Recent Skirting Leather Back From Wickett & Craig With Too Much Belly Included?

[RawhideLeather]

I just received the skirting leather back I ordered from Wickett & Craig and it seems there is too much belly area included for a back. If you look at the lower right area of the back I got you will see it has been cut all the way down to the top of the front right leg. If you compare that to the images below it showing a diagram of different leather cuts, you can plainly see that much of the belly was included. To orientate the images to mesh with mine mentalIy rotate the first image 180 degrees and the 2nd image clockwise 90 degrees. I guess I should have just bought a side since it's cheaper per square foot. What do you guys think? Is this how your backs look too? Just doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps I should call them out on this one...

And here's another one:

Edited February 13, 2015 by RawhideLeather

[mlapaglia]

Why dont you call and ask them?

[Colt Hammerless]

If you're talking about the area at the upper right corner, that may be part of the neck. Feel the temper on both the area at the top that you think may be belly (not just the part that juts out, but the whole length) , then on the other side where it's cut straight. The least firm of the two should give you your answer.

Paul

[RawhideLeather]

If you're talking about the area at the upper right corner, that may be part of the neck. Feel the temper on both the area at the top that you think may be belly (not just the part that juts out, but the whole length) , then on the other side where it's cut straight. The least firm of the two should give you your answer.

Paul

Hi Paul, Thanks for the reply. I'm talking about the bottom right corner as I said, not the upper right corner which is the neck area as you said and is included in a back piece (as per the diagrams). I do know what the belly area looks and feels like and where it is located on the hide (the bottom side in my photo). I was mainly after other people's opinions as to whether or not this is normal these days or is it excessive. According to both diagrams it appears excessive.

[Colt Hammerless]

Don't know whether it's excessive or not, but I just checked a skirting back I got a couple months back from W&C (that I've cut very little out of so far. The others don't have enough left to tell,) and mine has the same amount as yours, with the same size cutout for the front leg.

Paul

[RawhideLeather]

So I'm guessing that it doesn't bother you very much. Honestly, it still does me. Perhaps some others will chime in.

[Colt Hammerless]

I'd like to see others' experience as well. I'm trying to remember how much was on the other back that I've cut a bunch into. That one was the best chunk of leather I've ever had, so it probably didn't have as much as my other one (which I bought at the same time.)

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I have rarely bought backs, one of the reasons being exactly what you describe; too much belly left on it. Furthermore, I never felt that they give you enough for the belly to warrant letting them keep it. I realize that many people may not be able to find a use for the belly, and so rather than pay for leather they'll never use, they save a few bucks over buying a side and buy the backs instead. But to answer your question, I don't think what you're seeing is at all unusual. The backs I've gotten have all run down into pretty soft leather in the flank and armpit area. When I start cutting a side that will be cut into straps, I always cut the belly off so I have 3 straight edges to cut from. And I'll usually cut higher than what I would receive if I had ordered a back. I feel it just gives me a little more flexibility in cutting to do it that way.

[RawhideLeather]

I have rarely bought backs, one of the reasons being exactly what you describe; too much belly left on it. Furthermore, I never felt that they give you enough for the belly to warrant letting them keep it. I realize that many people may not be able to find a use for the belly, and so rather than pay for leather they'll never use, they save a few bucks over buying a side and buy the backs instead. But to answer your question, I don't think what you're seeing is at all unusual. The backs I've gotten have all run down into pretty soft leather in the flank and armpit area. When I start cutting a side that will be cut into straps, I always cut the belly off so I have 3 straight edges to cut from. And I'll usually cut higher than what I would receive if I had ordered a back. I feel it just gives me a little more flexibility in cutting to do it that way.

Thanks for you input. My reasoning for ordering backs is just as you said, I have no use for belly leather, so I don't want to pay extra shipping cost to get it and then have to store it or discard it. I also prefer the smaller size of a back as it is a bit easier to handle (assuming it is cut correctly). And then, I just plain dislike belly leather. If this type of cut for backs is the norm nowadays then the diagrams I posted are either from a past when leather actually was cut that way (as I believe to be the case) or they are just plain incorrect, wouldn't you agree?

Comparing my back to both diagrams it seems I am getting almost all of the belly. So perhaps I should just order sides since the cost is cheaper and I'm paying the higher back price for belly leather anyways. I just hate the thought of having to throw away even more leather.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I hate to give anyone bad advice, so take this for what it cost you. I agree that the backs are easier to handle. The older I get, the more it hurts to lift and move stuff around. I'm getting quite a bit of arthritis in my hands, so anything I can do to reduce/eliminate things that cause pain, I do it. BUT, I'm not going to quit buying sides and go to backs. I really doubt that shipping difference is going to be significant on the backs. Would there be a market for the bellies in your area? On some leathers, the belly is mostly waste for me, but others (harness leather in particular) I can utilize most of it. If I have scrap that is of totally no use to me, I bag it up and take it to a local auction. While it used to bring more than it has the last times I did it, it usually brought enough to pay for supper out and my fuel, and I always combined the trip with other things I had to do in town (like Walmart). Now most of that scrap was pretty well used up, and I've never taken pieces as large as a belly, but I don't doubt it would bring more than the extra I paid for it because many of those people at the auction just do not have access to the type of leather that I use. Try a side and advertise the belly on Craigs List. You might be surprised. Also, ask W & C if they would trim the backs a little better for you. If you're buying by sq ft or weight, you'll pay less. Of course if you're buying by the piece, then you just give them more for free.

As for the diagrams, I don't know maybe 50 years ago they trimmed better, but I know it hasn't been any different in the last 20 years. I haven't bought a back for at least 10 years, maybe more, but I've never gotten one I considered to be a well trimmed back. Best of luck to you!

[RawhideLeather]

Thanks, there's some good advice there. I live in a pretty small town but might try the Craigslist route. I'm a senior citizen myself and am finding it increasingly difficult to find the quality of many things I purchase to match that of the good old days. I guess leather is just another one of those things nowadays. I appreciate your time in replying. Best of luck to you as well!

Any one else care to comment?

[oltoot]

I don't know if it will fit your situation or not but here is what I do. As a saddlemaker I do have more uses for belly leather in fact, I find that in most bellies they have a pretty firm middle but that's not my way out. Since I live in a pretty rural setting, every so often when my "scrap" gets to be a bit overwhelming I call the local 4H leader and they bring a garbage bag and leave with it full and a biig grin on their faces.

[mlapaglia]

Or a local Boy Scout / Cub Scout troop. They love it also.

Edited February 14, 2015 by mlapaglia

[catskin]

From what I have read, a lot of places have changed the way they cut hides at the tanneries. It used to be that they cut the hide from end to end in 3 with the spine position in the middle to call it a back and the other lower pieces were the bellies. Now they tend to cut them down the spine and trim a smaller strip of that they consider belly. This way they get 2 (backs ) from a hide and less belly . that way they sell more at back price and less at belly price.

Edited February 23, 2015 by catskin