Where do you buy your leather?

Oregon Bill · December 14, 2005, 04:01:25 PM

We used to have a Tandy outlet here, and even if prices were a little high, it was nice to be able to take a pattern down and sort through the chunks of vegetable tan to find a good piece. Looks now like I'm going to have to buy over the Net, or on out-of-town trips.

Marshal Will Wingam · December 14, 2005, 04:38:36 PM

I get mine from Golliger Leather. They're a good outfit and their leather is top quality.

Golliger Leather Co, Inc.
1580 Saratoga Ave., Unit A
Ventura, CA 93003
800-423-2329
888-44-HIDES
Fax: 805-650-1742

They'll ship it right to you.

I'm also going to "sticky" this so as pards put their contact information in, it will be available for quick reference.

Nolan Sackett · December 15, 2005, 04:27:20 PM

Wickett & Craig - www.wickett-craig.com - IMO the best of the best
Demers Leather - www.demersleather.com
Colorado Leather - 719-633-8722
Siegel of Ca - www.siegelofca.com
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 www.midcontinentleather.com/

Doc Neeley · December 15, 2005, 05:07:17 PM

I buy most of my leather from Siegels also.

Guano · December 20, 2005, 11:58:43 PM

Oregon Bill, I just found this place in Eugene and bought alot of stuff. They have more than Huff's ever did. Does your interest in leather mean your getting ready to start Cowboy Action Shooting in Ashland?

http://www.oregonleatherco.com/

Dakota Widowmaker · December 22, 2005, 07:33:03 AM

Tandy Leather has a pretty good sale on right now for 8-10oz stuff. I bought 15.6ssq-ft of shoulders for $3.99/sq-ft.

The local shop I go to has a pretty good assortment and will order up what they don't have. They also give me internet prices on the spot if I bring in a printout from the website.

Oregon Bill · December 30, 2005, 08:06:09 AM

Hola Guano: Sorry to take so long to see your post. Yes, I hope to show up at the Ashland club heeled here before too long. That's assuming the Ashland club ain't so full of floodwater that we'll have to make it a bass club instead!

Kid Cavalier · February 07, 2006, 07:55:07 PM

I too prefer Wickett & Craig.

Dogface · February 09, 2006, 05:51:23 PM

I almost always use Weaver. Good selection .... nice double bends in 8/9 oz. Good quality custom strap cutting.

Klondike · February 21, 2006, 10:26:08 PM

I've heard a lot of good things about Weaver. have not bought from them yet, but probably will in the future. The variances in the hides from Tandy is signifgant, some carves like butter and in 6" you can barely scratch it. And if you don't prepare for dying there is no telling what color it will come out, very inconsistent.
The down side is I really like to put my hands on the hides and make my choice.

Marshal Will Wingam · February 22, 2006, 12:37:33 AM

Quote from: Klondike on February 21, 2006, 10:26:08 PMThe down side is I really like to put my hands on the hides and make my choice.

I'm with you. I like to feel the leather for consistency, especially on the flesh side. I don't have any suppliers close by, so I have to rely on them to send me good hides. At that, I still end up with some hides that leave a lot of scrap.

Lucky Deuce · March 04, 2006, 10:32:22 AM

Here in Vegas, we have a Tandy Leather store here, also there is a guy who has a permanent set up at one of the local Swap Meets and is there every weekend. There is also a LeatherCraft store, or should I say, a guy who sells/repairs commercial sewing machines also sells some of the LeatherCraft items...his selection is small but when I can't get it at the Tandy store I go there...

Klondike · March 07, 2006, 08:53:08 PM

Will,
I know what you mean about scrap. Some of the "good leather" has so much loose material on the underside that if I start with 9-10 oz, and skive or sand all the crap away I'm lucky to have 3-4 oz. I'm considering just using double shoulders, they seem to be cleaner and more consistent, but much higher. Trouble with shoulders is when you have a fellow that needs a 60" + belt, you have to have a side, Oh well what's a little more leather inventory?

I go into the leather shops and see a hide I just have to have (you know one of those Brindle hair on's or some real good color in a split), no clue what I'm going to use it for yet, but it just calls my name, kinda like a new gun.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 07, 2006, 09:15:48 PM

Quote from: Klondike on March 07, 2006, 08:53:08 PMI go into the leather shops and see a hide I just have to have (you know one of those Brindle hair on's or some real good color in a split), no clue what I'm going to use it for yet, but it just calls my name, kinda like a new gun.

LOL, you're not the only one, there.

Kid Cavalier · March 19, 2006, 05:29:12 PM

New source for good leather.

http://www.thoroughbredleather.com/home.html

Good quality and looks good.

Very comperable to Wickett and Craig, but a little cheaper.

Ask for inspected hides to avoid a lot of fat wrinkles, scars etc...

Thought I'd pass it on.

Kid

ColonelFlashman · April 01, 2006, 04:09:27 AM

My brother or I have made the majority of my Rigs as No One makes them for my Remington, M,H&Co., Webley, Le Mat, Tranter, etc. Pistoles.

I've some originals that I use upon occasion, I've also some Rigs from River Junction, a custome Rig for my Remington from Bachman of Bozeman, Montana

Blackey Cole · April 04, 2006, 12:55:19 AM

I either pick it up at Tandy( tandy Store or the Leather Factory) when I am in Abq or El Paso or if I am noth going out of town and need some for a project I will either call the ABQ store or use Hidecrafters depending on who has the best price on it.

Klondike · April 04, 2006, 03:01:05 PM

I went to the leather store today. Handled and plowed through about 40-45 chap and trim hides and woundup with 12. Some were beautiful till you opened them up all the way, lots of blems, both natural and manmade. If I had bought them sight unseen, I would have a 40% waste factor.
Hey Will, there was two that just kept calling me by name. One was a real nice hair on black and white, the other is a beautiful Euro Upholstery, Black, grained. It has that feel and a bananna smell, absolutely beautiful leather, almost too nice to cut into.

you know the kind I'm talking about.

LOL

Marshal Will Wingam · April 04, 2006, 07:33:22 PM

Quote from: Klondike on April 04, 2006, 03:01:05 PMHey Will, there was two that just kept calling me by name. One was a real nice hair on black and white, the other is a beautiful Euro Upholstery, Black, grained. It has that feel and a bananna smell, absolutely beautiful leather, almost too nice to cut into. you know the kind I'm talking about. LOL

Yeah, I picked up a few of those in the past. Got one that begged to be felt so I made a chair. Came out great.

Remus · April 04, 2006, 08:29:40 PM

;)Good thing I saw this question...it reminded me of a bunch o' danged hide I been storin' up. I bought at auction, about ten years ago, twelve tanned deer hides. At a rummage sale, six already processed buffalo hides that came from a shoe factory, (high gloss black) and a 'Taxidermied' Mountain Lion hide from about forty-fifty year ago! Think I'll run 'em over to Iowa, there's a young Native American couple, husband and wife, that custom make Indian clothing and accessories, scabbards, knife sheaths, etc; may as well git it all used up before it ain't no good!