Horsehide or Cowhide for IWB?

[BioDemon]

I here horsehide is thinner and more water resistant than cow hide. I here cowhide is easyer to work with and is thicker. Some tell me cowhide looks better as it takes dies better, but for IWB who cares? Some say new leather treatments make cowhide as good as horsehide. What's better?

 

[modifiedbrowning]

My only leather holster is cowhide and I have no complaints. I have never used horsehide, so I can't really compare though. Cowhide should be fine.

 

[lunaslide]

I here horsehide is thinner and more water resistant than cow hide. I here cowhide is easyer to work with and is thicker. Some tell me cowhide looks better as it takes dies better, but for IWB who cares? Some say new leather treatments make cowhide as good as horsehide. What's better?

From the Kramer FAQ:

Is horsehide really better for holster making than cowhide?
Horsehide is an extremely dense, non-porous leather. Until the end of the 1930's horsehide was the leather of choice for products that required extreme durability. The density and non-porous nature of horsehide which makes it such a durable leather, is also the reason that horsehide does not dye uniformly in colors other than black. If multiple pieces are crafted from horsehide and dyed tan or mahogany, there is a very good chance that each piece will have a slight color variations. Black will be uniform. These color variances are considered part of the natural beauty of horsehide and attest to it's authenticity. Horsehide holsters will last longer and withstand considerably more abuse than a cowhide counterpart. U.S. Navy SEAL TEAMS use our horsehide rigs for extended salt water operations. Cowhide will not stand up this kind of use. YES, there is no question about it, horsehide is more durable than cowhide. This however, is not say that cowhide doesn't make a fine holster that will provide many years of hard service if properly cared for. But, if you want the ultimate in holster leather, horsehide is the answer.​

 

[Sir Aardvark]

The following is from Milt Sparks Q&A section

Check out Milt's site - they have what are arguably the best made holsters out there..... along with wait times of 10 weeks or more.
One of the very best IWB holsters is the Versa Max 2.

http://www.miltsparks.com/

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What is the difference between cowhide and horsehide?

One of the more notable properties of horsehide is its natural ability to repel moisture. This is due to the dense cell structure of the hide thus limiting its porosity. This natural ability to repel moisture makes it very useful for certain applications, particularly for use inside the waistband. Unlike with cowhide, horsehides non-porous nature reduces its ability to fully absorb the casing solution during the forming process, making it much more difficult to get good crisp detail of the weapon when molding around the gun. Also for the same reason horsehide tends not to absorb the dye and finishing materials as evenly making it in my opinion, somewhat inferior in that respect to good cowhide.

On the durability issue there has been much BS circulating on the mythical wear characteristics of horsehide. I will not argue that a well made horsehide holster will give you many years and possibly a lifetime of good service, but with proper care a good cowhide holster will last just as long.

Some of our holsters combine the use of both horsehide and cowhide, taking into advantage the desirable attributes of each material. So which material is better?? That is a personal preference issue. Where horsehide is available as an option, the choice is yours.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I prefer horse hide.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

I prefer Alessi and take what's available

I've got some Horseshoe as well neither one horsehide. For my purposes, which do not include swimming, I'll go with the cowhide. If I needed and could get Shell Cordovan - which I mostly can't - I'd use it.

On the other hand nothing so far as led me think anything else even comes close to Alessi cowhide.

 

[BioDemon]

Thanks every one. I think I'll go with the advise of the guy at HBE Leatherworks, Horse hide back panel and a Cowhide front panel. That way I can get the best of both worlds. Horsehide is harder to mold or bone to a given gun. But still more sweat resistant.
Hoping to have HBE start making my holster soon. Probably next weekend.