Cost effective to use deer hides for sheaths?

[Fletch Helical]

I'm an avid bowhunter and off hand I don't know of any leather suppliers that are in my state. So I got to wondering about whether or not it would be very cost effective to have deer hides tanned and used for making a sheath. I recently had a pelt done from a deer (hair on) and if I remember correctly it cost somewhere around $80-100. Not sure if there is a difference in price between that and having the hair removed. I guess if I managed to find the time I can likely tan it myself, I think it's more time than it is difficulty. But then again I haven't actually tried tanning one myself.

I'm not sure what is costs to get something like that in a piece of leather but has anyone here tried both methods? (buying leather vs tanning a hide). Also if anyone has used it is there much/any difference between a deer hide vs leather?

 

[Pipeman]

I use Deer hide over 8 oz veggitan for sheaths but it's pretty soft for a sheath on its own. Makes great lining too. I buy Deer hide at about $3.50 to $4.50 a sq foot up here in Canada so getting a hide tanned is usually more costly than buying it. Brain tanning is good and it does command a Much higher price than factory tanning. I have been using a technique for making big folder sheaths from two layers of Deer hide with carpenters glue between. It works really well and the glue creates a hard shell that seems to hang in there. Hope this helps.

Regards

Robin

 

[Ramm9]

I'm an avid bowhunter and off hand I don't know of any leather suppliers that are in my state. So I got to wondering about whether or not it would be very cost effective to have deer hides tanned and used for making a sheath.

I guess in a word...no. I'm no professional but based on the hides I've seen, deer hide is too thin for a sheath.

Tanning your own hide is a great exercise but will take a lot of time, especially a brain and then smoke tan. If you go to all that effort, make a nice shirt. A good idea is to try a smaller animal first so you know what you're in for.

If you do have a skin tanned or buy leather for a sheath be sure it is vegetable tanned. Chemical tanned leather will chew up steel overnight.

 

[sheathmaker]

Fletch, Wickett and Craig tannery is right next door to you in PA. Vegatable tanned leather is the best for things like sheaths etc. and a side of leather is about 22-27 square feet vs a large deer skin which will average about 7-9 square feet and right now the prices for Veg. Tanned skirting is about $100 per side though the end of the year. That makes the price per square foot very close per square foot for Deer vs Veg.tanned, plus the fact that Deer skin is best suited for lining the sheath. It's too light weight for the body of the sheath.

If Deer skin is still your choice, then buying tanned hides should be by far the most economical way to go considering time and labor efforts unless you are covered up with spare time and like messy jobs. Check eBay, there are many sources there on a per hide basis.

Paul
.

 

[Fletch Helical]

Fletch, Wickett and Craig tannery is right next door to you in PA. Vegatable tanned leather is the best for things like sheaths etc. and a side of leather is about 22-27 square feet vs a large deer skin which will average about 7-9 square feet and right now the prices for Veg. Tanned skirting is about $100 per side though the end of the year. That makes the price per square foot very close per square foot for Deer vs Veg.tanned, plus the fact that Deer skin is best suited for lining the sheath. It's too light weight for the body of the sheath.

If Deer skin is still your choice, then buying tanned hides should be by far the most economical way to go considering time and labor efforts unless you are covered up with spare time and like messy jobs. Check eBay, there are many sources there on a per hide basis.

Paul
.

Thanks I'll check them out :thumbup:

 

[jacqueeagonsr]

http://www.braintan.com/

Try those guys if you want real brain tanned buckskin for any reason. It's expensive - $18/square foot for a whole hide ($180-$250 depending on size).
Scraps - small pieces suitable for covering a veg-tan liner type sheath - are $12/square foot.

Good luck,
J.