I was surfing a bit and some how ended up at Mernickle Holsters. So I looked around and I could not find what they were made from. So I asked. They use cowhide.

I have a guy in PA that only uses horsehide. Kramer uses horsehide but offers cowhide.

Which is better and why.

Oh, comments on Mernickle?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Horse hide is stiffer for a given "weight", and more durable. It is also more expensive. Cow hide is easier to work with and accepts stamping more readily than horsehide. Horsehide is less affected by moisture and retains its shape fer better if exposed to water as it may be in a duty situation

I have made my own holsters for many years and sold a few. It depends on what I am desiring to accomplish. If I want it pretty and stamped/carved I use cow hide. If I want durability then horse.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Alk8944 is correct! Stiffer, more durable and retains its shape better.

For concealed carry it is always the better choice.

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2B1ASK1

I had a Galco horsehide OWB holster for many years, and it was an outstanding holster. Not sure they even make them anymore, but they are handsome and durable...just not as pretty as some cowhide holsters!

Seems my horsehide holsters have a smoother draw. They fit the pistol better too.

Just my unscientific opinion.


,

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Death? Smile back...

Where are they getting these horses from? I'm curious. Is there a horse meat market in America that I am unaware of?

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Come and take it!!

Red should be along with some cogent comments on the differences, with very few exceptions horsehide wasn’t used by the makers I collect so there aren’t many examples in my collection.




Regards,

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turnerriver

The only horsehide rigs I've knowingly handled are by Kramer. They are damn near as rigid as kydex. However, thicker due to them being natural. His cow rigs are darn rigid also, but with just a bit more discernible give when you squeeze one at the mouth.

I've got a Mernickle OWB holster for a K frame. Very nice, but I wish it had a tension adjustment. That said, I've unfortunately done a few stupid things and the gun stayed put.

We breed cows as a source of food or milk. It's a huge business.

Horses are bred for pleasure riding or horse racing. A winning stallion is used as a stud for the rest of his life. When a riding horse is too old or is no longer capable they are often put up for auction. If no takers they are sent to the "glue factory" in a manner of speaking, or more correctly they are sent to slaughter.

The availability of horse meat and hide is obviously limited. If you check local meat markets you will probably find one that has it for sale. A riding horse on a farm that gets sick is usually put down and then simply buried out in the back 40.

I prefer cowhide if given the choice. It's quieter and looks nicer. I would only consider horsehide for iwb. Just my preference.

A horse was just sold on Yellowstone for $3,000,000. Those holsters must be expensive.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Horses die or get put down every day. Just like cattle, there is a market for their meat and hide. I know a guy who makes holsters, pocketbooks, knife sheaths, etc. and has an agreement with a local equine vet that he gets a call when a horse is put down. It's up to the horse's owner to sell the carcass, but he will skin it himself to get the hide. Horses that die around here go to a spot in the landfill if nobody wants the carcass. Seems like a terrible waste not to use it. We've put down three horses in the last 25 years for colic or founder, nobody took the carcass for anything. They were all in their late 20's, so maybe not prime hides.

I watched this thread for a bit, really didn't want to comment at all because the tale has been told many times.

Simple way to look at it: don't focus on the benefits, just realize that (1) is well established as the premium leather material for gunleather (rarely encountered in belts nowadays) and (2) few makers have ever made horsehide holsters beginning 1950 and (3) almost NO name brand makers produce from it today.

As to (3), the only first quality makers I know of offering horsehide are DeSantis, and Kramer who himself is an ex-DeSantis man. Galco did, don't know that they do now.

Kramer's FAQ on the subject is mostly legend, I have a blog post debunking much of what is on his site about horsehide. So once one finds a maker (avoid the little makers, they make only copies of the proven designs but don't know which elements to keep and which to 'improve')(I recommend DeSantis as a man and a company I have many years' professional experience with) the truly difficult choice is among the styles offered by that company.

Not all styles from a single company are noteworthy. Some ride far too high, for example. So once you've chosen horsehide, and you've chosen a maker, then you have to know 'excellent' design from one you'll throw in your box'o'holsters because you don't understand why it's not comfortable, why it prints under your clothing, why the pistol doesn't release ("needs break-in", which in itself is a myth; "excellent" doesn't need break-in which is a flaw in the making of the holster), why the holster forces you to muzzle yourself (because the carry angle forces it over there).

Point, and I do have one: far too much to know when picking a holster, for the material to even matter. Once you know what perfection is, in design, then you can ask for one in the perfect leather which is horsehide. Kydex can be just as excellent and you really can swim with the SEALS with it (false that horsehide is suited to water).

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The Holstorian

Bought a western holster and belt from Mernickle. Very happy. Quality rig.

