Wild Cape Buffalo is a full grain, chrome-tanned leather from a tannery in South Africa. It has a rustic two-tone matte look and a softer, supple feel. Each hide shows the natural characteristics of a buffalo that lived in the wild, such as scratches, scars, bites, veins, and neck and back wrinkles. No two hides look alike.
The leather is full aniline and dyed completely through, with no surface finish to cover flaws. Darker colors hide problem areas better. Less desirable areas can be worked into the less visible parts of a project. Whole hides and sides include bellies, which can have some loose grain. The hides are the tannery's top grades and suit small and larger projects such as totes, bags, and duffles.
The flesh side has a hairy nap. The leather cannot be burnished, so edge paint is recommended. It can be split down to 0.6 mm. Split leather cannot be returned. A hide wider than 27 inches must be cut into 2 pieces to fit the splitter, cutting closer to the belly side.
- Article
- Wild Cape Buffalo
- Tannery
- South Africa
- Grain
- Full grain; rustic two-tone with scratches and unique wild characteristics
- Tannage
- Chrome tanned
- Cut
- Side
- Flesh side
- Hairy nap
- Firmness
- Medium, 6/10
- Dye
- Completely through
- Finish
- Full aniline, matte
- Burnishable
- No; edge paint recommended
- Thickness
- 5.5 oz (2.2 mm) +/- 0.3 mm
- Splitting
- Yes, down to 0.6 mm
- Yield
- Moderate, 75%+
- Hide size
- Full hide (side), 16 to 28+ square feet