Thoughts on leather of Schott leather jackets!

[BobJ]

So what's the "Topcoat" that comes on the steer that DOES let the leather breathe and WONT hurt the the leather???

That's a good question. It's my understanding that ANY topcoat will impede the breathability of the leather.

 

[cuchulain]

Schott makes nice jackets, I had a Perfecto and the leather was so soft and supple, it broke in so nice. My only complaint is Schott doesn't make enough casual styles they're mostly motorcycle jackets which i only like on the bike, not to wear daily.

 

[Doctor Damage]

So what's the "Topcoat" that comes on the steer that DOES let the leather breathe and WONT hurt the the leather???

Oren Schott clearly states in the comments thread on the Schott website that the steerhide they use has had the pores of the leather sealed in the tanning process. This does not involve the application of a substance or chemical to finished leather, instead it's accomplished as part of the original processing of the leather, and can be considered "baked in" rather than "sprayed on".

 

[Phillips88]

Oren Schott clearly states in the comments thread on the Schott website that the steerhide they use has had the pores of the leather sealed in the tanning process. This does not involve the application of a substance or chemical to finished leather, instead it's accomplished as part of the original processing of the leather, and can be considered "baked in" rather than "sprayed on".

That's it, I agree. I have just always been taught from the beginning that sealing the pores of any type of leather is a bad thing and causes the leather not to last as long as a jacket without the pores sealed?

 

[Phillips88]

Does anyone know much about Thedi leather jackets? Their all natural veg tanned leather to be exact. Is It the same situation as Schotts naked hide minus the veg tanning process? Its unsealed as well right??

 

[Doctor Damage]

That's it, I agree. I have just always been taught from the beginning that sealing the pores of any type of leather is a bad thing and causes the leather not to last as long as a jacket without the pores sealed?

Sure, but if you want waterproof leather -- such as on a motorcycle jacket -- then you probably need the pores sealed, and possibly accept a shorter life (if it's true). I think it's kind of an armchair discussion, since most people will probably never wear out their jackets in their lifetime, especially people here who have multiple jackets. The best test would be to buy Schott steerhide and cowhide jackets and wear them alternating days in the same conditions and tasks for 10 years, then see which one is lasting better!

Digression: There was in years past in other forums much debate about Church's shoes, which used to offer what they called a "bookbinder" finish leather, which was super shiny and smooth. The Internet Shoe Experts (cough cough) always said it was inferior because it was shiny and the grain was smoothed at the processing stage, but Church's didn't consider it inferior and didn't price it lower. I suspect it was just horses for courses, some people just wanted/needed a shiny smooth leather.

 

[Seb Lucas]

That's it, I agree. I have just always been taught from the beginning that sealing the pores of any type of leather is a bad thing and causes the leather not to last as long as a jacket without the pores sealed?

As I said before most leather will last for decades, processing irrelevant. It will matter more how it is looked after. Just buy what you like. People are still wearing 50 year old Brimacos which look great even though they used a pretty poor, light chrome tanned, coated leather that we would probably only find on cheaper makers today.

 

[Monitor]

As I said before most leather will last for decades, processing irrelevant. It will matter more how it is looked after. Just buy what you like. People are still wearing 50 year old Brimacos which look great even though they used a pretty poor, light chrome tanned, coated leather that we would probably only find on cheaper makers today.

This.

And what I said earlier - it works. These jackets work. The tanning works. They know what they're doing. eBay Schott, you'll find at least 50 Schott jackets at any given time that are 30 or 40 years old and good for two times as much.

 

[Phillips88]

As I said before most leather will last for decades, processing irrelevant. It will matter more how it is looked after. Just buy what you like. People are still wearing 50 year old Brimacos which look great even though they used a pretty poor, light chrome tanned, coated leather that we would probably only find on cheaper makers today.

This.

And what I said earlier - it works. These jackets work. The tanning works. They know what they're doing. eBay Schott, you'll find at least 50 Schott jackets at any given time that are 30 or 40 years old and good for two times as much.

