Buffalo Hide Versus Cowhide for Leather Jackets

Is buffalo hide or leather stronger than cowhide leather jackets? Is buffalo hide thicker than cowhide? Is buffalo hide stiffer than cowhide leather jackets? Many people ask that and want to know.

So, I thought I would clear that up here. Now, most people think of buffalo as a strong animal, stronger than a cow, which is true. So they assume that buffalo hide is much stronger than a cowhide. That is not really true, at least as far as the leather that is made from each one goes.

In its natural state, a raw buffalo leather hide is thicker than a cowhide. Not by much, but a little. However when they make a leather jacket or any other leather item from the hide, they split it. A full hide is way too thick to be used for a leather jacket or most other leather apparel. They do use a full hide on items like saddles, some boots and stuff like that, but not leather jackets and apparel.

So when people say they want a buffalo leather jacket because it's thicker, they don't know what they are talking about. A buffalo hide and cowhide are split the same thickness for the same items. So lets get that clear, a quality leather jacket made from buffalo hide and cowhide is going to be the same thickness. Some cheaper or more lightweight leather jackets might use a thinner cut, but they would do that for both buffalo and cowhide.

So lets say you have a buffalo hide and cowhide. They have been split to the thickness needed for a leather jacket. One will be the top grain, the others the split grain. They have both been processed and tanned the same way. So, is there any difference in strength, stiffness and durability of them? The simple answer is, no.

Some say that buffalo leather is actually a bit softer than cowhide, unlike most who think it would be harder and stiffer. But there is very little difference to them as far as stiffness and softness goes. So what about strength and durability? Again, they really are about the same. You have to understand, once you treat a hide and split it to the same thickness, there just is not that much difference, if it's a quality hide taken from the sides of the animal.

So pigskin, buffalo hide and cowhide are all about equal in strength and durability. At least as long as they are all treated the same, and split the same thickness. Now they are all stronger than goatskin, sheepskin and lambskin. So if you want a good, strong leather motorcycle jacket, than a pigskin, buffalo or cowhide leather jacket is the way to go.

Some just like different ones, or just feel better with one or the other. But most could never tell the difference if they had 3 leather jackets side by side, made from each one and treated the same way. They all cost about the same too. So I hope that clears up the question of buffalo hide vs cowhide leather jackets!

Source: http://leathersupreme.com