Leather Jacket Wearers: Cowhide (or Steerhide) or Horsehide...and why?

[El Tele Lobo]

Alright all you rock n rollers. Tell me do you prefer your leather jackets of cowhide or horsehide? And tell me why you prefer one over the other. And for those who don't like/wear leather...all respect, but this isn't the thread for you.

Personally, the two jackets I've owned in my life have been cowhide or steerhide. I'm rather curious about horsehide.

Discuss!

 

[hotcoffeenochill]

I'm interested in what jacket you wear, El Tele Lobo. Got a favored brand for being on stage with?

 

[Boreas]

Never had horsehide. But I do own a very nice goatskin leather jacket. A little thinner, lighter, and more flexible than cowhide - giving it a different "hand".

 

[telemnemonics]

Cannot say I ever had a horse hide jacket?
Of the many many leather jackets I would guess most were steer?
Seems beef is from steers while cows go to the dairy farm or are used to make more steers.
Steers are slaughtered as soon as full size, so the hides are less scarred up and more fresh, no geriatric leathers.

I wonder if "cowhide" is a sort of generic term for bovine hide?
Manatee females are cows too, but I doubt we can buy manatee cowhide biker jackets!

 

[djh22]

I've a cowhide jacket. A gift from my wife & kids 12+ years ago.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

I'm interested in what jacket you wear, El Tele Lobo. Got a favored brand for being on stage with?

I've always worn Schott because of the Ramones (613), late 80s Axl Rose (125) and Brando (613 horsehide, I believe).

If money were no object, I might try Aero. But I'm thinking about a Schott 618HH.

 

[uriah1]

Best leather I ever had I got in San Francisco back in 70s at famous North Beach leathers. Got stolen few years later.

It was lamb.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

Best leather I ever had I got in San Francisco back in 70s at famous North Beach leathers. Got stolen few years later.

It was lamb.

Sorry to hear that. Stealing always sucks. Never been a fan of lamb, but different strokes for different folks.

 

[blowtorch]

man who cares what they're made of
they just gotta be cool

I have way too many leather jackets

 

[985plowboy]

I’d love to see some pictures.
We don’t get much jacket weather so naturally, I’m infatuated with the idea of what it must be like to wear cool ones on a regular basis.
Most of mine are Carhartt. Functional for sure, not really stylish.

 

[Guitarzan]

Seems beef is from steers while cows go to the dairy farm or are used to make more steers.

I wonder if "cowhide" is a sort of generic term for bovine hide?

I have some news for you about what happens to older cows that are beyond breeding age and not producing much milk anymore.

The meat does not grade well, certainly not choice or prime, but it ends up as meat in something. Like ground meat or pet food.

The processors sell those hides too.

 

[basher]

I've got a dark red vintage 70s jacket in some kind of luxuriously soft leather, maybe calfskin? It's one of the coolest items of clothing I own, like something Steve McQueen might have worn. I've also still got the Perfecto-knockoff motorcycle jacket I bought 30-some-odd years ago. It's thick heavy cowhide and I'm happy to say it's too big for me now.

 

[Guitarzan]

Personally, the two jackets I've owned in my life have been cowhide or steerhide. I'm rather curious about horsehide.

Horsehide tends to be more expensive and less common.

Look up Shell Cordovan in use in shoes, boots, watchbands, etc.

You should get yourself a spear and go take some wild boar hides in FL and S. GA. You would be helping the world by reducing wild hog numbers and obtaining your hide the old fashioned way.

 

[brookdalebill]

I have three leather jackets.
All local thrift store buys, all about $25, each.
They’re all cowhide, they’re all dark brown, they’re all (geezer) age-appropriate, and they all fit perfectly.
I do have a favorite, and one I’ll donate back soon.
My favorite is heavier, probably more expensive new, and has zippered inside pockets.
Ironically, or perhaps foolishly, I re-donated my favorite a few years ago.
I saw it for sale considerably later, and I re-purchased it.
Silly me.
The why’s for my preference is black looks pretentious (IMO), cowhide is common/cheaper, Texas doesn’t get that cold (no need for a heavier jacket), and lastly, they do look kinda’ classy.

 

[blowtorch]

All local thrift store buys

All of mine too. Even a real-deal Cooper A-2, like this pretends to be

 

[ReverendRevolver]

Probably cow?
I got it at a pawn shop when I was 16 for like $15? Almost 2 decades ago.
I just stitch up the inside periodically.

Perhaps ironically, while I'm particular about my engineer boots (chippewa >the others I've found) and my pants, the jacket hasn't gotten replaced. I'm sure there are much better ones. It's low quality, compared to the motorcycle thickness one that I don't wear. I just haven't needed to buy another one I guess?
I'd likely be finnecky buying another one. Unlikely I'd find perfect style and fit locally, and wouldn't roll the dice on one I couldn't return if it was more than the cost of a flannel jacket. So obviously, I've looked on shopgoodwill, since only that meets said criteria. But just never needed to do it.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

I’d love to see some pictures.
We don’t get much jacket weather so naturally, I’m infatuated with the idea of what it must be like to wear cool ones on a regular basis.
Most of mine are Carhartt. Functional for sure, not really stylish.

Here's some. These are a few years old:

The first is a 118 I used to have. The others are my more recent 613 One Star. Both by Schott.

 

[jays0n]

manatee cowhide biker jackets!

Those are actually for Boaters, or Jet-Skiers

 

[985plowboy]

I have some news for you about what happens to older cows that are beyond breeding age and not producing much milk anymore.

The meat does not grade well, certainly not choice or prime, but it ends up as meat in something. Like ground meat or pet food.

The processors sell those hides too.

Paw Paw on my maternal side was a cattleman and a butcher who owned the slaughterhouse.
Later in life after he retired He used to always fuss at my Mom for buying ribeyes on sale.
“Cecilia, the beef at the Piggly Wiggly ain’t nothing but old dried up dairy cows”.
I sure do miss him.

 

[bendercaster]

Here's some. These are a few years old:

The first is a 118 I used to have. The others are my more recent 613 One Star. Both by Schott. View attachment 1091618View attachment 1091679View attachment 1091680View attachment 1091681View attachment 1091682View attachment 1091683View attachment 1091685

Love the picture with Dale Watson. I just saw him a few weeks ago and he was really cool about taking a picture with me.