Where Do You Buy Leather?

[billymac814]

I may be incorrect here but I think the Chahin leather is what weavers sells as theirs. I think the tannery is in Mexico but they use US hides. I bought some once because I needed a pice quicker than I could get it from WC and it was OK but I much prefer Wickett and Craig over that. They also sell Herman oak but when I looked into getting that from them it seemed like a crap shoot since its TR. if rather order directly from WC and be able to choose what grade I'm getting and their prices are very reasonable even for the best grade and it is not only flawless it is very smooth. They will also provide little American flag tags which is a nice touch for retail items.

Do you know which leather weaver makes themselves? What do they call it because they don't advertise it but when asked the source of certain no name leather they say its a secret. I assume its that.

Do you know who tans their leather? Is it USA?

[tina67888]

How do you know they sell chain as theirs? When I ask where certain leather comes from they say they can't say? Any inside info?

With w/c some of their stock doesn't seem reliable if buying 1 or 2, you could wait weeks for them to tan a batch. Not good for business.

[awharnessshop]

It says right in weaver that it's tanned in chanin tannery.... They even indicate the products used in their production. I think leather is six of one, half a dozen of anther. A lot of it has to do with the specific side. I use bridle and harness and have used most of the tanneries. This year I bought half a dozen sides from American leather direct, and half a dozen from thoroughbred leather. they're different leather for sure, in my opinion as good as, if not better than wickett and Craig, or Hermann oak for my application. I think it's important to talk to your leather guy and tell him what you're using it for!

[tina67888]

when you say right in weaver, do you mean the catlogue? yes, they distingush some leather from HO and Ch, but their are other hides like shoulders and dbl backs that have no brand. when i called them to ask for the brand they said they can not say. i was wondering if anyone has info on those brands in particular. are they chanin?

[PappyUSA]

I just got in a HO 8/9 side “B grade ” from Springfield and I'm very happy with it. With my tax id on file I got a better price than I normally get from Weaver. I like the fact that I don't have to try and get lucky with Weaver's tannery run.

[keithhatter]

Weaver or W&C are the only way to go as far as price. I have been ordering from them since 2007 and have never heard of a minimum order restriction. I have tried several other companies and no one can beat the prices while sustaining quality at the same time. If I need something in a pinch I will go to TLF because of SLC charging folk to get the best price.

Weaver sells IMPORTED, HO and CH leather. I have no idea of where they get the imported leather (if I had to guess it still comes from mexico and is just Mexican hides...) and it is hit and miss with quality. I like the Ch leather, but it depends on what you are getting... The strap hides tend to be softer than I like but the latigo and harness are great. And you are not going to get HO cheaper anywhere else.

Edited March 13, 2013 by keithhatter

[tina67888]

I have to ask another question again, how do you know it is imported HO? If I remember correctly the cat says USA steer leather?

[Spinner]

I have to ask another question again, how do you know it is imported HO? If I remember correctly the cat says USA steer leather?

I think you missed the comma tina...HO hides are not imported.

Weaver sells IMPORTED, HO and CH leather.

Another good source for HO A & B grade is Goliger Leather in Ventura, CA if it's close enough. I buy all of my HO through them as I like to buy only 2-3 hides at a time so I can take advantage of Carlos picking my leathers for me out of the new batches. He does a great job if you let him know exactly what you are looking for and I never get a piece with less than 75-80% yield.

[Cyberthrasher]

Another good source for HO A & B grade is Goliger Leather

How much does that A grade run? I like my B grade, but you never know

[Spinner]

How much does that A grade run? I like my B grade, but you never know

I checked an invoice that was next to my desk and the total with shipping was $397.22 for 2 hides totaling 46 sq. ft. of extra clean 5/6 A grade. I live 2 hours away from Goliger so figure the shipping was about $36 and that makes the price per square foot about $7.87 or thereabouts. They are very nice, a light russet color and generally the main body has a good hand, tools very well and wet forms & dyes just as nicely.

I have tried all of Tandy's offerings, Springfield, W&C, ALD, Weaver and SLO making the same request each time of all of them. Goliger is the only one that consistently delivers on quality. SLO would be next. The surface temper of A grade HO is so much smoother and holds tooling much better than anything the others stock including W&C in my opinion. I spent over $14k on tooling leather hides last year to give you an idea of how much of a sampling I've seen from Goliger's HO stocking. Out of all those hides, only 1 was difficult to work with and all the rest provided at least 75% yield (including belly, neck and butt ends) overall.

Hope that helps!

Chris