C.F. Stead Snuff Naked Kudu

The leather is sourced from Greater Kudu antelope native to Southern African regions, with hides processed through Charles F. Stead's aniline finishing method. This exclusive colorway appears across multiple Viberg product lines, including the Service Boot on the 2030 last, the 145 Oxford, and Derby Shoe models on the 1035 last. The material maintains standard Naked Kudu specifications of 1.6-2.2 mm thickness while offering the distinctive natural surface characteristics that define the naked finish approach.

Snuff presents as a brown colorway in aniline-finished kudu leather. The color provides a warm, earthy tone that highlights the natural texture and markings of the wild antelope hide. The aniline finish allows the leather's authentic characteristics to remain visible, with natural blemishes, scars, and scratches creating color variation across each hide's surface.

The distinctive brown tone interacts with the leather's natural grain structure to showcase the authentic marks acquired during the animal's life in African grasslands. Each hide displays unique patterns of natural markings, with these characteristics contributing to individual character rather than representing defects. The color's interaction with the natural surface creates a rugged appearance suitable for heritage footwear applications.

Snuff Naked Kudu maintains the standard specifications of C.F. Stead Naked Kudu leather, available in 1.6-2.2 mm thickness, equivalent to 4.5-5.5 oz weight. The leather utilizes wild Greater Kudu antelope sourced from Southern African regions, an animal known for developing natural scratches and scars from its native environment of thorny bushes and sharp thickets.

The material demonstrates exceptional durability despite its soft, supple texture. User reports describe the leather as "a lot tougher than imagined," being "just about impervious to damage and significant scuffs" while remaining "soft, stretchy and comfortable with little break in." The dense fiber structure provides natural strength while the aniline finish preserves the hide's authentic surface characteristics. The wild origin of the hides contributes to their distinctive character, with natural blemishes becoming visible design features that make each piece unique.

Snuff Naked Kudu undergoes the fully aniline finishing process employed by Charles F. Stead, where the hide completes all tanning and dyeing procedures with no surface treatment applied afterward. This naked finish approach preserves the leather's natural characteristics rather than concealing them under protective coatings, highlighting the authentic marks and blemishes acquired during the animal's life.

The soft, full-bodied grain leather features natural surface properties that showcase wild-sourced authenticity. The processing emphasizes the material's inherent characteristics, with natural superficial cuts, scratches, and scars remaining visible in the finished leather. This construction method creates a material that develops real depth in appearance and coloration while maintaining the suppleness characteristic of kudu leather. The aniline finish allows the leather to breathe and flex naturally, contributing to immediate comfort in footwear applications.

Viberg produces multiple footwear models in Snuff Naked Kudu leather as part of their exclusive arrangement with Charles F. Stead. The Service Boot utilizes Snuff Naked Kudu on Viberg's 2030 last with Dainite sole construction and kip lining. The 145 Oxford and Derby Shoe models feature the leather on the 1035 last, providing dress shoe applications of the material.

The distinctive brown colorway with natural markings provides Viberg customers with an authentic wild antelope leather option that showcases the material's true character. The exclusive nature of the colorway, combined with the inherent durability and comfort characteristics described in user reviews, creates products that appeal to customers seeking premium leather with distinctive wild-sourced markings. Additional manufacturers including Crown Northampton have also utilized Snuff Naked Kudu, demonstrating the colorway's appeal beyond Viberg's exclusive offerings. The material's combination of toughness, suppleness, and natural character makes it suitable for demanding footwear applications across Viberg's product range.