About
Bronze is a color option of Unicorn Elk leather produced by Charles F. Stead, described as a dusty khaki-tan shade. The leather is part of a six-color range that includes Bronze, Gaucho, Leaf, Polo Brown, Shingle, and Black, all produced on Scandinavian elk hides from Finland and Norway.[1][2]
About
Bronze is a color option of Unicorn Elk leather produced by Charles F. Stead, described as a dusty khaki-tan shade. The leather is part of a six-color range that includes Bronze, Gaucho, Leaf, Polo Brown, Shingle, and Black, all produced on Scandinavian elk hides from Finland and Norway.[1][2]
The Bronze colorway maintains the same construction and characteristics as other Unicorn Elk variations, featuring an aniline-dyed combination re-tannage with a nubuck finish and wax coating. The leather is used by heritage footwear manufacturers including Caswell Boot Co., Tricker's, and EasyMoc for boots and moccasins.[3][4]
Material characteristics
The Bronze Unicorn Elk shares the fundamental properties of the broader Unicorn Elk range. The leather uses hand-selected wild Scandinavian Elk hides that belong to the Cervus genus of the deerskin family.[3] Each skin displays natural marks from the Arctic wilderness, with defects and imperfections that reflect the hide's untamed origins.[3]
The material provides a dense yet soft texture, combining comfort and suppleness from initial wear with durability for extended use.[3][4] The distinctive elk grain character remains visible through the finishing process, with no two skins identical.[1][3]
Production
The production process begins with full-grain Arctic Circle Elk skins sourced from Scandinavia, specifically Finland and Norway.[1][2] The hides undergo an aniline-dyed combination re-tannage and are subtly sanded to create a nubuck finish that reveals the natural grain characteristics.[1] A wax coating applied during tanning yields a matte finish with pull-up qualities.[1]
The finished leather measures 2.0-2.2 mm in thickness with an average skin size of 16-18 square feet.[1] The production maintains the full-bodied, heavy-weight characteristics expected from elk leather while enhancing the natural character through wax treatment.[1][2]
Applications
Bronze Unicorn Elk appears in heritage footwear collections from multiple manufacturers. Caswell Boot Co. uses the leather for their Wilson II model boots.[3] Division Road has collaborated with both Tricker's and EasyMoc for footwear featuring the Bronze colorway, including the Tricker's Dean Boot and EasyMoc Carrabasset Camp moccasin.[4][5]
The leather is ideally suited for unlined boot construction, where the material's natural suppleness and grain character can be fully appreciated.[1] Supply of Unicorn Elk leather remains limited due to the specialized sourcing of Scandinavian elk hides.[3]
References
"Waxed Elk (Moose)". Charles F Stead and Co Ltd. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
"CF Stead Waxed Elk Leather". The Tannery Row. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
"Wilson II - Unicorn Wild Elk - Bronze". Caswell Boot Co. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
"CFS Unicorn Wild Elk Leather". A & A Crack & Sons. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
"EasyMoc x DR Carrabasset Camp - Vibram 100 Honey Lug - CF Stead Bronze Unicorn". Division Road, Inc. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
