Shinki Color 4 Horsebutt

Production of Shinki Color 4 Horsebutt requires a full 10 months, including two months submerged in pits and three to four months of natural drying. Viberg secured a small allotment of this leather from Shinki Hikaku, marking their first non-Shell Cordovan preorder when it was released. The leather features the distinct grain and texture characteristic of Shinki's horsebutt production, with a glossy finish and tendency to roll rather than crease during wear.

Color 4 represents a medium brown shade derived from a specific dye formula that uses half the concentration of the well-known Colour 8 dye. The Shinki Oiled Horsebutt version features unique red undertones not typically found in standard brown horsebutt variations. This coloration creates a warm, complex appearance that shows hints of red and darker brown tones in different lighting conditions.

The color designation "Color 4" originates from traditional leather dye numbering systems, where it has historically been known as a medium reddish-brown shade, sometimes referred to as burnt cherry in early 20th century contexts. While Colour 4 Shell Cordovan has been documented as a rarely produced color, the application of this color to Shinki's Oiled Horsebutt represents a distinctive variant created specifically for Viberg's partnership with the Japanese tannery.

The production of Shinki Color 4 Oiled Horsebutt follows the same extended timeline as other Shinki horsebutt leathers. The process takes a full 10 months from start to finish, beginning with two months of submersion in tanning pits. After pit tanning, the leather undergoes three to four months of natural drying, allowing the material to develop its characteristic dense structure.

The leather is processed similarly to Shinki's Shell Cordovan but remains classified as horsebutt due to the smaller overall size of the hides. The production includes the shell portion of the hide, which contributes to the leather's dense feel and distinctive characteristics. The pit tanning process causes the leather to become more dense while accentuating the natural grain patterns.

During finishing, the surface is left uncorrected and undyed, with several coats of oil applied to create the characteristic oiled finish. This oil treatment provides water resistance and enhances the leather's natural appearance while maintaining the depth of color achieved through the Color 4 dye process.

Shinki Color 4 Oiled Horsebutt exhibits the dense, thick feel characteristic of Shinki Hikaku's horsebutt production. When new, the leather feels almost impenetrable but gradually relaxes over time with wear. The material displays a glossy finish combined with a subtle grain pattern that varies between individual hides, creating unique character in each piece.

The grain pattern includes natural variations such as honeycomb-shaped stretch marks and vertical striations. These authentic marks from the horse's life remain visible due to Shinki Hikaku's minimal surface correction approach. The leather demonstrates more character out of the box than many leathers develop over an entire lifetime of wear.

The material exhibits a tendency to roll rather than crease when worn, similar to the behavior of shell cordovan. This rolling characteristic, combined with the leather's dense structure, creates graceful wear patterns that differ from typical boot leathers. The leather appears to be susceptible to water spotting, requiring care when exposed to moisture.

Shinki Hikaku, established in 1951 in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, operates as the world's only tannery specializing exclusively in horse leather. The family-run business focuses on producing signature leathers through meticulous tanning processes that take up to four months to complete.

The tannery's specialized approach to horse leather production creates leathers with intricacies and character not found elsewhere in the industry. Their pit tanning methods and extended drying periods result in dense, well-structured leathers that exhibit distinct grain patterns and aging properties. The exclusive arrangement between Shinki Hikaku and Viberg for Color 4 Oiled Horsebutt demonstrates the tannery's willingness to create limited production runs for specific partnerships.

Viberg featured Shinki Color 4 Oiled Horsebutt on their Service Boot style, built on the 2030 last. The boots included tonal eyelets and speedhooks, a brogue toe cap, and Ridgeway sole. The original retail price was $840 when released as Viberg's first non-Shell Cordovan preorder.

The production timeline for these boots was estimated at six months, reflecting both the leather's extended production schedule and Viberg's construction process. The boots were made available exclusively through Viberg's website, with the company securing only a small allotment of the leather from Shinki Hikaku. The limited availability and exclusive nature of the leather created high demand among heritage footwear enthusiasts.

Shinki Color 4 Oiled Horsebutt was originally sold exclusively through Viberg.com as part of a limited production run. The boots have since sold out from Viberg directly, though they occasionally appear on secondary markets such as Grailed and collector forums. The combination of limited production quantities, exclusive manufacturer arrangement, and the extended time required to produce the leather makes this variant difficult to obtain compared to more standard Shinki horsebutt colors.

The exclusive nature of the Color 4 variant to Viberg, combined with Shinki Hikaku's position as the sole tannery specializing in horse leather, creates supply constraints that limit availability even when production runs occur. Buyers seeking this specific leather variant typically monitor secondary markets or inquire about future production runs directly with Viberg.