Any interest in Shell Cordovan and Better Than Cordovan© replacement tab faces?

[SandSquid]

I've spent some time talking w/ a good friend of mine that has been in leather industry for 20 + years about making me some tab faces made out of what the industry refers to as Horse Butt Strip.

It's a slightly thicker cut of leather from the region of the horse just North of the Shell cut. It is not as desirable to Shoe and Belt makers and thus less costly, but I feel better for archers as it is ever so slightly thicker than Cord.

I've very crudely, hacked out some tab faces from this material to use on my Cavalier tabs and I very much prefer it over the "Super Leather" and "Shell Cordovan" tab faces that are currently offered.

So, what kind of interest is there for replacement faces for Cavalier and possibly other brands of tabs. Both out of Genuine Shell Cordovan and "Better Than Cordovan©" (aka: Horse Butt Strip)

It will cost him/us a bit to tool up, but once he gets the dies made for his press, we can crank these out and for a more reasonable cost. (And God knows I can use some form of a sustainable income source to fund my Youth Archery Group. )

I'm not looking to make a huge profit, merely to provide a superior product (IMO) in the case of Better Than Cordovan©, and a equal product in the case of Shell Cordovan, at a reasonable cost to fellow archers.

[dkard]

I'd be interested Cavalier or WW 360 style

[juliasdad]

What did the horse think of that...lol

[Coodster]

Squid what about buying a piece about 1' square?

[SandSquid]

What did the horse think of that...lol


He tasted great!


Though "we" archers have not felt th epinch yet the shoe industry has.... There IS a shortage of Shell Cordovan as well as Horse Butt Strip...
Most of Horween's horsehide and shell has come from European countries, principally France, where hippophagy is widely practiced, for a long time.
The leather and shell is a by-product of the meat industry. It may be that fewer people are eating horsemeat these days and this is reducing supply. I dont; think the U.S. ban on horse slaughter are helping much.

[SandSquid]

Squid what about buying a piece about 1' square?

I think PapaBull can help you out... Papa, you have any Horse Butt Strip scraps?

I certainly don't want to step on his toes any, since he's a very swell guy to begin with,and he sells Cordovan peices in his store.

Click on the image (below) to go to his store:
http://www.tradtalk.com/products/cordovan.jpg (http://www.tradtalk.com/ckshop.php?item=73&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tradtalk.com%2Fckshop.php%3Fp age%3D2%26category%3D12)

[3feathers]

Got any pieces good for three or four tabs? Price?
Thanks
3feathers

[Short Draw]

Same here Squid.

Would like a piece to make my own four or five tabs.

Erich

[Sam Dunham]

Same here Squid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SandSquid]

Same here Squid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

got you all covered.. just need to go to the bank and get cash for postage

[Sam Dunham]

I have stuff to send too!! :)

[SandSquid]

I just mailed out several hunks of "Better Than Cordovan©".

Many folks are asking "How much is it?"

Well, I honestly cannot honestly answer this question because I purchased it along with a big lot of bark tanned leather for making strops and I got a "package deal" from a good friend, so all I can say is "Pay me what it is worth to you."

The pieces I'm mailing out are at least 5"x7" some are up to 6x9". For reference (only) I'm pretty sure PapaBull sells his Genuine Shell Cordovan 3"x6" @ $5.99 plus shipping when he has it in stock.
This originally is from Horween (the ONLY producer of Genuine Shell Cordovan in North America) and is tanned using the same six-month-long process and formulas as the Shell. It's just thicker, and thus not as desirable to the shoe and purse makers but more desirable to archers. It currently sells here (http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/sides.htm) for ca. $30/2.5 square feet (total surface area) strip that is vegetable tannend (not the extensive Cordovan tanning process.).

So let your wallet and conscience be your guide.



Being as our Youth Archery program has recently suffered a "loss" of equipment I request that you not pay me but make your payment to my program.


PayPal to: goodshepherdyoutharchery@gmail.com


Checks made payable and mailed to:
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
6050 Summer Ave., Memphis TN 38134

(please write: "Youth Archery" in the memo field)



Lastly, I have only (6) 3"x5" or slightly larger pieces left.
(If there is enough interest in this stuff, I may consider purchasing more to re-sell.)

PM me your mailing address and it will go right out.
I trust you all to send your payment when it arrives safely.

[SandSquid]

Several folks asked "what is this stuff?"

It is NOT Genuine Shell Cordovan. This is taken from the area "North" of the butt cheeks, which is where Shell Cordovan comes from, and is thus thicker. (See picture below).

This is NOT "leather" either!
Leathers come from cows, Cordovan comes from horses. Each horse provides two shells (which any cobbler will tell you is just enough for a pair of shoes).

But, it is NOT horse hide either. What it is, is the subcutaneous layer that covers the equine posterior. There's only one tannery which still produces cordovan leather, Horween Leathers in Chicago.

It is the most nonporous "leather type product" known, and is distinguished by its lustrous waxy finish, superior durability, and suppleness that readily conforms to whatever shape you want.



Fascinating isn't it?

[SandSquid]

some pics of a few pieces I have left.

Dimensions are Minimum lengths in each direction.

[SandSquid]

"D" the largest, 9.0" x 5.5", piece is sold, removing the picture.

[SandSquid]

"C" is sold, removing the picture.

[SandSquid]

"B" is pending payment

[SandSquid]

"A" sold.

[ButchMo]

Sandsquid,
If you have any left, I'd be interested.
Butch

[SandSquid]

Sandsquid,
If you have any left, I'd be interested.
Butch

once the dust settles and we get home from Louisville, I'll see what is left.

[BigCnyn]

I would like A 4" square piece if you have any left ?