I order all of my leather direct from Hermann Oak. I have several special things done to my leather while in the order process. I can't get these special requests, when buying from a jobber or retail outlet. I buy saddle skirting backs only, not full sides. I have everything leveled to my specs, including cartridge loop material and money belt material. In the original F. A. Meanea catalogs I have in my collection, he referred to his money belt material as "pebble grain calf skin". I have this leather done to my specs, most importantly leveling to the weight I like. Many of my original saddle shop made money cartridge belts from the late 1870 to 1900 period are 4 1/2 to 5 oz in weight, so this is what I order. I will not compromise on the quality of the leather I use and try very hard to stay as close to the original thicknesses as possible. Of course, not all "old time" saddle makers used the same leather, but Frank Meanea was a perfectionist and I try to follow his example in my own reproductions. Having said all this, it is impossible to find leather today that will have the same feel and stiffness as leather tanned back in the "real" cowboy era. Back in the day, cattle were not slaughtered until they were sometimes over five years old. At that age, the grain in the leather had time to tighten up, which made it a bit stiffer and more dense. Today, beef cattle are sometimes processed at less than half that age. The leather simple hasn't had the time to mature.