O.K.,
Here's some info on sharkskin. It is very durable and scuff/abrasion resistant. A few years ago there were some crappy skins coming out of Mexico that were hard and stiff , but recently the hides coming through have been very nicely textured and supple. A good hide has a slight rubbery feel to it, though there is very little stretch. It is not sandpaper rough like an actual live shark. On average it runs about 4 oz. thick, which means it has to be laminated over a base leather such as cowhide or horsehide for a foundation. I personally think it is one of the most durable exotics, even more-so than elephant; and much less expensive than elephant (though the price on shark did just go up some). My personally made sharkskin belt is about 8 years old and is worn daily, and still lacks any scuffs or signs of wear. If you were to look at it and asked to guess, you would probably say it was well worn for a month or two. And shark covered straps on my In-Cognito or similar VM2 design will long outlast plain leather ones. With some of the other exotics, it is strctly a pride of ownership, 'look what I have" type of thing, but with sharkskin you are getting a more durable holster. I made one of my Stead-fast belt scabbards in full coverage shark for a Drug Task Force officer back east, and he contacted me about six months later stating he had been involved in an incident and dove for cover in an asphalt and gravel parking lot, sliding on the holster, and it was completely undamaged. (I recommended shark to him because when he ordered he stated he did a lot of motorcycle riding and wanted something that would hold up). So yes, there is more to it than just aesthetics if it is a hard-use everyday carry holster.
