Every piece of gear tells a story.
At Shatterproof Archery, our leather tabs aren't mass-produced in a factory halfway around the world. They're made one at a time in a small workshop that, for now, happens to be a combination of garages, basements, and spare bedrooms.
One day we'll outgrow these spaces. But honestly, these are the days we'll probably remember the most.
Today I want to pull back the curtain and show you exactly how our leather tabs are made—and more importantly, why we build them the way we do.
Choosing the Right Leather
We currently make two styles of shooting tabs:
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Chrome Tan Leather Tabs
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Shell Cordovan Leather Tabs
While the construction is nearly identical, the leather itself creates a completely different shooting experience.
Chrome Tan Leather
Chrome tan leather is soft, flexible, and molds naturally around the bowstring.
If you're coming from an archery glove, this tab will feel familiar. You'll still feel the string in your fingers, giving plenty of feedback throughout the shot.
Many traditional archers love that connection to the string.
Shell Cordovan
Shell cordovan is an entirely different material.
Made from the fibrous shell beneath the hide on a horse's rump, it's one of the finest and most expensive leathers available. A single hide costs significantly more than standard cowhide, but it offers incredible durability and an exceptionally smooth release.
Instead of feeling every detail of the string, shell cordovan creates a slick surface that allows the string to leave your fingers with very little resistance.
Many archers believe this contributes to a cleaner, more consistent release.
Oversized on Purpose
One thing you'll notice about our tabs is that they arrive slightly oversized.
That's intentional.
Every archer's hand is different.
Rather than forcing everyone into one size, we leave enough material so you can trim the tab to fit your exact hand and shooting style.
A properly fitted tab is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to improve comfort and consistency.
Precision Starts Before Assembly
Every leather piece is cut using steel dies to ensure every part is identical.
The more accurately each piece is cut, the less trimming is required later.
That may sound like a small detail, but when you're making dozens of tabs at a time, a few extra seconds on every product quickly adds up.
Good craftsmanship often begins long before assembly.
Building for Durability
Many leather tabs rely almost entirely on stitching.
We do things a little differently.
Each layer is first glued together before it's sewn.
The stitching provides the long-term strength, while the glue keeps the edges tightly sealed so dirt can't work its way between the layers over time.
It's one extra step, but it creates a cleaner-looking tab that holds up better after years of shooting.
Small Design Changes Make a Big Difference
One of the biggest improvements we've made recently is replacing our old finger loop system.
Instead of leather loops or paracord, we now use an adjustable elastic shock cord with a cord lock.
The result is a tab that's:
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Faster to adjust
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More comfortable to wear
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Easier to put on and remove
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Better at molding to your hand
Sometimes the smallest design updates end up making the biggest difference in everyday use.
Why We Batch Our Production
If you've ever built something by hand, you know that efficiency isn't just about working faster.
It's about working smarter.
Instead of making one complete tab from start to finish, we perform each step in batches:
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Cut all the leather
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Apply edge finishes
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Glue all the layers
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Heat stamp the logo
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Sew every tab
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Finish the edges
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Install the finger loops
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Perform final quality inspection
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Package each product
Working this way lets finishes dry while other work continues and dramatically improves consistency.
The Final Touches
Before every tab leaves the shop, it receives a final inspection.
We check:
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Stitch quality
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Edge finish
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Leather alignment
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Thread ends
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Finger loop adjustment
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Overall appearance
For our shell cordovan tabs, the edges are also burnished with beeswax to seal the leather and create a smooth, finished edge that looks like a single piece instead of multiple layers.
It's these finishing touches that separate handmade gear from mass-produced products.
You Don't Need Expensive Equipment to Start
One thing I hope this process demonstrates is that you don't need a professional leather shop to begin making quality gear.
Most of these techniques can be done with a handful of affordable leatherworking tools, a sharp knife, some glue, and a little patience.
Production equipment simply speeds things up.
The craftsmanship still comes from the person making it.
Remembering the Beginning
More than anything, I wanted to document this process for the future.
Someday we'll hopefully have a larger workshop with more space, more equipment, and more people building alongside us.
But I don't want to forget where it all started.
These tabs are built in the same basement where we make bowstrings, develop new products, and continue learning every day.
Every order you place helps make that dream possible.
Thank you for supporting small business, American craftsmanship, and traditional archery. We truly appreciate every order and every opportunity to build gear for fellow archers.
We're excited to keep improving—and we can't wait to show you what we're building next.