Horsehide vs Cowhide

[BrBa]

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

Frequently Asked Questions - Milt Sparks

 

[rednichols]

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.

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.

 

[rednichols]

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

Frequently Asked Questions - Milt Sparks

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:

 

[WR Moore]

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

 

[03hemi]

Nothing better than a horsehide jacket too.

 

[GypsmJim]

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.

 

[max503]

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

 

[chief38]

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.

 

[Narragansett]

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

 

[steelslaver]

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

 

[LoboGunLeather]

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.