Lets see your CPK in Leather!

[cpirtle]

I’m ignorant of what qualifies as exotic. Kangaroo? You mentioned elephant hide — does it need a different backing?

For what it’s worth, I’ve dealt with kangaroo hide in other contexts, and it’s a unique leather in that it has no grain structure. It’s effectively crosshatched, which makes it unbeatable for strength and abrasion resistance. Its limiting factor, though, is its thinness.

And thanks for an educational post. I enjoyed that.

No official definition as far as I know. I generally try to differentiate between exotic and specialty hides. Yes, elephant needs laminated, it certainly could be tanned thick enough and be suitable on its own but that would need to happen at the tannery level and I've never seen it. How soft or firm a leather is has more to do with the tanning process than the hide itself, aside from obvious animal constraints of course.

 

[Gusbuster]

In my experience Elephant is more durable than shark. It’s hands down the most durable hide I’ve worked with or carried and used. I have a J frame pocket holster I made around 2008 that was in my pocket every day for at least 12 years and looks as good as the day I made it.

I’ve worked with shark fairly extensively and it’s an amazing hide, thin with great wear resistance. Shark hides come from the black tip shark and tanning them only came into existence as a way to use more of the animal than just cutting off its fins for soup. The black tip is in the process of being added to the endangered species list, which means all legal harvesting is coming to an end. Unless something changes what’s out there is what’s left and the little I have seen is going for scalper rates &/or pretty ratty.

I am doing some testing with horse and kangaroo currently, both reported to be very durable.

It’s important to know that no exotic leathers are tanned firm enough for safe use alone on a knife sheath. Most are intended for the garment or upholstery industry which is where 95% of leather ends up. Those of use who want to use it for sheaths have to back it up against more appropriate hides.

Bill - I’ve seen that Cordovan and was tempted, that sheath looks stunning, great work!!

Beautiful Elephant EDC Sheath from Chad. I would like to try some horsehide from Chad, if it works out. I have some horsehide holsters from Kramer. They are durable and show excellent craftsmanship. I replaced the leather loops with nylon, pull the dot loops, just feel more confident with the pull the dot snaps.