Recommended Leather Suppliers (US)

[matthewb137]

Besides your basic companies such as Tandy, Springfield, and Weaver to name some, I'm interested in hearing of some other companies you guys use. I'd preferably like to start sourcing leather from smaller, much more high quality companies/tanneries. Or even if there's any in other countries that have a decent shipping cost overseas. Give a shout with who you use or who you know. It's greatly appreciated!

[LatigoAmigo]

I frequented Maverick Leather Company (were in Petaluma, CA... now in Bend, OR). Wonderful people, good product line (Horween CXL, more). 877/845-0080. www.maverickleathercompany.com

Now I shop at the Hide House in Napa, CA. Fantastic selection of leather, great customer service. 800/453-2847. www.hidehouse.com

[CaptQuirk]

Depends on what part of the country you are in. In the SouthEast, there aren't many options outside of Tandy. They are a 3-4 hour drive away, but I can get an order in 2 days. I'm giving RJF a try, but he's upstate N.Y. There is also The Leather Guy, but I have yet to see anything I really want from him. The Buckle Guy is a good place for hardware, but they also have better tanned leathers.

[billybopp]

Where you buy, in part, depends on what you are looking for .. If you want vegetable tanned leather, there are two tanneries left in the US and both make great leather - and you can buy from them directly - both offer tooling leather, saddle skirting, bridle leather, etc.

Hermann Oak is considered by many to be the best, but there is a minimum order which is a bit much for most hobbyists.  

Wickett & Craig is the other veg tannery and they also sell to the public with no minimum quantity.  

Bill

[matthewb137]

I'm from the northeast US. Northeast PA to be exact. But due to my work schedule I usually just have everything shipped to me rather than go and get it myself. I usually get thicker leather (about 10oz) for the radio straps, helmet bands, etc I make, but am looking for something more 13-15oz in weight. I'm also on the hunt for a good exotic supplier such as gator. Watches have always been a big passion of mine, so I'm looking at getting into watch bands when the time comes. I'd also like a good English bridle supplier for wallets and such. So really I'm looking for

1) good, heavyweight leather such as Hermann Oak which I have a side of now, but it wasn't too great (although that may be because it was from Tandy)

2) a good exotic supplier

3) a good supplier for English bridle

4) a horween supplier for further down the road

[keplerts]

American Leather Direct.  Aleatherd.com

[TwoCelts]

I use Zack White. They have a huge selection of just about everything and are reasonably priced.

[alpha2]

I just tried Hide House for the first time. They transposed two numbers on the part number for my 7/8 premium tooling double shoulder, sent Tobacco 9/8 dbl shoulder, I caught it when I saw their tracking info, called them and just missed the fedex pickup, but they cancelled the delivery and immediately sent the proper stuff...or so I thought. It was labelled 7/8, but it was about 50% or more 5/6, the most of the rest 6/7, with only the top right corner actually 7/8. Trying to decide what to do now. I don't need almost an entire order of 5/6 - 6/7, I have that, I need a double shoulder of at least mostly 7/8! What has been your experience with the weight of the leather being at least mostly what you need, and ordered?

[tomsmith85717]

3 hours ago, alpha2 said:

 they cancelled the delivery and immediately sent the proper stuff...or so I thought. It was labelled 7/8, but it was about 50% or more 5/6, the most of the rest 6/7, with only the top right corner actually 7/8. Trying to decide what to do now. I don't need almost an entire order of 5/6 - 6/7, I have that, I need a double shoulder of at least mostly 7/8! What has been your experience with the weight of the leather being at least mostly what you need, and ordered?

Call them and tell them just that. Followed by strike 2. Then ask them what they want to do.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

On 7/26/2017 at 0:29 PM, matthewb137 said:

1) good, heavyweight leather such as Hermann Oak which I have a side of now, but it wasn't too great (although that may be because it was from Tandy)

2) a good exotic supplier

3) a good supplier for English bridle

4) a horween supplier for further down the road

This is everything I have gleaned from this site, other's tales, and my own experience.

1) The "best" Hermann Oak is ordered directly from HO, as that's the only way to guarantee the highest quality, properly- graded HO. Tandy does NOT sell Hermann Oak, although they try to confuse customers with their nomenclature; many have purchased veg tan from Tandy they were happy with, but it almost always costs more than quality materials from WC, HO, or others. Purchasing smaller, real-world amounts of HO seems to have uneven results, and you can research many recent threads on this site about other's experiences. Wickett and Craig is very high quality, and can be purchased direct from the tannery, although they also have resellers. 

2) I don't care for exotics/ the reasons behind them, so I won't even try. 

3) True English Bridle is a British leather product, like Clayton's Sedgewick, and can be sourced direct in a huge quantity; they just posted something on here the other day about seconds being available soon to Americans. Moore Pearsall in Canada sources Clayton's products ( tannerywarehouse.com , although their website isn't terribly customer-oriented, but their employees are very knowledgeable). American- made "English" style bridle is tanned at HO, WC, and Thoroughbred Leather, among others, and can be purchased through the tanneries or via resellers. 

4) Horween can be purchased directly from Tannery Row; it can be pricey, and you must plan ahead, as your order will take weeks/ months, but you will, again, be purchasing a top-quality product, in exactly the tannage/color you require. Horween can also be purchased from resellers and smaller shops, most notably Maverick, which usually deals with 2nd-quality sides, but in some tannages/colors receives over-runs and closeouts of better quality; the Buckleguy currently sells Horween by the cut piece. 

Individual sellers often pop up on this board selling excess product, scraps, and things they just want to clear out, in the Classified section; you have the power of the community keeping them above-board.

Hopefully this helps someone, as questions like this come up all-to-often.

- Elizabeth