Question about pigskin

[jcusey]

This is mostly intended for Tony, but I would appreciate anyone's insight.

With the pictures of Ed Hayes's carpinco shoes, I think that I have now seen leather from three different varieties of porcine species: regular old pigskin, peccary (which is also a wild South American boar, I think), and carpinco. Could anyone comment about the peculiar qualities of each, other than the obvious differences in appearance?

[Cruz Diez]

I am also wondering about this. The carpinco skin (sounds like a Brazilian Portuguese term... but I may be wrong...) seems to have a nap (like suede). Tony, Is this the actual texture?

Regards,
Miguel

[Tony]

Hi Guys
Carpincho (correct spelling) is from Buenos Aires and is a water hog, the skin is very soft and makes a very comfortable shoe, it has the same feeling as suede and the mainantence of it would be the same, although you would think that being a water hog skin you would not have to be so cautous of the rain, but i wouln't take that chance.

The regular Pig skin you would treat the same as calf, the only draw back with the pig skins is that they do not keep there shape quite as good as calf skins and you could find that the shoe is a little roomy after a while, whereas calf skin has a great natural memory and can return to its shape a lot easier.

Kind regards

Tony

[bengal-stripe]

I’ve just asked Tony last week, to make me a pair of 3-eyelet, plain toe derbies in brown pigskin. I have high hopes, that “my pig” has had a happy life, chasing after truffles all day long. But it might well be any old porker, which ended it's life as a “banger” (sausage) on a bed of “mash” (mashed potatoes).

Better than having Miss Piggy screaming in outrage: "Shoes??? Moi???!!!”