Just wondering, anyoneknow anything about making deerskin clothes

klauss · 11-20-2009, 08:35 PM

I actually have the chance to go deer hunting for the first time in a few years, and would like to try and make some deerskin moccasins if I actually shoot one.

Any thoughts or direction would be appreciated

10 Bears · 11-20-2009, 08:45 PM

"Tandy Leather" used to sell "Moccasin Kits."

I would recommend one of those kits.
I've assembelled a few myself.
That being said,
The grade of the sole is your major consideration.
Indoor or outdoor wear!
If outdoor, wet or dry?

The normal moccasin kit, is an indoor slipper, only worn outside in good weather.

Just something to think about.

Pogo · 11-20-2009, 08:56 PM

Before making anything out of the deer hyde, it must be cleaned and tanned.

There is a fair amount of work involved. You might read this: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docush...n-2168/unknown

DirtySteve · 11-23-2009, 05:54 PM

From what I've read, a typical "mountain man" would need 4-6 deerhides to make his buckskin outfit.

10 Bears · 11-23-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtySteve

From what I've read, a typical "mountain man" would need 4-6 deerhides to make his buckskin outfit.

Yep, at least one for each side of the leggings and a minimum of two for the upper.
Depending on how detailed and authentic you want your outfit to be.
To really make 'em look good though, you have to wear 'em a lot.
Get 'em dirty, greasy and worn looking.
You don't want that "New Look" at the first "Rondy-Voo!"

Meks · 03-13-2010, 06:29 PM

it's a lot of work just to get them cleaned up n flexible so they don't dry hard as a rock n start stinking...

10 Bears · 03-13-2010, 07:04 PM

My Taxidermist neighbor has a couple tumblers that hes uses to break down hides.
The tumbling "media" are old tennis shoes.
Common practice, those rubber soled shoes.
Don't make any marks or scars in the hides.

cdhknives · 03-13-2010, 10:24 PM

I have a hide going to the tannery. It is going to cost me about a hundred bucks when it's all done to take a raw hair on hide and get back a tanned cape (still hair on).

It really isn't worth it except to get the deerskin from a deer I shot and skinned myself. I plan to use some of it for highlights on a knife sheath for myself...pure experiment.

DirtySteve · 03-14-2010, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

My Taxidermist neighbor has a couple tumblers that hes uses to break down hides.
The tumbling "media" are old tennis shoes.
Common practice, those rubber soled shoes.
Don't make any marks or scars in the hides.

Guess it's easier than a sqaw rubbing 'em on a bare log.

10 Bears · 03-14-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtySteve

Guess it's easier than a sqaw rubbing 'em on a bare log.

Or an Eskimo "Chewing" them soft, with their teeth?

DirtySteve · 03-15-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 Bears

Or an Eskimo "Chewing" them soft, with their teeth?

IRWildman · 04-25-2010, 12:36 AM

i am an inactive member of the AMM (American Mountain Men), i made my own "outfit", my pull over shirt took 4 hides, cut properly, you can have fringe from just a few inches below armpit that is 8" inches long and taper to 4 " long at the cuff, here is a good photo of what i mean: http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2...skinFringe.htm one for each sleeve, one for front, one for back, pants take two, but they have to be big hides otherwise 3 for pants add one more for fringe, you can get one good pair of moccasins from one hide, the best part of the hide for the soles is the neck skin and right down the middle of the back, for lacing, take a piece of hide about 8" round, start cutting with a scissors 1/4" wide in a constant circle, you will end up with a strip of lacing about 15 feet long, for some good info about "buckskin clothing" just type it into google.

as for tanned "hair on" skins i advise against it, after about 5 years the hair starts falling out, and it makes one helluva mess.

good luck !

baboon · 04-25-2010, 05:42 AM

I've got tanned skins mostly backskins from my african game I use for rugs. Sure it sheds hairs, but no more then the dog does. Oldest ones are from 1999 & they look good enough to keep. IIRC RSA tans hides using a different non environmentally friendly process.

11-20-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
klauss Poof no eyebrows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Somewhere in the USA Posts: 4,085	Just wondering, anyoneknow anything about making deerskin clothes I actually have the chance to go deer hunting for the first time in a few years, and would like to try and make some deerskin moccasins if I actually shoot one. Any thoughts or direction would be appreciated __________________ alterius non sit qui suus esse potest!-"Let no man belong to another who can belong to himself." Heîs oiōnòs áristos, amýnesthai perì pátrēs- "There is only one omen, to fight for one's country"

11-20-2009, 08:56 PM	#3
Pogo Mystic Knight of the Sea Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great Swamp Posts: 82,001	Before making anything out of the deer hyde, it must be cleaned and tanned. There is a fair amount of work involved. You might read this: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docush...n-2168/unknown __________________ .................................................. ....................................… *We have met the enemy, and he is us!*

03-13-2010, 10:24 PM	#8
cdhknives S. Texas Redneck Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 173	I have a hide going to the tannery. It is going to cost me about a hundred bucks when it's all done to take a raw hair on hide and get back a tanned cape (still hair on). It really isn't worth it except to get the deerskin from a deer I shot and skinned myself. I plan to use some of it for highlights on a knife sheath for myself...pure experiment. __________________ I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.

11-20-2009, 08:45 PM	#2
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	"Tandy Leather" used to sell "Moccasin Kits." I would recommend one of those kits. I've assembelled a few myself. That being said, The grade of the sole is your major consideration. Indoor or outdoor wear! If outdoor, wet or dry? The normal moccasin kit, is an indoor slipper, only worn outside in good weather. Just something to think about.

11-23-2009, 05:54 PM	#4
DirtySteve Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,798	From what I've read, a typical "mountain man" would need 4-6 deerhides to make his buckskin outfit.

03-13-2010, 06:29 PM	#6
Meks Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep in the Francis Marion Swamps Posts: 830	it's a lot of work just to get them cleaned up n flexible so they don't dry hard as a rock n start stinking...

03-13-2010, 07:04 PM	#7
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	My Taxidermist neighbor has a couple tumblers that hes uses to break down hides. The tumbling "media" are old tennis shoes. Common practice, those rubber soled shoes. Don't make any marks or scars in the hides.

04-25-2010, 12:36 AM	#12
IRWildman Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Greatest State in the union ARIZONA, we will check your "papers" " Posts: 3,102	i am an inactive member of the AMM (American Mountain Men), i made my own "outfit", my pull over shirt took 4 hides, cut properly, you can have fringe from just a few inches below armpit that is 8" inches long and taper to 4 " long at the cuff, here is a good photo of what i mean: http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2...skinFringe.htm one for each sleeve, one for front, one for back, pants take two, but they have to be big hides otherwise 3 for pants add one more for fringe, you can get one good pair of moccasins from one hide, the best part of the hide for the soles is the neck skin and right down the middle of the back, for lacing, take a piece of hide about 8" round, start cutting with a scissors 1/4" wide in a constant circle, you will end up with a strip of lacing about 15 feet long, for some good info about "buckskin clothing" just type it into google. as for tanned "hair on" skins i advise against it, after about 5 years the hair starts falling out, and it makes one helluva mess. good luck !

04-25-2010, 05:42 AM	#13
baboon slug Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Out by the lake in central Texas Posts: 18,340	I've got tanned skins mostly backskins from my african game I use for rugs. Sure it sheds hairs, but no more then the dog does. Oldest ones are from 1999 & they look good enough to keep. IIRC RSA tans hides using a different non environmentally friendly process.