Deer Leather

[Snipar]

Any ideas where we can get some smoked deer leather which we can use for Kote palm repair? We are based in New Zealand and sending our Kote to Japan or the US for patching is uneconomic so we were wondering if we could buy some and get repairs done locally.

Any sensible ideas appreciated.

[joekc6nlx]

You might try www.tandyleather.com (http://www.tandyleather.com) They do take international orders, so you might be able to purchase an entire skin for around $70 U.S. That's an awful lot of deerskin, though. They're advertising a sale until 3/31/2006 for the deerskin smoke at $6.69 per square foot.

[Snipar]

Thanks joekc6nlx. I have had a look though and I don't think it is quite the same as the smoked deerskin Kote palms are made out of. Might be ok for patching though.

[Old Warrior]

Any ideas where we can get some smoked deer leather which we can use for Kote palm repair? We are based in New Zealand and sending our Kote to Japan or the US for patching is uneconomic so we were wondering if we could buy some and get repairs done locally.

Any sensible ideas appreciated.

I have been practicing kendo for just over 3 years. I am on my 3rd set of kote. The first was a beginners pair bought through our dojang, the 2nd was a $200+ pair that I thought would last. After 9 months the stuffing was coming out in 2 places, the palm was shot and my sabumnim said they were beyond repair. I decided to try an $80 E Bogu special, and to be quite honest - they are just as good as the pair that cost 3 times as much. And, when they wear out, getting another pair will not break the bank. I guess someone could say there is something wrong with my kendo that causes me to wear through them so fast (and I'm sure you would be right). Nevertheless, if you go to class 3-4 times a week, they never dry thoroughly and since I do nito, my hands take a real pounding.

Bottom line - I'd buy cheap ones and not spend a great deal of effort on repair.

[JSchmidt]

Bottom line - I'd buy cheap ones and not spend a great deal of effort on repair.

That is just about the opposite of my experiences...Are you airing your kote after practice?.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Nevertheless, if you go to class 3-4 times a week, they never dry thoroughly.
If you have that situation, whether due to lots of practice or the local weather, you should have two pairs and rotate them. The two pairs will last longer used alternately than if you bought first one and then the other.

If your $200 kote got trashed that fast, switch suppliers.

[Ignatz]

I guess someone could say there is something wrong with my kendo that causes me to wear through them so fast (and I'm sure you would be right)

Yep. Probably have death grip on shinai trying to beat opponent to death.

I agree with Neil about rotating, just like rotating your shoes.