Exotic hides

[HungaryTom]

Dear All,

Fedora Lounge seems to be a real global community here!
Therefore I am asking whether anyone has seen/owns leather goods made from exotic hides like

• Bison,
• Camel,
• Elk/Moose,
• Elephant
• Kangoroo,
• Ray,
• Shark-skin,
• Maybe that Metta Russian leather.etc.etc.

Please with photos and/or short description of the hide if possible

This is just purely curiosity…and maybe something is exotic for the one but familiar for others.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a CITES agent neither do I encourage anyone to storm the natural history museums just to get some hides.

 

[Flieger]

Interesting thread that I'll make sure to follow closely!

Here in Sweden it's quite easy to get leather goods made out of Elk and Raindeer hides. A couple of links:

http://www.skinnverkstan.se/index.php?page=produkter
http://www.masens.com/jakt/jakt.html
http://www.sundkvistskinn.se/jackor.htm
http://www.alceleather.se/ny_sida_1.htm
http://www.materodesign.se/
http://www.laderverkstaden.se/WJaktv.jpg

I don't own any Elk or Raindeer goods myself but I understand that Elk is a tough material. Raindeer is softer. I would LOVE an Elk leather A-2 jacket!

/Flieger

 

[DJS Press]

Here in Sweden it's quite easy to get leather goods made out of Elk and Raindeer hides.

Flieger, I've been under the impression that you Swedes use the term "elk" for what we North Americans call a moose. When you say elk, do you actually mean elk, like the North American wapiti, or are you talking about moose (with palmated antlers)?

Just wondering. I'm wearing moosehide slippers right now, and they seem like they will last forever.

 

[Flieger]

When you say elk, do you actually mean elk, like the North American wapiti, or are you talking about moose (with palmated antlers)?

To be honest, I think we have mooses and not elks here in Scandinavia. I always make the same mistake since our word for the animal in question is "?Ñlg" (aelg)... sounding very similar to Elk.

/F

 

[HungaryTom]

Taxonomy

Dear Flieger,DJS Press,


Thank you for the contributions.

I think Carl Linné with the latin names nomination help here:

Alces alces. - Eurasian Elk
Alces alces americana - Moose

Rangifer tarandus - Reindeer - think of St. Claus
Rangifer tarandus Caribou - Caribou

Cervus elaphus nelsoni - Wapiti (American deer) hunted by the Deerhunter
Cervus elaphus Linnaeus - Deer


wikipedia shows all them live

 

[JohnTheGreek]

Dear Flieger,DJS Press,

Cervus elaphus nelsoni - Wapiti (American deer) hunted by the Deerhunter

To add to the confusion, in the movie "The Deerhunter", notice that the animal being hunted by Deniro is neither an what we American's know as deer (mule deer or whitetail deer) nor what we call "elk" (Wapiti), but was actually a European red stag that was brought in specifically for the scenes requiring animal life. Why, I don't know.

Back to the original question. I have a few VERY warm bison hide blankets (animals hunted in Canada), a pair of Zebra rugs (RSA), assorted African Antelope rugs (Zimbabwe), 20 square feet of Eland leather that I'm trying to find a use for, and a neat pair of elephant hide cowboy boots. This final item was legally purchased several years ago at Gene's Western Wear in Flagstaff Arizona (on sale!). They have worn like iron to the degree that I wish I'd purchased 5 pairs given the relatively low sale price.

Best,

John

 

[Technonut]

I have:

1 pair HS Trask camp boots made of Bison
1 Pair HS Trask dress shoes made of Bison

Quite a few pair of Hummer shoes and boots Made of Himalayan Yak leather

The Himalayan Yak leather is very nice IMO. Distinctive grain. Durable, yet soft. I REALLY would like to have a jacket made from it...

I could post pics if anyone is interested...

 

[HungaryTom]

Yeah!

Dear John and Technonut,

I've gotcha!


Actually I was hoping exactly this; to meet connoisseurs/owners of these kinds of leathers!
I appreciate the contributions very much!
And yes, all kind of hide photos are welcome even if it is not jackets.
It would be really nice to see many leather exota in one place.
Thanks for clearing the issue with one of my all-time favorite movies!
I really did not know this!
Species of wild cattle (Bovinae) Bison, Cape Buffalo, Yak and Musk ox (Ovibovis) have thicker hides than horses if we just compare their size with horses.

