Cordovan leather

[kybowman]

Anybody know where I can get some cordovan leather? Tandy leather does not have any, I just called them.

I make my own tabs from calfhair and want to try to make some from cordovan. I have tried some commercial cordovan tabs but none can compare with what I'm used to using. I guess you get used to a certain type of tab after a long while.  :(

[joe ashton]

I really like a single layer cordovan tab.  I'll be watching this thread.....

[FerretWYO]

Try brenttuns village leather that is where I got some. A while back.

[razorsharptokill]

Try midcontinent leather in Coweta Okla. Itsa mile from my house. They are a Tandy dealer but hey have a pretty good stock.

[kybowman]

thanks Ferret

[kybowman]

thanks Razor

[moebow]

You might also try to "search" on that big aution site.  That's where I got mine

[Indie]

Watch out, you´ll probably want shell cordovan, not just any horse leather...

Stefan

[kybowman]

What's shell cordovan? How many skins does a horse have??    :confused:

[FerretWYO]

Cordovan is a very special kind of leather. It is made from the upper outside of the horses rump. A "shell" is the name for a whole peice of cordovan. They vary in size a whole shell can be big as 20in or as small as 8in.

Shell Cordovan is the only real cordovan. Anything else is just horse leather.

Cordovan is tanned in a very special way. It take six months to complete the process. It is hand died and hand polised at the completion of the vegtable tanning. This is how it gets its shine and durability.

[Shakes.602]

You might try Mikes Archery Leather! A Sponsor here and One Heck of a Nice Guy!!

[2fletch]

We have a fair amount of cordovan, and might be able to spare some at a reasonably price. We buy it direct from Horween in Chicago but there usually is a waiting period and I believe that you have to be a dealer. If you are still looking give  me a hollar and I'll give you a price for a shell.

[FerretWYO]

Don is good stuff. I have purchased it from him as well. In fact I asked hime about some the other day. He just emailed me back about it. I better send some money.

[kybowman]

Thanks Don,
           I really appreciate the reply.

kybowman

[LCH]

Kybowman just get a tab from Don they are great.LCH

[Dave Bulla]

Horween is the company I've heard is the only actual supplier of real cordovan.  Well, I take that back....not sure if it was supplier or maker.  Probably maker.

Just be aware, I've asked about cordovan tabs and was told by one shop owner "Heck, I can make any tab cordovan in a couple seconds with a bottle of dye, it's just a color of stain."  I couldn't believe it.  But if one dealer thinks that way, there could be more.

[Indie]

Shell Cordovan is used for some special high priced shoes...
There isn´t so much of that stuff around, because there is only a few square inches per horse.
In the old times there were more of the big working horses and they had bigger butts where the shell comes from.

Shell cordovan is treated a special way and you use the flesh side outside.

You have to be careful with the treatment of the cordovan.
It needs waxing only not oiling if I remember right.

But better read about it again...

Stefan

Just found this on Horween website:
 http://horween.com/index.php/about/gallery/

There is a video about the shell cordovan where you can see how it´s produced

[2fletch]

Dave, I have been told the same thing. Horween is the only one now processing cordovan. That's where I buy it and it's a long waiting list. I believe that I had to buy about 10 shells per order.

Cordovan is also a color. Before I found a source for cordovan I bought a "genuine cordovan" jacket off ****. I didn't really think it was cordovan, but decided it would be worth taking a chance, so I bought it. It wasn't.

[FerretWYO]

Don how many shells do they let you buy as a dealer.

[Mike Lee]

A few years back I bought a piece of cordovan from
Siegel of California and it did have the Horween name stamped on the back side. Horween will only sell to dealers.

Mike Lee