English Bridle Leather from Wickett & Craig - Unboxing & First Impressions

This is the first time I've bought leather online so I was a bit nervous to drop that amount of cash on leather I couldn't put in my hands first. I had a sample pack from Wickett & Craig and trusted they wouldn't steer me wrong.

[patriotcam]

I bought a 1 sq foot panel out that. Love it. I made a wallet. The feel and look is amazing.

[terrybrower]

I appreciate such a well done video. Also, new to leather working, it is enlightening to hear pricing included. I think that Wickett and Craig will be getting my order soon.

[FUBAR]

Tanneries grade their sides based on what’s on hand. Today’s C grade could be tomorrow’s A grade, all depending on what’s on hand or the the batch of sides that day. It could also depend on the grader that day. They also have tannery run sides which is basically, you get what they have. You shouldn’t get too hung up on grades.

[MountainFisher]

I never ordered Wicket and Craig, but have used Hermann Oak and had mixed results. Actually had two sides I could not use for belts and belts are why I order 9-10 oz sides because I'd rather not have to line the belt. One had a butcher's cut right in the middle about 14 inches long and the other one had a freaking hole in the center and was all dried out, it was D leather all across. I doubt if I could have gotten 3-4 sq. feet out of it. I called the company I ordered from and they sent me a shipping label to send it back. My first order, then about 6 months later is when I got the side with the butcher's cut in it. This time they didn't offer to send me a shipping label and I told them fine, I'm emptying my cart with about $200 worth of orders in it and you've lost a customer for good. A butcher's cut for those who don't know is where the butcher who was skinning the steer slips up and doesn't notice he's cutting into the hide. That hide should have been cut up or discounted. Bottom line is I found Hermann Oak a hit or miss proposition and won't order it online.


I moved a few years ago and am now an hours drive from a Tandy store. I use their Oak Leaf sides or shoulders and hand pick them myself, never get a bad hide. Someone below said he had a bunch of waste with Tandy hides, he either was buying their cheapest stuff or doesn't know how to inspect a hide. I've picked through some of their $50 double shoulders they mark as 7-8 oz and they are really like 6-7 oz, but if you're careful you can get some good pieces that I use for satchels or small sheaths and sometimes as a liner, but I have a splitter too so knocking out wallet sized strips to 3 oz is no problem. I never had 35% waste with any Tandy hide, I wouldn't buy a piece like that.
I see videos of people showing how to smooth down the hairy flesh side of their leather when the solution is don't buy hairy backed leather! Tandy has some crummy leather for sure, but they have some very good leather too. If you only buy cheap leather expect cheap leather and the problems that come with it.


I looked at some reviews of some nicely priced double shoulders and 10 out of 11 gave the leather 5 stars. I should've listened to the guy who gave it one star, he said it was dry and barely usable even though it did look great. I ordered one and to cut it I needed to wet it, no kidding. I strapped it out and made a bunch of discounted belts. People asked why are they discounted and I'd show them places where I screwed up the tooling on the border or something. They snatched them up. If I sanded the edges it kept getting hairier, only cheap leather does that, the backs were pasted a little bit. Used trag gum on the edges like there was no tomorrow, burnished and dyed them. The belts are ok and certainly better than a belt made from chinesium sprayed on leather slurry over cloth, but not as good as a $130 belt should be.


By the way you can tool and carve the leather, if it's waxed and oiled you don't use water.

[chrisjames_official]

The backsides are like that from the splitter. Industrial splitters are razor sharp and leave that clean finish. Just helping 🙂

[lgroves]

This company has been around for 150 yrs. They are a premium leather source.

[MichaelSheldon]

I exclusively use Wickett and Craig for veg, bridle, harness, latigo, etc. Their worst grade is miles better than the best Tandy has ever sold, and is often cheaper per sq ft. W&C leather is tight, and gives me very little waste. Tandy leather is rough, and usually has random soft spots. I've had as much as 50% waste on a Tandy hide, and never less than 25% waste.

[davidpanahi]

What grade of leather was this? Special, Utility, or Standard?

[victorrasilla]

Looks like you’ve got the Spyderco Delica 4

[dkh]

Thank you for the video. Just getting started myself.

[thteaster]

What can you make out of the belly strips?? Could you do wallets out of the belly

[austinkenney]

We’re these sides or bends what cut were they trying to decide what I might need