I would like to really know whether you guys in the US don't have Bison-hide tanned and processed for jackets...thanks to the re-breeding they are not very common but not so very rare either.
Are these hides so thick that even these jacket specialists (Aero and LW) don’t work with them for reasons?

Anyone?

 

[Nautilus]

Buffalo/bison hide has an extremely pebbled texture. I don't think I would want a jacket made out of it because of this.

It is relatively soft though.

 

[Technonut]

Buffalo/bison hide has an extremely pebbled texture. I don't think I would want a jacket made out of it because of this.

It is relatively soft though.

Bison makes great shoes though IMO....

 

[JohnTheGreek]

Practical only for -20 or colder

If these sleeves were a bit less bulky, I'd consider this jacket. Not too practical in Cairo, but perfect for Northern Canada!

 

[HungaryTom]

Geez...

What is that?

Bigfoot sleeves w. Bisonhide body?

Pls tell.

As far as I understand almost any hide can be processed, but it would be a real waste to get a Zebra or Eland getting stripped off their distinctive fur...

The Bisonhide has big grain since tatanka are also mighty... especially if you consider the Front Quarter...
Farley Mowat wrote that the hides of the Eastern Buffalo (Bison) “buff” were very praised in the 17-18th century by the French and that elite troops/musketeers were uniformed w. them...Moose and Wapiti were used as a substitute once these Bisons were exterminated. At those times all domestic animals were kept extensively i.e. had thicker hides, horses weren't exotic and tanning recipes which are right now lost or unique, were common practice.
0,5-0,7 billion people worldwide vs. http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html. Less people, more variations of hides. Different times even.

If you consider that the thinner reindeer leathers survived 220+ years under the saltwater sea...

Naturally it is different to read some books than to see first-hand info from kind fellow members and to see the Bison-hide both w. hairs on or hairs off, like the "monster-coat" or that gorgeous shoe!

Since wild animals have more robust hides than domesticated ones, (their meat is different too) their hides should be more valuable...their hides are more rare that is for sure.

I am keen on waiting for stories/pics of hides of Camels, Yaks, Etc. etc.

Don't be shy, my applause is guaranteed for any presentation:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Spitfire]

I once had a very large elephanthide sofa. Does that count?

 

[HungaryTom]

Accounted

I once had a very large elephanthide sofa. Does that count?

Dear Spitfire,

Thanks for posting.
How did you get it?
Did you simply ask for one?
Could you tell how this hide was?
Natural? Colored?
How did it feel like to sit on?

 

[DJS Press]

.... speaking of bison....

I have owned a pair of brown bison leather dress shoes for over 6 years now, and while they do show wear, I have never had a pair of shoes hold up near so long. I bought a black leather pair a couple of years ago, and they seem to wear like iron.

I like the graininess of bison leather. So much so that I'm seriously considering Aero making my next jacket in bison.

 

[Spitfire]

Dear Spitfire,

Thanks for posting.
How did you get it?
Did you simply ask for one?
Could you tell how this hide was?
Natural? Colored?
How did it feel like to sit on?

Well, I just bought it. That is, first I saw it in an exebition and fell for the design, not knowing aboiut the hide. It was a Walther Knoll as far as I remember. Pretty large (3 corner/end modules and 3 sides) and in a very special grey/brownish colour. It actually changed with the light.
It was only when I heard the price - I also learned that it was elephanthide!!!
Shot under the watchfull eyes of the police in Tanzania - which was a guarantie that only old elephants were used.
The hide was thick and very, very tough. Even my cat could not spoil it with his claws. My basset hounds slept in each corner - and the sofa never changed. I sold it many years ago, just because I needed a new look.

 

[The Wolf]

Funny you should mention it

I've been looking for some shark skin to cover a sword handle for sword I designed based on Doc Savage.

Sincerely,
the Wolf

 

[JohnTheGreek]

Shot under the watchfull eyes of the police in Tanzania - which was a guarantie that only old elephants were used.

This may or may not have been true. I'm not sure when the change happened in elephant management theory but now elephant are culled as family groups rather than taking only old animals. The idea is that the "social system" of elephants is disturbed less in this way. While it seems cruel to take out bulls, cows, calfs and everything in a group, it is apparently better than totally freaking out the cows and calfs of a herd by making them watch all the bulls in their group die. It's probably safer too as I imagine a cow having experienced that trauma would become more aggressive toward people and maybe end up being shot anyway.