Their just isn't too many naked cowhide Scotts to go by on eBay or really anywhere, Monitor. They are mostly steer and horse. Even most of the 118 iv saw are just a couple years old. Id feel much better about the situation if Schott or any other manufacture, had something to go buy that was made prior to the late 70s-80s in naked cowhide. Find me a 50 year old unfinished/naked cowhide to go by? I'm just gonna wear it and find out myself. I'm just hoping that the original Picards I ordered that is made especially for unfinished/naked hides will be ok even though it goes against what Gail says with it being petroleum based.

Does anyone know much about Thedi leather jackets? Their all natural veg tanned leather to be exact. Is It the same situation as Schotts naked hide minus the veg tanning process? Its unsealed as well right??

Do either of you know anything about these jackets?

 

[BobJ]

Their just isn't too many naked cowhide Scotts to go by on eBay or really anywhere, Monitor. They are mostly steer and horse. Even most of the 118 iv saw are just a couple years old. Id feel much better about the situation if Schott or any other manufacture, had something to go buy that was made prior to the late 70s-80s in naked cowhide. Find me a 50 year old unfinished/naked cowhide to go by? I'm just gonna wear it and find out myself. I'm just hoping that the original Picards I ordered that is made especially for unfinished/naked hides will be ok even though it goes against what Gail says with it being petroleum based.



Do either of you know anything about these jackets?

I can't "find you a fifty year old unfinished/naked cowhide" jacket, but I can tell you about a 26 year old one... I got a Schott naked cowhide jacket in 1985 when I lived in Nome, Alaska. It saw a LOT of harsh weather: cold, snow, rain, dust - my quad was my only transportation for several years. After a few years, my brother bought the jacket right off my back while I was visiting him in San Diego, and wore it in that dry climate for a few years. Then, he too, moved to Nome and wore it in the rough Alaska weather for 15 years. Then he, once again, followed me down to the Oregon coast and wore it in our perpetual rain, mist and fog for a few more years before passing it on to his son, who promptly lost it

But the bottom line is that that naked cowhide was as soft and supple as the day I bought it. It had folds, creases and character, and the collar was permanently shaped to my brother's neck, but there was not even a hint of dryness or stiffness. Thick, luxurious leather. Good stuff.

Bob

It was this one (the collar is detachable):

https://www.schottnyc.com/products/a-2-naked-cowhide-leather-flight.htm?catID=46

 

[TREEMAN]

I can't "find you a fifty year old unfinished/naked cowhide" jacket, but I can tell you about a 26 year old one... I got a Schott naked cowhide jacket in 1985 when I lived in Nome, Alaska. It saw a LOT of harsh weather: cold, snow, rain, dust - my quad was my only transportation for several years. After a few years, my brother bought the jacket right off my back while I was visiting him in San Diego, and wore it in that dry climate for a few years. Then, he too, moved to Nome and wore it in the rough Alaska weather for 15 years. Then he, once again, followed me down to the Oregon coast and wore it in our perpetual rain, mist and fog for a few more years before passing it on to his son, who promptly lost it

But the bottom line is that that naked cowhide was as soft and supple as the day I bought it. It had folds, creases and character, and the collar was permanently shaped to my brother's neck, but there was not even a hint of dryness or stiffness. Thick, luxurious leather. Good stuff.

Bob

It was this one (the collar is detachable):

https://www.schottnyc.com/products/a-2-naked-cowhide-leather-flight.htm?catID=46

Man..........thats a Schott story!!

 

[Phillips88]

I can't "find you a fifty year old unfinished/naked cowhide" jacket, but I can tell you about a 26 year old one... I got a Schott naked cowhide jacket in 1985 when I lived in Nome, Alaska. It saw a LOT of harsh weather: cold, snow, rain, dust - my quad was my only transportation for several years. After a few years, my brother bought the jacket right off my back while I was visiting him in San Diego, and wore it in that dry climate for a few years. Then, he too, moved to Nome and wore it in the rough Alaska weather for 15 years. Then he, once again, followed me down to the Oregon coast and wore it in our perpetual rain, mist and fog for a few more years before passing it on to his son, who promptly lost it

But the bottom line is that that naked cowhide was as soft and supple as the day I bought it. It had folds, creases and character, and the collar was permanently shaped to my brother's neck, but there was not even a hint of dryness or stiffness. Thick, luxurious leather. Good stuff.

