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[David Patton]

J,
That is a very good question. I think you will receive a variety of replies to that one. I get a uniform and thin shave, but I have been at it for 25 years. I have seen some very good shaving from nearly all the top tanneries in the supplier section.

[James Parrish]

David does a nice job, as does Carolina FD.  I have a few capes from East Coast that are horrible.

[cold trapper]

Wow. there is post i can't pass...All the top tanners have their top shavers. I sell hundreds of pelts a year so think i'm qualified to submit my opinion here.
 
The top Tanneries in the usa are [in my opinion] North Carolina, Moyle. Lonestar,and USA Foxx.

North Carolina has Old Spice a very experienced man. i see his work alot at the BJ's rug shop. very professional.

 Moyle has made some of the best tans i have ever seen. especially on Ranch fur. but they can be hot and cold. [meaning they are a young business and the bumps in the road do happen.

Lonestar is owned and run by David Patton. His shaved pelts are positively second to none. He gets the top shaver award. And his taxidermy tan is far above Moyle and Usa. I am friends with David so i'm going to catch hell from somebody for saying this but this is the blunt truth as i see it.

USA Foxx is the fastest guys in town. They do a real high quality garment tan. Their prices are low too. But, they tend to lose a pelt or two.

This is my opinion. Take it for what its worth. No punches held!
My tanning bill was over 10 thousand last year. and will probably be close to 5000 this year.
THis is a great new forum.
CT
 
  

[Mary's Rugmaking]

There's a loaded question. I work on hundreds of skins from tanneries all over the United States, on a yearly basis and have for the past 18 years. The problem with the consistency of shaving lies in the fact that shavers may come and go, at a facility, and the trial period of breaking in a new shaver may be a bit shaky for while, until they get their system down pat. Keeping a good employee is a problem in all areas of the taxidermy business, including tanneries.
 I think the majority of all tanneries are consistant, you just need to be aware of the changing variables. I would not give up on a tannery you have had great success with just because you get one bad batch, but if they are  consistant with a batch or two of poor quality, it's time to move on.With the amount of shaving a new shaver does on a daily basis, it shouldn't take long to perfect the skill.
 I have seen incredible work from many tanneries and some  occasional poor work from the same tanneries over the past 18 years.
 Some of my all time favorites for skins for rugmaking, where I get great stretch and have a good evenly shaved ,clean haired, well neutralized and oiled skins are YOST, Carolina, and the Wildlife Gallery. Don't get me wrong ,there are many great tanneries out there, but I see these the most for rugmaking . From time to time even my favorites fall short of their usual quality. When you work with the volume tanneries do, you are going to have a mishap from time to time.
 Just my opinion!