Deer or Cow???? (KOTE)

[kawa]

Deerskin is softer and elastic, and cow leather is more durable and inexpensive. I have one of each. Deerskin kote last about 2 years, and cow leather last over 4 years. (3-4 time per week of usage).

Like to see what you guys think?

Oh one more things, deerskin kote are “stinky-er” than cow. :puzzled:

[Neil Gendzwill]

I find deer to be both more flexible and more durable than cow.

[sminki]

I find deer to be both more flexible and more durable than cow.

I second that.

[qpuppy]

and I'll third that too....

[Kendoka]

Kangaroo skin (leather) is good.
You have to roughen one side, before sewing into the kote.
It is firm, doesnt seem to slip and good to grip.

[Nishi]

Deer skin is alot softer and allows me to feel more in the tsuka when fencing, i think it allows me a little more control over the shinai as well...i am using my first pair of deer skin-kote now, but i think they'll last longer than 2 years....probably 4-5 is my guess!

[tanueirin]

Kangaroo skin (leather) is good.
You have to roughen one side, before sewing into the kote.
It is firm, doesnt seem to slip and good to grip.

Hi kendoka,

Just curious - where would one be able to purchase strips of kangaroo leather? And when you mend the palms of the kote, do you find you get a better result with the patch on the inside or the outside?

Thanks in advance,
t

[A P]

Ha ha!

I have a question? :confused:

Do you think that it is a personal perferance of using a cow skin kote, or deer

kote when fence? Which skin type give you the best feel, go with that one.

[A P]

Would you say that that would be the best thing.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Do you think that it is a personal perferance of using a cow skin kote, or deer kote when fence? Which skin type give you the best feel, go with that one.

I suppose it would be a personal preference, except that everybody I've ever talked to prefers deer. It's simply better in all aspects except cost, which is why all good-quality kote use deerskin palms.

[A P]

I suppose it would be a personal preference, except that everybody I've ever talked to prefers deer. It's simply better in all aspects except cost, which is why all good-quality kote use deerskin palms.


I seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :shocked: :surprise: :surprise:

[tanueirin]

Still no luck in finding kangaroo leather, and I am loathe to look for a live one myself - they're huge and have sharp claws ;) There is a small hole starting in the thumb region of my kote, and I would prefer to use deer leather rather than cow.

Has anyone had any luck using car chamois (the only easily available source of deer leather I can think of) to mend their kote, or is it completely wrong for the task?

Also, do you prefer to sew patches on or to glue them on with a contact bond (the sort cobblers use on leather shoes)?

Thanks!

[kanyil]

What about using "micro-punched" Clarino palms or just ordinary clarino palms? How does clarino compare to deerskin?

I think quite a few bogu makers are starting to use "micro-punched" clarino palms for their better bogus.