free. Cheryl explained to me that any stores buy large tannery runs and grade them themselves.  They buy A and B grades from HO. I buy the branded a and b grades and while not perfect, they are very nice in my opinion.

[CNHLeather]

I know I'm late to the party but yeah as far as SLC I used to buy 90% of my leather from them before the pandemic usually HO single shoulders and harness by the foot as I'm just a hobbist.  But during the pandemic i bought a cobra 26 from them and some HO by the foot and a couple of shoulders and man i was extremely disappointed  both shoulders were oxidized and a dark pink color and 1 looked like it had been shot with bird shot.  i haven't bought anything from them in a while infact the best piece of leather i have ever received was from a FB live sale and it was supposedly a HO reject.  Makers in Waco has never disappointed me nor has Traditions in OKC and if im on a budget Frogjelly   

[Sheilajeanne]

This is why I'm so disappointed that the local Tandy's (a 30 minute drive away) closed down recently. There's no substitute for being able to pick a piece of leather in person. Even then, I found when Tandy had their sales, you had to get there early if you wanted a really nice piece!