A little background: Shell Cordovan is a membrane inside the skin of a horse above the rump. It can be vegetable tanned for 3 months to produce a very durable, shiny leather. It makes some awesome shoes or boots that you almost never have to shine. It's fairly rare and costs about 50% more than a similar cow leather product.

Zebra are obviously very similar to horse. Talking to the guys at the Horween tannery in Chicago they say that a Zebra Shell Cordovan extends the length of the Zebra unlike the two 16-36" shells on a horse. So there is a chance I could make a rifle case or similar out of it. Has anyone ever heard of Zebra cordovan or better yet, had one tanned?

I've got an October Zebra flatskinned in the salt at the taxidermist and I'm debating trying the shell cordovan route. Having the shell removed and tanned by Horween would destroy the flatskin. I should go back and take another Zebra just for the Cordovan route

Thanks for the idea, let me know if it works.

MTF,

Sounds interesting. Must say, on looking at websites, including Horween, I'm not sure where the membrane actually is: one says subcutaneous; another talks about having to shave hair off. Big question, does skinning a zebra actually get the membrane or leave it?

Key question in any case is how much Horween would charge to do the tanning. Second, what sort of shape do they want the skin in to be able to get at the membrane?

Regards, Tim

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Carney:
MTF,

Sounds interesting. Must say, on looking at websites, including Horween, I'm not sure where the membrane actually is: one says subcutaneous; another talks about having to shave hair off. Big question, does skinning a zebra actually get the membrane or leave it?

Key question in any case is how much Horween would charge to do the tanning. Second, what sort of shape do they want the skin in to be able to get at the membrane?

Regards, Tim

I've been emailing the guy that runs Horween and he says that the shell membrane is within the skin itself. The salt curing needs to be done well and within 2-3 hours. But he hasn't seen a Zebra shell in a long time... Thus the hope that someone on AR has. After all the members here probably run into more Zebra than the Horween guys in Chicago