It's a distressed leather called Drift I believe. Joe uses it a lot and also comes in other colors. The bison leather was just luck really. Usually Bison is made as a thick leather that distresses easily but the place had this one hide that was the right thickness for the case and durable. I think Joe tried to get more but was told additional hides were not available. I believe Joe can get a cow leather with a very similar appearance, but I am so happy to have the real bison.What's the lighter color/pattern? Digging the bison leather brown.