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The best I can with what I got

As noted in the photos above, Ken Null only uses horse hide, even in his belts. I have a few examples of his work, and it’s first rate. My two oldest holsters are a Kramer pocket, and a Null ankle rig for an often used J Frame. Both horse hide and are still in great shape and over 20 years old.

I have a couple of Mernickle and they are fine. Horsehide is far superior than cowhide. It is more dense and for the same strength, the material can be thinner, aiding in concealment. I believe it also repels perspiration and moisture far better than cowhide. Ken Null makes arguably the best horsehide holsters. He does not use cowhide on anything so far as I know. No long waits, fair prices, and perfect fit.

I have two horsehide pocket holsters made by El Paso saddlery that are absolutely excellent. They are made wrong side out so outside is rough and inside is very smooth, one of these I carry almost daily and I will never wear it out.

I had a custom holster made holsrer by Bob Mernicle for a snub M66, floral design, basic strap holster. Sort of a BBQ holster and the quality is superb. He has since sold the business and it moved out of Nevada.

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Kevin in Oregon

For what it's worth (and in this case might not be relevant), but many motorcycle gloves are horsehide becuase they don't tear like cowhide.

Milt Sparks has a good explanation on the subject in their FAQ section:

Frequently Asked Questions - Milt Sparks

Correct that this is not relevant here, where we're discussing veg tanned horsehide (moldable). Garment leathers, such as the thin leathers used for m/c equipment, are chrome tanned and by their very nature do not tear. That's why my car seats and my home seating are upholstered in chrome: my large dogs' claws can't damage the painted finishes nor tear the leather itself.

We choose veg leathers for their thickness and moldability. A chrome leather holster will be shapeless and is seen on the IWB holsters with clips; and chosen because chrome is cheaper but also because it is so much thinner.

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The Holstorian

Agree to disagree on that FAQ, and indeed any/all of the claims that come out of the present-day Sparks company; Milt has been dead a very, very long time. For example, horsehide is not 'non-porous' -- how in the heck would we get water into it for moulding if it were!? Kramer has the same claim, and I offer that same rebuttal. Note the pores showing in the attached image, that are no different than cowhide:

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The Holstorian

Better question: How would horses sweat if their hides were non-porous?

Nothing better than a horsehide jacket too.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

My Great Great Uncle was a blacksmith back in the 1800's. When he passed my Grandfather was a young boy he inherited his "horse gloves" and an old Damascus double 12 ga. Grandpa always called him Uncle John Sauer, but his shop ledger showed that his business was J.P. Sauer. (interesting tidbit but that's another story)

When I was a young boy back in the 1950's Grandpa gave me the gloves and shotgun. They have been in my dresser drawer ever since then.

I don't know if they are truly horsehide or not, but they are quite interesting. They are double lined and the inside is hair-on leather as well. They look to be new and unused.

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At first I thought that was a 1911 pocket holster and fell in love.

For any carry I gun - I ONLY use Horsehide leather. It is stiffer, stronger, thinner, lighter and wears like iron. Shape retention is unbeatable and every horsehide product I own including holsters, pouches, ammo carriers and belts has never ever worn out. They still work and look like new even after daily use over decades. They get a once a year polishing with black Lincoln shoe polish - that's all I ever do. A bit more expensive - but I'd nevergo back to cowhide for an EDC.

For Cowboy Action Shooting (S.A.S.S. matches), range practice, camping or a hike through the woods, Cowhide works just fine.

My go-to holster and leather equipment company is Kramer Leather. IMHO they are the best.

I have a Kramer on order, but I need another holster, and I will probably go back to C Rusty Sherrick in PA. He makes nice horshide stuff

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

The horse population in this country is higher than any time except between 1870 and 1945. 7.2 million in fact and 600,000 of them are feral. In 1880 the horse population begin to rise reaching a peak of 19 million in the 1920 and falling back to 5.5 million by the end of WWII. Many of the current horses, both domesticated and feral are completely worthless for anything other than converting lots of grass into mushroom bedding and stomping more of it into dust. Montana has a million people and over 95% of them live in towns but, there are approx 1 horse per person. Morons move here buy a few acres get 2-10 horses and end up with dust. They are all going to die at some point. Both the horses and the morons

To those here who love horses, if you actually ride and work your horses that's great, but you are a minority of horse owners.

Holsters are an excellent use of horses IMHO

I know of only one source in North America for vegetable-tanned horsehide, Horween's in New York. Their production is limited and usually goes to standing orders of long-term customers in the shoe industry (also in demand for baseball manufacturing).

What is available to other users is very limited and usually does not include the most desirable portions of the hides.

Veg-tanned horsehide is very durable, being far more dense than cowhide. This poses challenges for use in holster making, being more labor demanding at every stage of production. So, in addition to competing for very limited quantities the purchaser is also facing higher production costs.

During my years in the business I could never get enough good horsehide to meet all demands.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM