Rawlings leathers

SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
So I've spent the day picking the mind of a glove genius. Rous is a gentleman.

Out of the natural colored leathers in both the custom PP and HoH lines, what's the stiffest/most durable? Is their custom PP kip leather better than the retail version (Lord I hope so), or would a person be better off going with some Japan tan on some HoH?

Oiled black horween gets too soft too quickly..?

Thank you for any help/input ladies and gents.

Have a great evening!
 
Rous

Rous

Addicted to Softballfans
If you want the absolute best glove leather (given your preferences), wait 4 months to see if the tan Horween is made available. It is what you want. If you get one now, don't put your name on it, as you will be flipping it to get a tan Horween glove made before Christmas.
 
huntaholic21

huntaholic21

Addicted to Softballfans
Get a jap tan one now, and then a horween one if they come out. Then decide which one you like better. I've seen a few people say they prefer the Jt over horween.
 
SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
Which tan in the HoH builder is the Japan tan though... there Is more than one tan option. Tan, gold tan, ect, ect...

To be honest with you though mate, I think I'm going to go with my gut on this one. A 504 in the oiled black horween just sounds good, and Rous believes it to be some heavy duty stuff. Sounds good enough for whatever I will use it for, and for years to come.

I guess we will find out.
 
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Felks32

Felks32

Addicted to Softballfans
SaltyVeteran said:
Which tan in the HoH builder is the Japan tan though... there Is more than one tan option. Tan, gold tan, ect, ect...

To be honest with you though mate, I think I'm going to go with my gut on this one. A 504 in the oiled black horween just sounds good, and Rous believes it to be some heavy duty stuff. Sounds good enough for whatever I will use it for, and for years to come.

I guess we will find out.
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Tan is the J Tan. Gold tan is more yellowish.
 
Wally Gator

Wally Gator

Starting Player
If you're going custom black, I would recommend the dry black over the oiled black. A DJ2 went soft fast compared to a custom 200 in dry black. Rous relaced both in two tone lace for a 2nd reference. Both will last a long time, but it's the immediate level of play that differentiates the two.
 
Felks32

Felks32

Addicted to Softballfans
SaltyVeteran said:
Thank you for clearing that up for me Felks. So many options... it's good to double check and make sure.
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If you need some pics, check my signature I have a custom 504 and 302 both in J-Tan. The 504 is about 6 months old and the 302 is brand new.
 
SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
Wally Gator said:
If you're going custom black, I would recommend the dry black over the oiled black. A DJ2 went soft fast compared to a custom 200 in dry black. Rous relaced both in two tone lace for a 2nd reference. Both will last a long time, but it's the immediate level of play that differentiates the two.
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Was the DJ2 a custom as well, or retail?

I'm only asking because I have the notion in mind that a manufacturers custom offerings are usually made with higher quality materials. Wilson's customs department is putting out gloves that rival their PI line. Perhaps that's maybe not the case with Rawlings of which I have no idea (correct me if I'm wrong), and to be fair I'd like an apple to apple comparison if it can be made.
 
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S

Soxfan8

Starting Player
I have observed that my custom Rawlings have generally been a bit better constructed than retail gloves. I don't think that's a result of any factor other than, on average, more attention is paid to a one off glove - but, it's not orders of magnitude better. Unless you just pull the trigger, you're going to go in circles weighing options and opinions. If you like Rawlings, you'll probably like their customs, and you can't go wrong with any of the leather recommendations that have already been made.
 
bigmac25

bigmac25

Extra Hitter
Also, it sounds like you are leaning more towards the black, but someone here (forgive me i forget who) helped me when i asked how the tans looked in person and which was the closest to horween tan as the jap tan looked yellow to me.
Someone was actually sent color swatches from rawlings and put a link to a picture in the thread.
It helped, and should you still be considering tan - it may help.
That being said, Rous sounds like a man with a great plan as you prob would want to flip should the Htan come to fruition.
You sound like you had the right idea picking his brain. Top notch glove brain who seems to always lend his time.
Either way, good luck AND make sure to show that bad boy off when it arrives!!

*** edit*** here is that thread..
http://forums.softballfans.com/showthread.php?t=1415259
 
SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
Good stuff guys! Can't tall you how much I appreciate the input. The trigger has been pulled.

6 weeks and counting. Patience is a virtue...
 
Rous

Rous

Addicted to Softballfans
Wally Gator said:
If you're going custom black, I would recommend the dry black over the oiled black. A DJ2 went soft fast compared to a custom 200 in dry black. Rous relaced both in two tone lace for a 2nd reference. Both will last a long time, but it's the immediate level of play that differentiates the two.
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Haha, you obviously have more experience with your own glove so I like getting your perspective. I don't recall that DJ2 being soft or floppy. I DO recall the dry black one being ridiculously stiff (it was still new). My son has a PRO200 in the dry black and after over two years of heavy use it is still solid, although the finish in the palm is starting to wear. I have more personal experience with the old OT tan leather which seems to stay stiff and solid after a lot of use (except for yours Wally, cannot explain that).

I have relaced gloves that feel like dish rags, so my perception of soft or floppy may be different than others. WHile I think the black OT Horween makes for a substantial, long-lasting, glove, I'd love to hear more from guys that have owned them and used them for years.
 
aggiemechengr16

aggiemechengr16

Part Time Player
I've got a dry black custom that was made in 2008, it was very stiff when it was new. Like Rous mentioned, the finish in the palm of mine started to wear off after a couple years. I stopped using it because the deer tanned cowhide lining is absolutely shot and feels awful on the hand. But the outer dry black shell is still in great shape. I now wear batting gloves/one-handed fielding gloves underneath to prevent liner damage.

I can post pics if anyone is interested.
 
SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
aggiemechengr16 said:
I've got a dry black custom that was made in 2008, it was very stiff when it was new. Like Rous mentioned, the finish in the palm of mine started to wear off after a couple years. I stopped using it because the deer tanned cowhide lining is absolutely shot and feels awful on the hand. But the outer dry black shell is still in great shape. I now wear batting gloves/one-handed fielding gloves underneath to prevent liner damage.

I can post pics if anyone is interested.
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Absolutely! Unsolicited glove porn is always appreciated!!! :thumb:
 
bigmac25

bigmac25

Extra Hitter
was the non hinge post DMS rv23 black dry?? that was SSOOO nice at 1st and then as soon as it started to get broken in the thing just transformed into a pancake. Nice version of the pattern, but as a fan of stiff gloves through the break in - this one did not cut it. i know it was horween, but im not sure iof it was dry or OT?
 
huntaholic21

huntaholic21

Addicted to Softballfans
Buddy of mine has a non hinge black rv23. He's had it for about 10 years. League 2x a week, at least 2 tourneys a month. Thing is amazing. Perfectly broken in, but still stiff. Not a pancake at all.
 
Rous

Rous

Addicted to Softballfans
bigmac25 said:
was the non hinge post DMS rv23 black dry?? that was SSOOO nice at 1st and then as soon as it started to get broken in the thing just transformed into a pancake. Nice version of the pattern, but as a fan of stiff gloves through the break in - this one did not cut it. i know it was horween, but im not sure iof it was dry or OT?
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I think those were the dry black Horween, but not 100% sure. The black Horween glove leather is not as stiff as the tan, but I still love it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that for any leather style, or color, or hide, we have overlapping bell curves in the distribution of quality. Every hide is different and every batch is different. Temperature and humidity affect the tanning process and the Horween factory is in Chicago. And hides not only vary in thickness, and density between hides, but there is a lot of variation across a single hide. Until gloves are all made out of a synthetic material, they will vary.

FYI: I bet Rawlings specifies 5.5 oz leather, which means the hides will typically be between 2.25mm and 2.5mm thick.
 
Felks32

Felks32

Addicted to Softballfans
SaltyVeteran said:
Got a tentative shipping date of 7/20 from Rawlings. Lord only knows when it will actually arrive.
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So you ordered June 3rd and were given July 20th as a ship date? Just trying to gauge when mine will be in. Ordered May 30th, but i'm in Canada. July should be fun with my custom and the SBF Wilson.
 
SaltyVeteran

SaltyVeteran

Member
Felks32 said:
So you ordered June 3rd and were given July 20th as a ship date? Just trying to gauge when mine will be in. Ordered May 30th, but I'm in Canada. July should be fun with my custom and the SBF Wilson.
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I ordered back on 6/3. Good luck getting yours whenever that may be. I have a custom Wilson order that says it's done, and has been getting shipped from Japan to the Wilson distribution center for the last week.

These things take as long as they will take...
 
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