[lugerholsterrepair]

John, Another interesting point concerning the pebble grained pieces I have observed. I have never seen very thick leather that has had the pebble grain. In almost every case it is thin and soft.

Brittle leather usually becomes that way due to external environmental factors, storage, oil or other chemicals, water and use. I have a holster in my shop where portions of it are as brittle as a hard cookie and will break at the slightest bend. Other portions of it are still soft and supple. Must have been a chemical spill of some sort.

The pebble grain impression takes place on the surface of the leather and somewhat seperates the surface from the underlayment due to the rising of the pebbles or bumps. This seems to make the leather softer than normal because of the seperation of the two layers, breaking the fibers I suppose. I have never really noticed a piece of pebble grain that was brittle, although I am sure there are some just by the law of averages. Jerry Burney