Shinki Brown Shrunken Horsebutt

The brown shrunken horsebutt combines the characteristic strong shrunken grain, surface character, lack of scarring, and flexibility that defines Shinki's horsebutt line. Like other Shinki horsebutt leathers, it undergoes a 10-month production process and develops a gradual patina over time.

The brown shrunken horsebutt follows the same extensive production timeline as other Shinki horsebutt leathers. The material requires a full 10 months to produce, including two months submerged in pits and three to four months of natural drying. The hides are cured for months in mimosa bark tanning solution using vegetable tanning techniques passed down for generations.

The leather is processed and tanned very similarly to Shinki Shell Cordovan. It contains the Shell portion of the hide but is processed as Horsebutt due to the smaller overall size of the available hide. During the curing process, hides lose approximately 30 percent of volume due to shrinkage, contributing to the material's density and durability.

The brown shrunken horsebutt exhibits a strong shrunken grain pattern with character on the surface while maintaining flexibility. This shrunken grain creates denser fibers that pop up and create ripples over time, especially after getting wet, which helps the leather mold to the wearer and develop character.

The leather typically weighs five to six ounces in thickness, providing substantial material for boot construction while remaining workable. The aniline finish allows for beautiful patina development as the leather ages. Patina development progresses slowly but the mellow darkening ages with grace, characteristic of Shinki's horsebutt finishes.

The leather results in extremely dense horsehide with incredible grain and superior wear potential. The shrunken grain texture provides both aesthetic appeal and functional durability, distinguishing it from smooth-finished horsebutt leathers.

Heritage bootmakers used the brown shrunken horsebutt for various premium footwear styles. Jakkrabbits Bootmaker featured the leather in Field Boots with Dr. Sole cork half sole and Norwegian welt construction, as well as Derby Shoes with Veldtschoen construction and Ivories Boots. John Lofgren included dark brown as a color option in their Shinki horsebutt collection, featuring it in various boot styles including Steel Gang Boots.

The leather was suitable for premium footwear applications due to its vegetable-tanned process and structural properties. Products made with the brown shrunken horsebutt ranged from heritage-style field boots to more refined derby shoes, demonstrating the material's versatility in boot construction.

The brown shrunken horsebutt is no longer available from Shinki Hikaku Tannery. Products featuring this leather represented a limited offering from the tannery during its production period.