Is This What Bridle Leather Is Supposed To Look Like?

[MonicaJacobson]

Hey all,

I just bought some Hermann Oak London Tan bridle leather. I was rather disappointed with it when it arrived, and I thought perhaps my assumptions about bridle leather might be completely off.

I'm going to describe my side, and I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me if my side has a problem, or if my expectations have a problem.

I found it to be stiff and dry feeling, with a glazed lacquery coating. There were wrinkles all over it, part from the shipping. There are 1 1/2 ft. darkened scratches in two places. It has other random scratches all over it, some dirty spots, and even a few tiny black spots. I couldn't find a clean place to lay out what I wanted to cut out.

Are my expectations too high? I just finished using a beautiful piece of Horween Dublin from Springfield, and my judgment might be clouded. This cost exactly the same price.... so...

Are scratches par for the course with bridle leather? Does my customer just assume that goes with the name?

Edited November 7, 2014 by MonicaJacobson

[George3]

Hi Monica,

I've been buying sides from Wickitt and Craig, "Show Harness" and have been happy with it, even thief lowest grade comes in nice.

I've bought the middle grade and the bottom grade.

Talk with Mat or Glen they were most helpful

The sides were waxy, oiled well and smooth.

Hope this helps...

George

[MonicaJacobson]

Thank you George. So you don't have an expectation of scratches or wrinkles on normal Bridle Leather?

About W&C bridle leather, how does it do with scratches? Do they rub out? Honestly, I have no idea how bridle leather behaves or wears.

Thanks a lot,

Monica

[George3]

Monica,

I was making a trap today and it had a long scratch, I used a little saddle soap and rubbed it out with a wood burnished, it disappeared.

Short answer...yes.

[MonicaJacobson]

Thanks George, I appreciate it. I think I'll try Wicket & Craig for the next hide, for sure.

As for my hide, I just looked at a lot of semi-expensive bags (http://www.jpmarcellino.com/buckle-cases/major-john-fremont-125-natural.html), and it appears that several of their English Bridle briefcases have marks and wrinkles all over them, and they don't seem to be embarrassed. I was probably being a bit over particular.

[Redochre]

I can't believe the price on that bag!

[MonicaJacobson]

I guess it depends on their costs; if they buy their HO bridle leather from Weaver, it costs 16.00 a foot, roughly. And yes, maybe a few corners were cut, but overall, they look pretty good. What would you charge for something comparable?

This is selling for $600 (or anyway, it's "for sale" for $600, and it's much more simplistic).... http://www.etwasbags.com/collection/standard-no1/

Edited November 8, 2014 by MonicaJacobson

[DavidL]

I haven't bought any expensive leather like bridle leather, this could be the standard seeing as full grain shows all marks. The hide looks to have a lot of cracks especially the third picture. If this was C grade I would be happy with it, B It seems on par, for A grade then I would try WC or from italy, france or germany. Best thing to do is to cut around the marks, cut less important pieces using the marks or use them for distressed pieces.

Even leathers obtained by high end designers has a person dedicated to outline marks and blemishes regardless of the high grade of leather, things they look for also include overall colour. I vaguely remember hearing hermes using 40 percent of certain leathers and burning the wasted leathers (or it may have been unsold goods of either Louis vuitton, Gucci or Hermes that they burned)

Vachetta is the only full grain I know that is nearly completely blemish free because of the environment they live in, something to do with high altitude, no mosquitos or barbwire fences. Anyone reading this that knows of tanneries that do things to ensure the cattle are fed properly, live in a controlled environment and has a good tanning process I would appreciate any leads.

[MonicaJacobson]

The wrinkles I could deal with - it's the scratches, scuffs, and black spots that I was bummed about. It's possible that I'm judging it with the wrong criteria, but I figured it seems right to judge it by unfinished veg tanned standards. I wouldn't buy a piece of veg tanned from Tandy that's all scratched up and has black spots that won't come off, so....

But yes, it probably is Grade C. Up until now, I've always bought what is probably grade C, but since I picked it by hand, I avoided the worst of it. I think this was just an undiscerning grade C, as opposed to a carefully chosen grade C. I guess it's the price you pay for buying online, sometimes. Overall, my online buying experience (though limited) has been very good.

[J Hayes]

Have you talked with the supplier? Most will take back a hide that doesn't meet your standards. Its a pain but a product you cannot use is a bigger pain.