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Which exotic? Elephant or Stingray?

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W

Warners

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Dec 8, 2008
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Chicago area, IL
I've decided that I want to get myself something different for my daily carry (concealed) gun - a Kahr P45. So I started looking at some of the exotic skins, and I've narrowed it down to either elephant or stingray. Both are super durable. I guess the stingray would be more unique and that's what I'm leaning towards, but the elephant leather sure looks nice, too. Any thoughts on which one and why? I know, it's personal preference...just wondering what some advantages/disadvantages of either there may be that I'm not aware of.

Thanks in advance,

Warner
 
I own both. Both look very nice but stingray is very hard on clothing. Even though it's smoothed and polished the surface is essentially small stones and that does take its toll on any fabric it rubs against.
 
steven58 said:
I own both. Both look very nice but stingray is very hard on clothing. Even though it's smoothed and polished the surface is essentially small stones and that does take its toll on any fabric it rubs against.
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Interesting. I could see the holster wearing on the belt that one is wearing, but on your clothing as well? Just from rubbing against the outside of the holster? You got me thinking now. The thing is, I like BOTH of them, but can't afford to buy both.

Warner
 
Don't know about stingray, but I know elephant lasts forever.

I got an elephant hide wallet 42 years ago. Some time ago the lining and such fell apart but the actual leather was still good.

When I started carrying an LCR pretty often, I settled on speed strips for reloads. Had enough elephant hide from the wallet to make two speed strip cases. They look like new!
 
I would kill for a steady supply of elephant leather. It is as indestructible as tires it would seem.

Based on durability the elephant should win every time. Is that durability increase going to be negligible in this case?

For a wallet, as above, I would definitely go elephant.
 
I like shark.

I also don't like sharks, but do like elephants. I'd find it hard to use elephant hide without some strong provenance that it was harvested from legally culled animals, to be honest.

Larry
 
Good points and valued opinions. I think not the least of which was the idea that the stingray one may tear up my clothes.....that's not too appealing. I think the Elephant hide would be much more comfortable......

Warner
 
Yeah, you guys talked me into the elephant holster. After thinking about it, the only thing that I really liked about the stingray holster was how different it was, but I really like the looks of the elephant one and think it will be easier to live with on a daily basis. Thanks to everyone for their input.

Warner
 
A buddy of mine's shooting bag is a huge 1970s style lady's purse. I used to talk smack to him about it until I found out that it was made from elephant skin, his mother bought it new 42 years ago, it has been drug all over the country, and still looks brand new.

Elephant skin is tough stuff.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
I have the hots for stingray. I think it looks like dragon skin or some unidentifiable skins like dinosaur or something. That stingray holster is The Bomb....

VooDoo
 
Stingray is beautiful. Not much out there better looking.......or as abrasive. I wore one and a matching mag pouch for my last year on the job. Ate the linings of my suit and sport coats. I had a couple or more repaired by a seamstress but when I retired I no longer needed dress clothes. I also sold the holster to an admirer of beautiful, destructive leather. I had a pair of stingray grips for my 1911 that did the same thing. No more rays for me!
 
DT Guy said:
I like shark.

I also don't like sharks, but do like elephants. I'd find it hard to use elephant hide without some strong provenance that it was harvested from legally culled animals, to be honest.
Click to expand...

Fact being that by far the most common cause of death for elephants is famine caused by overpopulation, I wouldn't be that concerned. The only things that are pretty far from sustainable are limitations on hunting and how the environmentalist movement has managed to change CITES regulations over past 30 years or so.

In any case, it's always a matter of taste but elephant skin doesn't look very appealing to me, it looks saggy even though it isn't, but the stingray holster pictured earlier is IMO gorgeous.
 
I believe it was a few years ago when I called John Ralston of 5 Shot Leather to discuss a holster for my carry gun back then. I asked about stingray since I thought it looked really amazing, yet tough and different, and he said he no longer made holsters with stingray because the "pebbles" on the surface kept breaking his needles, so he was done with it. A friend had one years ago, too, and sold it because it was too abrasive and it looked nicer than it felt. I prefer shark, too. Some amazing shark trim pieces out there amongst the many custom makers.
 
riceboy72 said:
I believe it was a few years ago when I called John Ralston of 5 Shot Leather to discuss a holster for my carry gun back then. I asked about stingray since I thought it looked really amazing, yet tough and different, and he said he no longer made holsters with stingray because the "pebbles" on the surface kept breaking his needles, so he was done with it. A friend had one years ago, too, and sold it because it was too abrasive and it looked nicer than it felt. I prefer shark, too. Some amazing shark trim pieces out there amongst the many custom makers.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think looks-wise, they LOOK great. I have a feeling though in daily use, the stingray skin's negatives would outweigh the positives. I think the elephant leather will look great, last great, be different and "exotic", and be much easier on my clothes and more comfortable as well. So there's a lot of reason to go that way....too many, in fact, to NOT choose the elephant leather over the stingray.

Warner
 
I like stingray but love elephant hide. Enough so that I bought 16sq ft of the stuff last year and halved it with fellow member and leathermaker Eaglestroker. I have yet to do anything with mine but am planning on trying it on a Hank Sloan pattern holster. We're about to go into another hide, this time in an antique brown color.

Here's the rig he did out of the black hide:
IMG_3086b.jpg
 
I love Elephant hide and have a belt from the Beltman in it. Can't wear it because I got too fat but hopefully will get back into it this year. Also have a black holster with Elephant trim, love that stuff.
 
I got it today. Here are some picture of my Kahr P45 in it. This thing is built like a TANK. It has good retention for sure. Nice to reholster also....stays open much better than my Mitch Rosen does. Comments welcome.

Holster1.jpg

Holster2.jpg

Holster3.jpg

Holster4.jpg
 
I'd find it hard to use elephant hide without some strong provenance that it was harvested from legally culled animals, to be honest.
Click to expand...
That's interesting but poachers aren't after elephants for their hides. They make a hell of a lot more money on ivory and they don't have to stay there all day with an illegally killed elephant to get it. Tanneries that bought illegal hides wouldn't stay in business long. There's a lot of work that goes into the elephant hide that I pay $40/sq ft for. Which always includes a CITES importation tag and a sticker from the tannery.
 
DT Guy said:
I like shark.

I also don't like sharks, but do like elephants. I'd find it hard to use elephant hide without some strong provenance that it was harvested from legally culled animals, to be honest.

Larry
Click to expand...
I have the same perspective. I like elephants, it's hard to trace how they were killed, and it's very likely that they were poached and mishandled in a bad way. It's just the way it's done there and they are very intelligent animals that really understand and do not like the mistreatment.
Sharks and sting-rays? I don't much worry about them. I don't endorse any animal abuse but they are not in as short supply and some loss won't affect their ecosystem versus the small numbers of elephants and their role in theirs.
I am planning to buy a shark-trimmed holster in the next month or so. The sting ray seemed too tough and inflexible for my planned use; but I may consider it anyway.
GL with the purchase. Show pics when you receive it.
B
 
...it's hard to trace how they were killed, and it's very likely that they were poached and mishandled in a bad way.
Click to expand...
Do you have any actual evidence of that or is it just assumption and uninformed opinion???

Did you actually read my post above?

As a matter of fact, they are usually the product of government culls that are done to keep populations under control. An area with an overpopulation of elephants is soon to become an area that can support NO elephants.
 
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