Chap Leather

[Grenadier]

I am planning on making a pair of shotgun chaps over the summer and I am curious as to what type of leather those of you who have made them chose to use. I was considering 4 to 6 oz oil tan.

[Camano Ridge]

Do you have a specific purpose for the chaps - show, working, riding, part of cowboy persona or just for the heck of it?

[Grenadier]

Just for the heck of it and I do not want costume stuff. If I am going to spend the time handsewing them, I want them to be authentic.

[ChuckBurrows]

For real life working chaps you have a couple of choices dependent on how PC/HC you want to be:

1) Pre-1880 use 3/4 oz bark/veg tan. While the method for chrome tanning hides (chap hides are generally chrome tanned or in the case of most oil tanned, first chromed then oiled) was first developed in the 1860's it did not become commercially available is the USA until 1880 +/- 2 years the first patent date in the USA is 1879 and England 1878.

2) After 1880, I would use the 5/6 oz hides generally called chap hides, but any good chrome/oil tan - IMO best with a naked face - is the most commonly used than and now.

Of course there is no absolute cutoff date for the bark tan since some makers continued to use into the very early 1900's, but there is a pretty solid beginning date fro chrome tan usage so if history is important I wouldn't use it for a pre-1880's impression.

[dwight55]

Grenadier, . . . just a suggestion, . . . take a look at motorcycle chaps, . . . or commercially produced Western chaps. 

The reason I suggest that, . . . they will have both the leather and the hardware you need.  Buy a pair that is knowingly and for sure TOOOOOO big for you, . . . then you can cut them down, . . . decorate them, . . . and re-sew them to your hearts content.

I just bought a little over $200 worth of leather for chaps for two young ladies, . . . small ladies, . . . and they will barely be enough leather, . . . and that is before the bling, buckles, zippers, etc.

Good luck, . . . I am almost done on mine, . . . I'm not a stickler for authenticity, . . . got a good deal on some suede, . . . am using it for mine.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Cliff Fendley]

Chuck is an encyclopedia of knowledge, thanks again for the great info.