1 to 2 mm veg tan calf skin?

[tombear]

Looking at the net I've only found veg tan calf skin in large pieces. To cover the longseaxs ash scabbard I need a piece 7 inches by 23, between 1 and 2 mm thick, which is what? 3 or 4 ounce? I doubt I'd use such light stuff again so there's no point buying a hides worth (also getting it past the funding committee would be unlikely after recent buys...) so does anyone know of a supplier of he genuine article who does smaller pieces or ideally has a hide they can sell me a section of?

atb

Tom

 

[mountainm]

Try
371004692558 on eBay

Sold as slight seconds buy one get one free. I got the 3mm offer. Slight marks on the skin which disappeared when stained.

Good value.

Just saw the 23 inches long. May be worth contacting directly otherwise you need to do it in 2 pieces.

 

[Dan J]

Try typing leather offcuts into ebay. You might strike lucky and find what you're looking for.

 

[tombear]

Cheers, but nowt on eBay has been big enough and cheap enough so far.

atb

Tom

 

[mountainm]

Cheers, but nowt on eBay has been big enough and cheap enough so far.

atb

Tom

Can't you do it in two pieces and have a decorative join, could look really nice.

 

[tombear]

Unfortunately I'm trying to copy ones dug up at York and they are single pieces with a seam down the middle of the back. Worse still they are butt sewn edge to hide so the stitches will be invisible from the outside. Jeeze. I should have just used plywood wrapped in gaffer tape! Why do I do these things to my self ?!

if it proves beyond me to stitch through the edge of such thin leather I will have to resort to some other stitch, I forget the name but where you stitch face through to face and leave a little ridge or spine. Strictly speaking that was more common later but is a shed load easier!

Thanks!

Tom

 

[Gill]

Maybe scavenging an old leather suite if u can find one ?

 

[tombear]

I've been thinking along those lines, more charity shop jackets. The problem is I'd really like to get a undyed, un treated piece. However, now I'm considering it I once bought some rather nice veg tan from a upholsterers in Bolton, I think, one of the B towns in Lancs anyway, herself will remember...

cjheers!

Tom

 

[Simon H]

You could try this lot, http://www.guestleathercraft.co.uk/ He keeps a rake of stuff in, and is very helpful. They're just off the A6 near Chorley, ask for Ginger

 

[Hibrion]

Would goat skin be an alternative option? As far as I know it would still be period correct, it's thinner, and it's stronger.

 

[tombear]

You could try this lot, http://www.guestleathercraft.co.uk/ He keeps a rake of stuff in, and is very helpful. They're just off the A6 near Chorley, ask for Ginger

Cheers! I've not heard of them, it's not far from the model shop we use on the edge of Bolton,

atb

Tom

 

[tombear]

Would goat skin be an alternative option? As far as I know it would still be period correct, it's thinner, and it's stronger.

No I must admit I'd not thought of goat skin, I'll have to check if any of the dug sword scabbard covers were goat, I remember that some of the knife sheaths were. Is goat any cheaper than calf? I've never used it before.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[Hibrion]

Goat is generally more expensive than calf, Tom. But it is nice to work with, much stronger, thinner, and would have been available then also. One good size goat skin should get you by for the project with some left over.
I mostly use Tandy for leather, but the goat from lePrevo has been good in the last:

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/hides.htm