Digging through some stuff I found an older Black Widow tab I had with cordovan leather [probably circa 2008] Wow what a difference on smooth release that cordovan makes from the BW tabs they sell now with leather- can't remember what they call it but it sure isn't the cordovan.
Anyone else miss the cordovan from BW?
I'm sure its a cost thing but I will go on record that I'm willing to pay the extra for the better tab......
Just buy a Bateman, one of the original cordovan tabs.
I had one like that also and liked it much better than the one they sell now. I use the Bateman now
Bateman.
any chance you are lefty ?
ChuckC
Yeah, I'm a lefty and if you have a BW XL tab- let me know. I sent you a PM
Bateman; I just bought one- not nearly as nice as the old BW tabs with cordovan. The Bateman is much thinner
I have heard a lot about the BW cordovan tab. I love the calf hair, but they don't last. Super leather is too thick. Sure wish they made the cordovan still. I bet it is a great tab. I use an Eichler now and like it a lot, but would rather have the thick plate of the BW tab.
Cordovan is horse hide, wonder if the availability of horse hide went down when they outlawed the slaughter of horses in the USA. Might be why BW went away from cordovan.
From the way I understand it to be, is Japan is the originator of cordovan, and that is where Bateman gets theirs from.
How can the Bateman be too thin, mine has a double layer ?, and I am sensative to irritation from the string and have no problem !
Actually, I should have elaborated on my answer regarding the Bateman. I don't like the thinner/smaller palm section of the Bateman. I do like the bigger thicker palm section of the BW.
I just got the Bateman and can probably adjust to it but right now where it sits in my palm affecting my thumb placement feels funny.
Anyway, that BW with cordovan is sweet.
The last couple of Bateman's I have bought are thinner than the tabs I use to get from them. The cordovan is thinner, and the backing is different. Have been looking into buying some cordovan to make my own.
Good luck on the Cordovan. At the begining of 2013, I tried purchasing some from the only supplier in the U.S. and was told they were sold out until 2014.
It is a special piece of horse leather coming from the rear end. Most all cordovan is out of Italy now a days.
If you like the cordovan, you should try a Rod Jenkins tab. They are sweet!
BigJim
Check out this one from a sponsor, looks very well made like Big Jim said,
http://www.safarituff.com/rodjenkinssignaturetab.html