Before and After: the Use and Abuse of Leather

Horsewright

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
12,595
One of the great things I've always appreciated about leather is how it ages. I like seeing the "life" that it accumulates over the years as the item is used. The patina it collects.

Brand new and ready to ship:

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Same pair a couple of years in:

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Brand new:

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Not so much:

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Brand new:

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Not so much:

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Brand new:

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Not so much:

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Brand new:

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Not so much:

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Not only do I find it cool to see how leather ages in the real world. But as a maker its important feedback. Do we need to change anything we're doing, what can we do to make it better? Questions and comments always welcome and post your pics.

Post your pics!!
 
I started out building sheaths because I wasn't satisfied with the durability of production sheaths. They would develop holes and belt loops would come un-stitched. I learned how to build my own sheaths and I'm kind of shocked on how much more durable they are. Of course quality leather and stitching really helps. I've worked laying on cement and gravel with the sheath dragging on the ground and they barely show ware.
I noticed a tooled sheath also hides abrasions well. Dave, your chaps show some dirt but almost no ware and I know they are used hard. Stitches are tight, knee area is not worn and the straps are in good shape. Not sure what you would change.
John
 
The "before and after" shots are the best :)

I've got to ask a question I've wanted to ask for a long time.

Fringes... why?

Form follows function or traditional decoration?
 
Thanks Ebbtide. I think a bit of both. Some folks would tell ya that the fringe is to help shed water. Don't know that I buy into that. However in our coutry around here I find the fringe helps protect getting debris, particularly oak leaves etc down the tops of your legs and into your boots etc. This is particularly true with the white pair at the top which are a pair of armitas an old Californio style of leggings. There is no hardware used in them at all. No belt buckle and no leg buckles and straps.That apron fringe does really help keep debris out. I wear a pair of charmitas which is a variation of armitas. Mine have the apron but also the buckles to put em on and off.

Certainly decoration also does play a part and folks will get specific about the length of fringe and contrasting colors, double fringe etc.
 
I dont really use any of my sheaths much anymore , but the one thing that I made and I use at work everyday is my belt . This thread got me thinking and I realise just how much work it has done in harsh and nasty environments without any care or attention .
Also Gary Graley has to get a mention , because he gifted me the buckle and it is a great design , Thanks Gary .

New



Used





Ken
 
Thanks Ebbtide. I think a bit of both. Some folks would tell ya that the fringe is to help shed water. Don't know that I buy into that. However in our coutry around here I find the fringe helps protect getting debris, particularly oak leaves etc down the tops of your legs and into your boots etc. This is particularly true with the white pair at the top which are a pair of armitas an old Californio style of leggings. There is no hardware used in them at all. No belt buckle and no leg buckles and straps.That apron fringe does really help keep debris out. I wear a pair of charmitas which is a variation of armitas. Mine have the apron but also the buckles to put em on and off.

Certainly decoration also does play a part and folks will get specific about the length of fringe and contrasting colors, double fringe etc.

Thanks!
I'm a big fan of fringe and just had to ask :)
 
Quality does make a difference John. Ya got to show us some pics! You know I get knives sometimes to make my sheaths for and the sheath that they come in ....I don't even know where I would go to buy such leather.

Love that hobble belt Ken. It still looks good after all the use. I love that buckle too. It certainly fits the quote in your signature line. This one went to a BF member. Wonder what it looks like now.

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Those of ya that don't know hobbles are a way of restraining a horse when ya can't tie them up. Used on pretty well trained horses. Very Australian deal a hobble belt and I can only remember every seeing one here being worn by a US cowboy. Here's Josie, Nichole's mare hobbled. See the strap around her front legs. Ken's belt that he made because of the rings can be used to do that. We carry the hobbles on the saddle.

HivxNl2.jpg
 
Dave my Hobble belt has never been near a horse ( as my late father used to say " bloody horses , dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle " :) ) because my work and lifestyle doesnt bring me into contact with them anymore .
The rings do serve a purpose though in my day to day world , I have to carry a multitude of items at work and the rings are a great place to clip things onto , much better than a belt loop on your jeans because they can and have been ripped and torn off .
I didnt realise that the Hobble belt was so Australian and not used elsewhere .

Ken

PS - My father secretly loved horses , he was raised with them as a huge part of life , he just never admitted it publicly,

Ken
 
Ah clever idea Ken. I just did something similar for a young lady that is the assistant for our large animal Vet. There is a saddelry type of d ring that has a small piece of metal bent over the flat part of the d ring. This metal is doubled and extends past the d ring about an inch and has a hole through it. These are used on some saddles to attach a rope strap. A slit is cut on the fork (5/8" or 3/4" bag punch) and the flat metal part is inserted till the d ring is flush with the leather. Then a wood screw with a cup washer is used to attach the metal piece, remember the hole, to the wood of the tree.

Any hoo she caries a lot of keys and stuff at work but not when she's off. So using a decorative Chicago screw and putting it in the last hole in the belt for the buckle she is able to rotate this d ring down when she wants to carry all the keys and when not she rotates it back up under the belt and now she's styling one of my water buffalo belts. It actually worked pretty darn good.
 
That idea of the rotating D ring is really clever .
I understand the carrying keys thing because that is what the front ring on my belt is used for , the second back ring on the belt sits over the left rear pocket of my Wranglers and usually has gloves clipped onto it and the gloves pushed half into the pocket .



Ken
 
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First off, I love the hobble belt. I love the way it looks, the history, and it's modern use. Just great.

Secondly, I love how good leather gets better with age. My stuff isn't taking cowboy-levels of abuse, but even in an office setting it evolves a patina.

About a year ago I made this watchband. The dye color is Saddle Tan, and if it's not obvious from the pictures it's a very bright, vibrant color.

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About a week after I made it a drop of water fell on the stitching and wicked it's way inside (I had waterproofed the outside) leaving a nasty looking water stain:

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Thankfully I kept wearing it.

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Not only has it turned a beautiful rich mahogany color, but it has all these smooth wear marks and color variation. You can tell it's been used and abused.

Now it's got history.
 
That is really cool WhiteKnuckle. Great work and great pics. That band has aged very well, graceflly indeed.
 
The thing with beautiful leather work is it is still beautiful leather work even if it's beat to hell.

Awesome post.

Todd
 
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