Authentic Bison Leather Color

[1961MJS]

Hi

Well, I know from Packing Iron that cartridge belts and holsters were made in various shades of brown, tan, and of course black.  I'm making some Russell Green River knives for my son's old Scout Troop.  One of the patrols is named the Bison Patrol and I thought it would be the least I could do to make the sheathes for their knife set out of Bison Hide.  What colors were used, same as the cowhides in Packing Iron?  One of the suppliers has distressed hides for $147 in black, Chocolate, Mahogany, and a lighter tan color.

Thanks

Mike

[ChuckBurrows]

Bison hide by itself is probably going be too soft unless you can get veg tanned and most buffalo that is available via today's market in the thinner thicknesses is chrome tanned anyway and not good up against steel  best suggestion  1) make a liner of veg tan in something like 5/6 or 6/7 oz and cover with thinner buffalo. FWIW -  all of the original buffalo hide sheaths I've ever seen (a thousand or more) on the other hand were buffalo rawhide or when hair on they were over a wooden or rawhide liner.

Colors can range from natural, to various browns, to black so pick you what you like...

[1961MJS]

Thanks,  I considered going that route also.  That design would also allow for adding fringe.  I wasn't aware that most bison was chrome tanned.  I'll check to be sure it's not.

Thanks again

Mike

[ChuckBurrows]

Here's a couple of outfits selling veg tanned buffalo in the 6/7 oz range

http://www.americanbisonleather.com/bison-leather/vegetable-tanned-leather/

http://buffaloleatherstore.com/santa-fe/

[Cliff Fendley]

Because it's been chrome tanned, when I've had requests for bison on knife sheaths, I've just used the bison for the outer layer. Pretty much the way you would for snake or other thin exotics.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I've gotten a sheath for an 8 inch Green River Butcher knife close to being done.  What should I finish a dark tan Bison Leather sheath with?

Thanks

Mike

[Camano Ridge]

For the look you are trying to achieve I would go with Skidmore's leather cream, or Montana Pitch blend. Or some people make there own
Bee's wax and oil mix. I like SKidmore's.

[1961MJS]

Thanks

I'll get some Skidmore's. 

Buffalo Leather isn't like working with Tooling leather at ALL.  I'm making several buffalo leather sheaths.  I've gotten two fairly close to being finished, and edging the buffalo over the tooling leather doesn't work well.

Thanks again

Mike