Wickett & Craig Leather

[sheathmaker]

Sandy and Chuck;

Have either of you used any Wickett & Craig leather? I got a small piece of "chestnut" color skirting and it seems to carve and stamp really nice and with just a very light coat of neatsfoot it turns a fairly dark rich brown color. I'm also curious about their "russet"color leather. I'd like to know if it oils up like other naked veg tan ie. Hermann Oak. It sure seems to be very good quality leather and prices are fairly well in line with the rest of the domestic suppliers.

Paul

[Chuck Burrows]

Howdy Paul-
Well I've been using W-C leather for about the last ten years almost exclusively ( I got a bad batch of Herman Oak at that time and went looking elsewhere). They have both saddle skirting in 8/9 oz and belting in the same weight - lighter weights are available upon request at no extra charge. The saddle skirting has a bit more oil in it than the belting, which for my 19th century gear is the cat's meow.
At first it seems a bit "softer" than HO but I have found it tools and molds beautifully and the price has been consistently less than the HO. Also the backs have always been very clean, something that is VERY important to me since I seldom line anything. Another option offered is that you can have them re-rolled/pressed for a firmer hand.
With the loss of still another American tannery - WesTan recently closed it's doors - I'm keeping my fingers crossed! ................

BTW - As far as I know Sandy's been using W-C as well after Siegel quit carrying the Italian shoulders he liked so much.

The only other leather supplier for veg-tan I normally use is Colorado Leather Goods - they carry very nice American tanned 9 oz double shoulders. I have also purchased some excellent shoulders from Demers.

In fact here are the suppliers I generally use:
Exotic Leather:
I don't use much exotics but when I need that something extra special this is THE place to buy:
Fong Exotic Leather Co. 1610 Hyde St. San Francisco CA 94109 tel: 415-441-3519

Veg Tan Leather and some other types
Wickett & Craig - www.wickett-craig.com
Demers Leather - www.demersleather.com
Colorado Leather - 719-633-8722

Dyes, all types of leather including some exotics, hardware, etc.:
Siegel of Ca - www.siegelofca.com
Leather Factory/Tandy
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/

Tools: Cheap but OK:
Leather Factory/Tandy - the Craftsman brand

Tools: Better: Osborne Tools & Linen Thread
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/
- these are the folks to get linen handsewing thread from as well - Barbour's 5 cord left hand twist is a good all purpose thread)
Leather Factory/Tandy and Siegel also sell Osborne tools

Tools: Best:
Jeremiah Watt - www.ranch2arena.com
Expensive but worth it - made by a master saddle maker and a heck of a nice guy!

as always caveat emptor, but all of the above have been good to me over the years as long as I do my part..........

[Sandy Morrissey]

I have been quite pleased with Wickett & Craigs leather. I generally use 7/8 oz. leather for general sheath work. I pay a little more for a back as I do not use bellies. W&C splits 8/9 oz. sides into lighter weights at no charge. The leather is very clean (as a rule) of barb wire cuts and tick scars, carves and dyes beautifully. Evidently their splitter is top notch as the backs of the leather is clean and not scruffy. As Chuck states, this is IMPORTANT in unlined projects! On occasion I will purchase double shoulders that are tanned in Mexico on domestic hides. I get these from Siegel of California who seem to get a better than average shoulder. I had to return a couple a few years back but have had no problem in recent years. Siegel is to be complimented on the service they provide for returns. They have the material picked up at your shop and PAY the return freight! With the free shipping on all orders over $75.00 they have a hard act to follow. Their prices on their inventory is in line with or better than most. I do try to steer clear of the craft houses for my leather needs but will purchase other supplys if needed. ---Sandy---

[sheathmaker]

Thanks guys for the quick response. You both confirmed what I suspected. I need to switch to Wickett & Craig. My old Hermann Oak stand by has been getting a little "iffy" lately. I don't dye a lot of my stuff, but that "chestnut" color I tried surely did turn a pretty rich brown with just the very lightest coat of Neatsfoot. I have requested a swatch card from Wickett. I assume their "russett" is about the same as HO natural????? 99.5% of my thread use goes through my two machines so I use Rice bonded Nylon almost exclusively. Sandy, before I sign off, I'm sure glad you didn't suffer and damage either real or personal from Katrina. Chuck if a hurricane makes it all the way to Durango, we're all in trouble. Thanks again.


PS: I just printed out both of your posts to go into my "these guys know what they are talking about file"

Paul

[Chuck Burrows]

Chuck if a hurricane makes it all the way to Durango, we're all in trouble.

Well we do get hurricane force winds now and again, 50-75 mile an hour gusts are frequent enough to be scary ...........

On the other hand I had a BIG taste of what is going on down south - I'm a Biloxi boy by birth - my mom's family (most of whom wouldn't know me from Adam at this point, although my older sister and her husband live/lived? in Biloxi) is pretty well spread out between Grand Isle, LA on the south, Baton Rouge, LA on the west, and Bayou La Batre, AL on the east - I rode out Camille in 1969 - we were over near Mobile, AL winds were locally reported up to 160 there......
Never again - I left the South/East for good in 1971 and except for one trip to Chadron, NE in 1973 or 4 I haven't been east of the Rockies since......

[Sandy Morrissey]

As far as hurricanes go-----ONCE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH! Chuck, It is real difficult to imagine you as a little red neck cracker boy. Has to make you a blood relative of this old faht! ---Sandy---