Why Nittany Leather Cue Cases?
Hand made - one at a time from U.S. vegetable tanned and chrome tanned cowhide leather. No Naugas were killed when making my cases. All leather is at least 8 ounce in weight, with 4 ounce being used for the pockets. 8 ounce is a full 1/8" (3mm) thick. No other case maker uses leather that heavy for the entire case. Some use 4 ounce (1/16" or 1.5 mm) or 6 ounce (3/32" or 2.3 mm) on the body, and 8 ounce or heavier on the lid and strap. Some even go as far as using 2 ounce glove leather that is backed with cardboard!
Better Materials - I do not use cheap "craft" materials in my cases. The materials I choose to use are carefully researched, and very few materials I use (except for nails) are available locally. It costs more to order and test these items, but in the end, it results in a better overall product. You can only interpret so much from a catalog.
No Chinese made hardware - I strive to use as much MADE IN THE USA materials as I can. Some things are made in Italy, or Belgium, but they make the best hardware. It is still better than the cheap lead filled crap they import from China.
Consistent hardware color - all brass, or all nickel. Why do some people use brass zippers and nickel hardware? Because they didn't take the time to look for matching hardware. Does it make a difference? Probably not, but matched hardware, in my opinion, shows the workmanship and dedication to producing the overall product.