Leather Types?

[markc]

Could some one explaine to me what is meant by the different types of leather?  For instance while searching for a leather rifle scabbard in the Cabelas catalogue, it lists some as bonded leather, or  strap leather, and other names I can't recall at the moment.  What is the difference?

[markc]

Well, I feel better for not knowing, seems no one else knows the difference either. 

[Rancher]

I'm not real sure what "bonded" leather is, I'd guess that its 2 lightweight leathers glued together and probably stitched around the edges to make the scabbard thicker and firmer.  I saw a saddle made this way a few weeks ago and couldn't believe that anyone would actually buy something like that.  Don't confuse it with a thick peice of leather that is lined with a thinner/softer liner leather, thats a good way to make a holster/scabbard and it protects your firearm from rubbing in the rough flesh side of a piece of leather.

Strap leather is a softer tan than something like saddle skirting leather.  Its used to make strap goods like belts, headstalls, knife sheaths/holsters and things like that. 

Given the 2 choices, I'd dodge the bonded leather and go with the one made of strap leather.

[markc]

Thanks Rancher.  From the looks of the bonded leather, it reminds me of a hot dog.  You know where they take all the left over parts and press them together somehow?  It doesn't even have the look or feel or smell of leather, but has been a good rifle scabbard, though unlined..

[Rickk]

to make bonded leather, they grind up scraps, apply a binder (probably urethane or PVC) and mold it into leather-like material.

[HL]

Most sheath leather is vegetable tanned. This type can be tooled, dyed, etc. Oil tanned leather is limited as to what you can do with it and is not a versatile as vegetable tanned.

Most leather sides, are vegetable tanned, that are sold by Tandy, Leather Factory, Inc.

This is all I use for making knife sheaths.