Peccary and Carpincho hides

[Hartline]

Is it just me, or is anyone else finding that retailers don't seem to know the difference between peccary and carpincho?

[DD MacDonald]

Hartline, I've not come across this fine point of eductation. If you please point out the salient differences I'd be much oblidged.

DDM

[Hartline]

I'll try to post some picture of the differences.

[JLibourel]

I'll have to say that I had never encountered the term "carpincho" until now, but I have known the animal by its other name "capybara" since I was a little boy. Is carpincho more commonly used for the leather? I'm surprised at the confusion since the peccary and the capybara are such radically different animals with little in common beyond being quadruped mammals. Are the hides very similar?

Years ago, a capybara was, for some time, roaming about the Marine base at Camp Pendleton south of where I live. It was a mystery how it got there.

The collared peccary or javelina at one time ranged as far north as Nevada in the USA but was largely exterminated by the hide trade in the 1930s. Fortunately, they are repopulating much of the American Southwest and pushing their range northward again.

Anyone know whether the hides of the collared or the larger, more ferocious white-lipped peccary of the tropics are favored for the hide trade?

Although many people think of peccaries as pigs, peccaries and true pigs are only distantly related--about like men and monkeys, perhaps.

[trevorh]

It was my understanding that quality peccary was getting harder to find these days. Is this true? Lots of the stuff the glovemakers sell is so soft and mushy. The peccary I know is more rigid.

[Hartline]

Interesting you should mention that. I tried to order new gloves from firms in both Rome and Florence. One of them replied, "sorry at the moment we cannot find the right leather to be able to make the gloves" and the other said that they could not do it at this time.