Range Markings on Full Grain Leather - No Images Version

What is a Range Marking?

NOTE: This version of the article has the images removed as some might prefer not to have to look at what amounts to pictures of wounds. The version with pictures can be found here.

A range marking describes any mark or blemish on a hide of leather which was acquired during the life of the animal. This can mean stretch marks, barb-wire scars, horsefly bites, or any of a dozen other things. Some people find these markings unsightly, others believe they add to the unique character of a piece and understand that range markings provide sure proof that the leather they are looking at is full grain leather.

What is Full Grain Leather?

To say a leather is "full grain" means that all the layers of the animal hide have been preserved by the tanning process, including the topmost layer where those range markings would be.

This produces the most durable leathers, which will patina beautifully with time and use. Though on the other hand, this also means that any scars or other markings will be preserved as well.

What is Corrected Grain Leather?

Corrected grain leathers, also called top grain leathers, offer a blemish free alternative to full grain leather. This means the blemishes have been sanded off and the leather artificially resurfaced in a uniform finish.

Removing this top layer compromises on strength, introduces a failure point where the two layers meet, and the removal of the pores of the leather prevents the leather from gathering a patina over time.

Refinishing the top layer however, also guarantees larges swaths of uniform, blemish-free leather.

Which is better is a matter of your priorities.

Wizened Oak Leather works exclusively with full grain leather.

This is because the engraving and tooling work that I do on most of my products demands it. My tools and techniques depend on the unique properties of full grain, vegetable tanned leather.

Policies on using leather with range markings.

In 11 years in this profession, I have never seen a hide without at least one range marking on it. In that same time I have gotten pretty good at cutting around the unsightly markings and integrating the more appealing ones in unobtrusive ways.

There are certainly range markings I consider too unsightly to include in a product, but if you have received a product from me with a range marking, I have already determined that I do not consider it a flaw that would devalue the piece.

In the event you disagree with that assessment, I offer no questions asked returns and exchanges.

Can I Guarantee Leather Without Range-Markings?

To avoid any risk of disappointment, blemish free leather can be guaranteed at 200% of any advertised price. Alternatively, seeking out a maker who uses corrected grain leathers may the best thing for you.

Guaranteeing blemish free material significantly increases waste and often require restarting an item late into the process as some markings only become visible after the leather has been dyed.

Range Markings On Larger Items.

On some larger items, there is simply no way to cut around all the range markings on most hides I receive. In the cases of desk pads, larger portfolios, and similar items, it is more likely than not that there will be some amount of range marking on the piece. It is possible to find blemish free pieces for these items, but it may take some time to source that material.

Range Markings On Smaller Items

Particularly for smaller items, there is a very good chance any random item ordered from my shop will be range-mark free. Unless I have guaranteed otherwise however, there is also a very real chance that a piece will contain a small scar tucked away on a backside, or under a pocket.

Can I Guarantee Leather Without Range-Markings?

To avoid any risk of disappointment, blemish free leather can be guaranteed at 200% of any advertised price. Alternatively, seeking out a maker who uses corrected grain leathers rather than full grain leathers may be the best thing for you.

Guaranteeing blemish free material significantly increases waste and often require restarting an item late into the process as some markings only become visible after the leather has been dyed.