Bob

It was this one (the collar is detachable):

https://www.schottnyc.com/products/a-2-naked-cowhide-leather-flight.htm?catID=46

Bob, WOW.... just as TREEMAN said! What a Schott story! I really appreciate you sharing your story with us. That has really reassured my doubts on my naked cowhide. I could just vision you and your brother testing the limits of what I'm sure was an unbelievable looking jacket. I must ask...did you ever "treat" it? Definitely sounds like your jacket saw its fair share of the weather and elements. If so...how often and with what?

That is exactly what I want out of my jackets. I'm a very sentimental person and get attached to my stuff, my jackets are no different. I'm hoping to pass mine down to my kid one day. If you were to ever run across any pics of your old jacket, we would love to see it!

 

[SJC]

I'm not going to knock Schott. I'm a big fan of their work, leather, and customer service but this isn't the first time they've been accused of false advertising. I myself who also live born and raised in East Tennessee around farms my whole life definitely know the difference in these animals but I just don't know what to believe after reading Orens post. I once saw Gail mention this and someone called her out on it just as we are now but there was never a response...

I learned a lot from Oren Schott's articles. I did not know that the horsehide used for the sleeves in the jacket come from the hind of the horse.

 

[navetsea]

I don't think a leather sealer that claims to make your jacket waterproof would do any lasting harm to the leather, it wears off, even the protective coat waterproofing from the manufacture would eventually wears off too, and it is just a micron of a film to make the surface smoother for the water drop to slide, it won't seal every pore on the surface... at least that is what I believe.

 

[BobJ]

I must ask...did you ever "treat" it?

Doh! I forgot the main point of my post: In all those 26 years, the leather was never treated or conditioned. The only care it ever got was to have something wiped off it with a damp cloth or sponge once in a while.

 

[JVanBro]

I don't think there's really any difference between the hide of a cow, steer or bull once they're tanned no more than it is distinguishable in a pile of ground beef. It's manufacturer selling terminology. Different grades of bovine leather as far as imperfections, sure. Remember Ricardo Montalbon advertising for the Chrysler Cordoba? Seats made of "fine Corinthian leather" was advertising hype.

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[TREEMAN]

I don't think there's really any difference between the hide of a cow, steer or bull once they're tanned no more than it is distinguishable in a pile of ground beef. It's manufacturer selling terminology. Different grades of bovine leather as far as imperfections, sure. Remember Ricardo Montalbon advertising for the Chrysler Cordoba? Seats made of "fine Corinthian leather" was advertising hype.

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I think most companies suggesting a leather is better because it's steer and another is superior because it's cow are FULL of bull. It seems like the can tell you anything and put anything they want on the label. I'm surprised they haven't used the terms stallion and mare to describe HH yet.

 

[JVanBro]

I think most companies suggesting a leather is better because it's steer and another is superior because it's cow are FULL of bull. It seems like the can tell you anything and put anything they want on the label. I'm surprised they haven't used the terms stallion and mare to describe HH yet.

Now with HH they do describe it as "front quarter" which seems to mean better quality. I wonder if that's really the case or is it also merely advertising as well? Who knows which part of the hide is actually being used.

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[Monitor]

This leather lotion, tanning, pores, etc. nonsense is nonsense.

The entire internet whines about how silicone is the worst thing ever yet Langlitz own inhouse leather lotion is silicone based. So, if Langlitz recommends silicone based leather lotion, how freaking bad can it be? I mean, this is a company that ought to know a thing or two about leather. . .

 

[JVanBro]

This leather lotion, tanning, pores, etc. nonsense is nonsense.

The entire internet whines about how silicone is the worst thing ever yet Langlitz own inhouse leather lotion is silicone based. So, if Langlitz recommends silicone based leather lotion, how freaking bad can it be? I mean, this is a company that ought to know a thing or two about leather. . .

mmmm langlitz! I need one. Wish I had remembered they were there last time we were in Oregon.

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