Sorry to jump in late on this thread. I am Allen of Big Papa Leather.
There has been many truisms stated in this thread and finding a high quality wallet is a thing of joy
There are many types of leathers, not only from exotics but in cowhide itself.
Although I have not handled the Saddleback leather from the appearance it looks to be a oil tanned or latigo type leather. This type of leather is often used on horse tack and hard use outdoor gear. It is either oil saturated or wax saturated. So for use in a wallet, yes it will durable and long lasting.
Exotic leathers such as ostrich, snake, eel and frog are cool leathers but really are not great for hard use. Elephant, shark and stingray, yup hard use and durable.
Alot of what I build is from tooling cowhide. The leather is thick, sturdy and durable. Another benefit is that it is tool-able. The leather can be carved, embossed, tooled and molded to create art or functionality. Generally the user will tire of the wallet before it wears out. Same stuff as saddles are made from.
Many folks suffer from the Wal-mart mentality. Use it and they toss it. That is fine for some folks. Variety is the spice of life. I understand that completely. However just like in a fine handcrafted knife, a high quality hand made wallet is a labor of love.
Occasionally we should spoil ourselves
A fine wallet or briefcase is a great gift to oneself. Just as a painstaking search and purchase of the perfect knife is a satisfying endeavor.
With a production wallet you are buying a set design. With a custom you have a bit of a say in the design, if tooled the artwork, and the pocket configuration. Again to some that is not a big deal. To some that is the deal.
I'd be honored if you looked over my stuff at
Big Papa Leather
and possibly consider contacting me when you are ready to purchase your next wallet. I might not be the right fit for you, but I just might.
Allen- Big Papa
