Is this Leather Hide Normal Grade A or Bad?

[fernwehleather]

Hey Everyone! 
 

I wasn’t sure where to post this question, but I thought if there are any suppliers reading this, maybe you can chime in as well…

I bought some really nice and expensive vegetable tanned leather ($300 each hide) from a highly reputable tannery here in the US. (I don’t want to call them out on here.)

My question is, I ordered 3 hides from them in 8-9 oz. I was disappointed as most of the leather was 7.5oz (I can live with it but it’s not what I expected) and one of them had ALOT of bumpy lines in it….over half the hide. I complained and sent them the attached pic and video of the bumpy leather but they said that it’s still considered top quality and that it won’t be as not noticeable once I make products out of it. (Unfortunately I had already cut the very side of the hide to start making straps so I couldn’t return it but they initially said they could maybe give me a refund to be used on a future purchase…which I’d be fine with as it was my fault for not looking closely when I first opened it up). They however have since 

ghosted me. I can’t believe this is really grade A as I’ve ordered many hides and have never had this issue. I’m including the video I sent to them. Is this really normal for grade A hides? I feel at a loss and highly disappointed. Id like to reorder but don’t want to run into the same problem in the future. 

 

 

 

[fredk]

I can't access the video

But from what I can see that is not Grade A.  More like C or lower. The hide should be smooth all over. And you got thinner than you ordered. No excuse for that. About 7.8 oz for 8 minimum. 8 to 9 should be 7.8 min to 9.2 max

 

[fernwehleather]

Also, now that I think about it, I mind as well also ask…I had bought the 8-9 ounces for making leather straps for tote bags. Do you think the 7.5 ounces will still be okay? 

[BlackDragon]

In my book that is not grade A.

It almost looks like they let it dry in a roll and when you lay it flat it wrinkles. The color looks to dark as well, like it sat exposed to sunlight.

 

[kgg]

1 hour ago, fernwehleather said:

I ordered 3 hides from them in 8-9 oz.

IMHO:

i) If I had purchased a Grade A, B, C or lower I expect the vendor to choose what I purchased if I'm buying it sight unseen. I am relying on their expertise / reputation.

ii) If I had purchased the hides as 8 / 9 oz and they measured out with a proper leather thickness gauge or by micrometer to be equal to 7.5 oz I would have returned them regardless. I expect they would be at a minimum of 8 oz everywhere on the hide. Otherwise I would have bought 7/ 8 oz.

iii) If I purchased Grade A hides I expect near as possible to perfection over the whole hide, no cuts or wriggles and a consistent colour as I did notice a dark line in your first photo up the length of the hide. 

I wonder if some of those wriggles going across the width of the hide on the right hand side of the hide in your first photo were cause by it being rolled too tight during storage or shipment to you.

As a side question what was the laser measurement on the back side of the hides? Did you do a rough check to see you got the square footage you asked for??

If possible it is always wise to go and select your own hides to avoid the frustrations you are having.

Who was the leather produced by, not the vendor?

kgg

[fredk]

1 hour ago, fernwehleather said:

Also, now that I think about it, I mind as well also ask…I had bought the 8-9 ounces for making leather straps for tote bags. Do you think the 7.5 ounces will still be okay? 

Yes, 7.5 = 3mm, 8 = 3.2mm, 9 = 3.6mm, not much difference really. I use 2.5mm max = 6 oz

[JLSleather]

That's ATROCIOUS 🤢

Yer a bigger feller'n me, cuz i'd be "callin em out" at will.  I'm LOUD... NOBODY gets to ignore me. Treat me right, get me a fair deal, and I'll tell everybody for you.  But stick me with something like this, I'll tell folks that just as often.  Don't like it, should have sent me what I paid for.

As for bag straps, I'm kinda picky.  I like to see the strap made from the same hide as the bag - perfect color match now and as it ages.  And I like LINED straps, so if I have to I'll split it ... like as in if I'm making 8 oz somethings... I might split a couple of straps down to 4 oz and sew them together to end up with 8 oz that match the bag (realistically, only the "view" side needs to match, but I can be .... thorough  )

Looks like yer up Sharon's way... she likely fergot more about leather n most of us ever figger out.  She still stompin round here? Maybe she pop in with a word abot what ta do here, though... fair warning ... she sounds a bit like me

 

[JLSleather]

Oh, and this is what a Hermann Oak "A" hide looks like.  Much of what others are selling as "A" or "B" is really "D".  Aside from direct from H.O., only place i've got consistently GOOD hides was from Goliger Leather (CA).
The top pic is the "shoulder" section, and some fat wrinkles as shown are common and not a problem.  The bottom pic is the "bend" of the hide, which is the back section after the shoulder has been cut off.  And obviously, the middle pic is a closeup of the grain, which is nearly entirely blemish free.
Prolly we all dun seen those "ads" and "buddy talks" where somebody tries to tell you marks, brands, scratches, bug bites, wrinkles, and crinkles "add charm" to a piece of leather. I say, keep your "charming" crap and send me what I paid for