Also, I envy your former sofa. I've always thought it would be REALLY neat to have a nearly seamless leather couch.

As for the bison jacket pictured above, it is all bison ...though oddly put together. If it were all the color of the sleeves (NEAT blonde cape fur) and about 10 inches longer I'd buy it for sure at the price offered. I just cant justify the color oddity and the fact that whoever made it put the warmest fur on the sleeves rather than the body core area??!???!?!

JMHO,

John

 

[SGB]

Aero makes Bison jackets, in any style you want basically. I had a few Bison A-2's, heavy leather, soft, and a nice pebbly texture. I've also had a bison MC jacket. I have in my Western collection a very nice vintage Buffalo coat, made in the early teens in NY, very well made. Also have a very big winter kill Buffalo hair-on hide, and two Buffalo head mounts in my house.
As for exotic hides, my favorite and the best in quality, durability and comfort is Ostrich. I don't have an ostrich jacket (that would be too much) but I have shoes, boots, wallets etc. in Ostrich.
Years ago on the ranch we raised a Rhea, a smaller version of an Ostrich, what an odd and interesting pet. About as smart as a Turkey only many times larger. When she got sick we couldn't find a vet that knew anything about the breed and we lost her, she was 5'6" tall at one year of age......we had to dig a rather large grave even with her legs bent back. And no we didn't tan her hide or pluck her feathers, she was kind of a pet as my Grandmother raised various birds, although none that were taller than her until she got Gwendolyn the Rhea.

SGB

 

[HungaryTom]

A thank to all contributors and visitors

Gentlemen, I like it very much that even this delicate topic developed again into a FL-styled friendly discussion on exotic hides with interesting stories and no trench-fight between hunters and naturalists…

I posted the population clock in the thread for a reason: nowadays it is the sheer number of people (overpopulation) and their over-consumption & consequent problems being the largest menace to the biosphere, not hunting as such. Nobody can decide which 4,5 billion of the 6,5 billion people are “one too many” to reach the optimum population of approx. 2 billion (as it was around 1930) or even less. Other: personal consumption levels should be reduced also to the level of this “Golden Era” if we really wanted “to save the Planet”. At least that is what science has calculated.

Since I eat meat and eggs on a daily basis (cookbooks show that pasta, dough, cookies have all eggs) I contributed to the killing of many-many lives, if you like. It is the basis of my daily existence. At least one essential amino-acid (Lysine) is contained only in meat. When considering our anatomy (especially teeth, digestive system) its clear we aren’t created as pure herbivores. Bovinae are the foremost specialized herbivores, they constantly take/disturb plant lifes. Just look in the mirror and compare your teeth and belly w. with Bison, cattle, Yak, etc. Not similar.
We are omnivores. If we consider any “natural people”, none of those ancient tribes is vegetarian. Yes, they hunt and gather. Hunting that traditional way is not about the killing only, but a ritual loaded w. spiritual character, being the basis of religion and arts. For reasons hunt was the privilege of royals etc. Modern times have lost almost all of this and leave up the killing for professionals (slaughter).
Humans can adapt to strict vegetarianism as well. Nature gives an even more extreme example of a carnivore (predator)/herbivore conversion: Great panda. Anything is possible. It might be that out of necessity when the population will reach 30? 100? …????? billion our GMO’d great-grand children will photo-synthetize…Who knows?
As to the current state of affairs, I don’t have problem using and talking hides. Same goes for discussing exotic hides. Naturally, no endangered species should be further pushed to the edge, but I clearly said that in the thread start.

QUESTIONS:
Now that we have bison jacket owners here…
How does their hide compare with horsehide?
I know like apples and oranges. But really.
Seamless sofa? You need therefore a whale… Just curiosity again.
Has anyone heard of processing the hides of these largest mammals?
Since whales are still “whaled” and their meat is offered also, what about another byproduct, their hide?

I had a story from my grandpa that he cleaned his ski w. a piece of sealskin when he learned to ski in the early 1930’s. I know Brigitte Bardot would kill me for writing this down, but this is also (oral) history. To avoid any fight: I never use sealskin for that purpose and I have never owned any.

Gwendolyn must have been a nice Mascot.

Thanks for answering the questions and thanks for the politeness again.