Bruce S. de Lis said:A little VASALINE rubbed in the Swing Spot Might HELP
This leather is from the shoe leather family. The hinge is double layered and will not break for quite awhile. I can't say it will never break but it is not like some of those that are flimsy from the beginning and do break. I was talking to a dealer who told me that one of the biggest problems that he was having from the cases imported from china is that they break at the cap, front and back.
This leather will soften up as it is used and will hold open well. Believe me, if I thought that that was a weak spot, I wouldn't make it that way. If it breaks, I'll fix it. And that goes for any part of it. Try sending the other ones back to China for repairs.
I've been making products like this for a long time and it is a cumulitave knowledge that makes most of my designs strong and workable, and not a desire to make it cheap or quickly.
If you put a cheaply made hinge out of some synthetic material that looks like leather, the life of your case may be sharply cut short.
Thanks,
Jim