Saddlery & Vegetable Tanned Leather
Buckskin Leather offers one of Canada’s most comprehensive selections of vegetable-tanned leather for saddlery, tooling, and traditional leatherworking. We stock premium full grain veg-tan leather in weights from 2 oz to 15+ oz, including sides, shoulders, bellies, and panels—ideal for crafting saddles, harnesses, holsters, armor, belts, tack, and more.
As the authorized Canadian distributor for Hermann Oak®, we proudly carry their full line of top-tier veg-tan leather—renowned for its firm temper, consistency, and excellent tooling and carving performance. We also offer natural and dyed options from other trusted tanneries, all machine-measured, uncut, and sold by the square foot or side. Shipping available throughout Canada and the U.S.
Natural Vegetable Tanned Leather
Natural vegetable-tanned leather is perfect for tooling, stamping, carving, dyeing, and wet molding. Left unfinished, it develops a rich, natural patina over time, making each piece truly one of a kind. This leather is firm, durable, and essential for projects like belts, saddles, holsters, and armor.
We stock a variety of weights from 3 oz to 15 oz, suitable for everything from light carving to heavy-duty saddlery. Available in sides, single and double shoulders, and bellies, all hides are sold uncut and priced per square foot in their natural russet tone, ideal for custom dyeing.
Hermann Oak® Leather
As Canada’s authorized distributor for Hermann Oak® since 2014, Buckskin Leather Company proudly offers the highest quality vegetable-tanned leather available.
Hermann Oak Leather, a four-generation family-owned business based in St. Louis, Missouri, has been tanning the finest veg-tan leather since 1881 — now celebrating its 144th year of excellence.
Hermann Oak veg-tan sides are suspended in vats and soaked for 6–8 weeks, significantly longer than the 10–14 days typical of commercial tanneries. This extended tanning process results in a firmer, denser leather that tools, wet forms, and stamps beautifully, with a rich, slightly darker natural tone.
In 2014, Buckskin Leather Co. was honored to become Hermann Oak’s official distributor for Canada, continuing the legacy of Caledon Leather Sales Inc. of Calgary, who represented Hermann Oak for 28 years. We thank Caledon for their dedicated service and want to assure their customers that we not only carry all the classic Hermann Oak lines but have also expanded the selection with exciting new weights and styles tailored for saddle makers, leathercrafters, hobbyists, and a variety of leatherworking applications.
Give Hermann Oak a try today — you won’t be disappointed!
English Bridle Leather
English bridle leather is a full vegetable-tanned cowhide designed specifically for belts, straps, horse tack, and equestrian gear. Known for its strength, smooth finish, and longevity, it’s a top choice in the saddlery trade. Our bridle leather comes pre-dyed and ready to use, with a natural transparent finish and a pasted flesh side. This means no need to line or finish the back, just cut, edge, and go. It’s ideal for belts, pet gear, and single-ply straps where a clean, professional appearance is important. Available in Black, Chestnut, Havana Brown, British Brown, and London Tan, in weights ranging from 8 to 10 oz, averaging 22–26 sq.ft. per hide.
Harness Leather
Harness leather is a premium vegetable-tanned cowhide that undergoes an additional hot-stuffing process using waxes and natural tallows (animal oils). This results in a dense, weather-resistant leather with a rich pull-up, deep color, and smooth finish, perfect for horse tack, harness gear, reins, and working straps that demand strength and long-term performance.
This leather is firm, non-stretching, and edges beautifully, making it a top choice for outdoor use and gear that must withstand the elements.
Alum Tanned (Indian tan) Latigo Leather
Also known as Indian Tan Latigo, this leather is easily recognized by its signature yellow center. Alum-tanned latigo is known for being the firmest and most densely grained of its kind. The specialized tanning process compresses the hide fibers, resulting in exceptional strength with minimal stretch.
This tough, durable leather is the go-to choice for boot laces, saddle strings, and rugged strap applications where reliability and endurance matter most.
Hotstuffed Veg-Retan Latigo Leather
Our Hotstuffed Veg-Retan Latigo Cowhide is a firm, durable strap-grade leather with just the right amount of pliability for tying, without excessive stretch. First chrome-tanned for flexibility, it’s then re-tanned with vegetable and bark extracts to create a denser, firmer grain with added structure. Finished with a hot stuffing of tallow and wax, this leather offers natural moisture resistance, making it ideal for rugged outdoor use. A great choice for saddle latigos, reins, saddlebags, lace leather, and saddle strings, built to perform and last. This leather cannot be tooled, stamped, or carved.
Chrome Tanned Latigo Leather
Chrome tanned latigo is a softer, more pliable leather, ideal for saddlebags, skirts, and general tack. It’s available in either a dry pigmented or natural oil-tanned finish, giving you options depending on your project needs. While great for many saddle and horse gear applications, it’s not recommended for straps or other tension-bearing uses, as chrome tan leather is more prone to stretching.
World renowned master saddle maker, Chuck Stormes uses Hermann Oak Leather to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces like the one shown above.