Cowhide - break the silence
Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Mike, Indydawg
Cowhide - break the silence
Hello all,
There have been a lot of discussions in this forum about different types of leather, but there has been little talk, good or bad, about cowhide. Why is that?
I remember one person saying “cowhide drapes like no drape at all”, but I’m not sure what that means.
I’m considering getting a new Indy jacket in cowhide, but I want to make sure I’m not making some newbie mistake by getting this infrequently discussed leather.
Can I get a “moo”?
There have been a lot of discussions in this forum about different types of leather, but there has been little talk, good or bad, about cowhide. Why is that?
I remember one person saying “cowhide drapes like no drape at all”, but I’m not sure what that means.
I’m considering getting a new Indy jacket in cowhide, but I want to make sure I’m not making some newbie mistake by getting this infrequently discussed leather.
Can I get a “moo”?
well first off welcome!
and second the draping of leather,the softness in other words.the Lamb really takes your body frame after wearing it a while.it almost grows on you
the you have cowhide is a stiffer leather when you have it on.it maintains it shape longer and doesnt drape all that good
here is an exmaple of the draping in a Lamb jacket.there is no stiffnes and thickness in the leather like you find in a cow
but in the end it's all up too you and what YOU prefer in a nice jacket
bests
Holt
and second the draping of leather,the softness in other words.the Lamb really takes your body frame after wearing it a while.it almost grows on you
the you have cowhide is a stiffer leather when you have it on.it maintains it shape longer and doesnt drape all that good
here is an exmaple of the draping in a Lamb jacket.there is no stiffnes and thickness in the leather like you find in a cow
but in the end it's all up too you and what YOU prefer in a nice jacket
bests
Holt
- Kt Templar
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 4715
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:32 am
- Location: London.
I bought one on ebay, wore it about 3 times and sold it fairly rapidly afterwards. Far to heavy and thick for my taste.
If you want a heavyish tough leather go for the horse instead it drapes much better.
If you want a tought but light leather go for the 'new' goat. JMO.
Here's a comparison in weights I did a short while ago.
The cowhide I had came in at about 4.75 - 5lb.
If you want a heavyish tough leather go for the horse instead it drapes much better.
If you want a tought but light leather go for the 'new' goat. JMO.
Here's a comparison in weights I did a short while ago.
The cowhide I had came in at about 4.75 - 5lb.
cowhide isn't as popular as lamb or goat on here because it has a different look and feel to it and it doesn't resemble the Raders Jacket look at all. With the new movie we are seeing more interest in the cowhide as it's the new Indy look. I have owned a cowhide non-Indy jacket for over ten years and it is almost bullet proof and extremely heavy... I like the feel of the jacket but it isn't for everyone and not a good choice for an everyday jacket as it wears you as much as you wear it. I'm considering cowhide for my next Indy jacket. You have to watch cowhide because it can be all over the place in quality and you don't wan't the cheap stuff.
If you like the KotCS look go for the cowhide otherwise I'd suggest goat or lamb depending on the level of wear you'll put on it.
If you like the KotCS look go for the cowhide otherwise I'd suggest goat or lamb depending on the level of wear you'll put on it.
Well, I had decided to get an undistressed cowhide Indy jacket... And it seems that cowhide is no longer available. At least I don't see it on the order page. I've got an email in to Gemma.
They do have predistressed, but I don't want pre-distressed. I have years to do my own distressing. I call it "wearing."
Denied again...
They do have predistressed, but I don't want pre-distressed. I have years to do my own distressing. I call it "wearing."
Denied again...
-
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 8:56 pm
- Location: Fort Bragg, NC
- Band Director Jones
- Dig Leader
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2003 6:10 pm
- Location: CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Deep in the heart of Texas!
- RockBottom
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:05 pm
- Location: Carlisle, PA
- Contact:
- Chewing Wax
- Field Surveyor
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:46 pm
- Location: BUFFALO
I have a Flight Suits cowhide Navy G-1 that I got in 2000, and it's absolutely fantastic leather. Soft, drapes nicely, stays flexible in below zero temperatures, is tough as nails and is reasonably light weight. Easily as light as the leather they use in their chrome goat. Sometimes I wish I'd gotten the G-1 in goat, but then I realize the cow hide is excellent and I should have no regrets.
- Kt Templar
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 4715
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:32 am
- Location: London.
- RockBottom
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:05 pm
- Location: Carlisle, PA
- Contact:
All I had to use was a bathroom scale so it may not be that accurate but, to my surprise, it only showed 3 lbs.Kt Templar wrote:Any chance of weighing it? I wouldn't class my one as heavy at all.RockBottom wrote:You sure? Mine seems extraordinarily heavy. I don't mind except when I'm travelling though.coronado3 wrote: The newer wested Novapelle cowhide is a good compromise. It is lighter in weight.
Ah, joy of joy. A quick international call (on the company dime) informed me that they do have undistressed cowhide. Phone was the way to go, anyway, as the wested site doesn't have the ability to enter a different shipping address than the mailing address.
Hey, LL Bean they are not. I'd rather they focus their energies on making great leather than improving their webmastering.
So now I'm just 3-4 weeks away from an Indy jacket that used to moo.
Hey, LL Bean they are not. I'd rather they focus their energies on making great leather than improving their webmastering.
So now I'm just 3-4 weeks away from an Indy jacket that used to moo.
- Hunter Jones
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 285
- Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:51 am
My opinion is that the secret is in:
I have taken cowhide jackets that felt like cardboard and stripped off the outer (protective) layer threw them in the washer and they are softer than you can imagine. One of them is my Wested Indy cowhide.
The same with my Aero FQ horsehide which may be the softest jacket I own relative to it's thickness.
I have two Schott Perfecto 618's and one is stiff as heck and the other is quite wearable. Same leather. With the right methods, I think most every leather can be made to be pretty soft.
- the thickness of the hide,
- the density of the hide,
- the tanning method
- the protective finish
- the care/conditioning (oils)
I have taken cowhide jackets that felt like cardboard and stripped off the outer (protective) layer threw them in the washer and they are softer than you can imagine. One of them is my Wested Indy cowhide.
The same with my Aero FQ horsehide which may be the softest jacket I own relative to it's thickness.
I have two Schott Perfecto 618's and one is stiff as heck and the other is quite wearable. Same leather. With the right methods, I think most every leather can be made to be pretty soft.