Dan-O
Member
Been toting my horse backed kydex hybrid on the trails with most of the kahr lineup. Been doing IWB with crappy athletic shorts. Things are staying where they must. Very impressed so far.
Horse leather
- Thread starter Dan-O
- Start date
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Dan-O
Member
Wish the restrictions on horse would lift.
jar
Contributing Member
What restrictions?
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Dan-O
Member
I am probably wrong, but I thought horse hides/leather were no longer for sale in the USA.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,950
Not illegal, just hard to find, since there is no horse meat slaughter.
For my life in contact with horsehide as it has been, I wouldn't wear it.
jar
Contributing Member
It's for sale. In fact I have a Kramer Horsehide holster for my Browning BDM being made that should be ready around the end of July or so.
herrwalther
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,130
I invested in horse hide holsters from White Hat when they were still in business. Glad I did as it is far more durable than cow hide.
It's weird that you say that, on my maternal grandmother's side, I come from a long long line of leatherworkers and all of the living ones say that horsehide is the lowest quality hide. However, I'm actually the first (albeit amateur compared to them) holster maker in my family, so it could be that horsehide doesn't make boot or belt material.
earlthegoat2
Member
Horween still processes good amounts of horsehide.
I buy a lot of their scraps which are generally butts and second quality cuts which is what holsters are likely made of since that is all that is usually available. There is huge demand for horsehide products and that also helps the illusion of it not being available.
Shell cordovan is something you have probably heard of. It is a horse product and is virtually untouchable as a raw product by common means. Luxury shoe manufacturers usually have first dibs.
Anyway it is still available as I just checked my usual suppliers.
I buy a lot of their scraps which are generally butts and second quality cuts which is what holsters are likely made of since that is all that is usually available. There is huge demand for horsehide products and that also helps the illusion of it not being available.
Shell cordovan is something you have probably heard of. It is a horse product and is virtually untouchable as a raw product by common means. Luxury shoe manufacturers usually have first dibs.
Anyway it is still available as I just checked my usual suppliers.
jar
Contributing Member
What I can say with a fair amount of confidence is that a well made cow leather holster will still last longer than most of it's owners.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
Vedder still does horse lined with kydex.
trackskippy
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 3,510
As far as holsters go, especially IWB type holsters, I agree. Might as well be a sponge.
All depends on the user and how the holster is used. Prior to kydex showing up, horse or cowhide, I usually used to go through at least one holster a year, and they werent cheap holsters either.
If you are active and sweat, leather sucks as a holster material, especially an IWB type holster. Its also more destructive to the gun, and not real friendly to your body.
I still have the first Blade Tech kydex IWB holster I bought almost 30 years ago now, and used on a daily basis for a little over 10 years, and its still as serviceable as it was the day I bought it.
JTQ
Member
It's just a terminology thing, but they don't really line their horsehide holsters with kydex. They have hybrid holsters that offer a horsehide panel.
https://www.vedderholsters.com/comforttuck-iwb-hybrid-holster/
For instance, Garret does line their kydex holsters with leather https://www.giholsters.com/product-p/hst1000.htm
and High Noon uses a polymer strip inside their holsters mouths (they offer horsehide models) to keep them open. https://highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/iwb-holsters/extreme-duty/down-under
Bottom Gun
Member
My holsters of choice are the Kramer horsehide scabbards. They are comfortable and incredibly durable. In decades of use, I've never had to replace one.
JTQ
Member
I haven't seen any restrictions, but I have seen quite a few comments from makers that they are having a hard time getting long pieces for belt making. Those same makers haven't commented on issues for holsters, though.
