Brain tanned flint and steel pouch

L

Loosearrow

Joined
Apr 14, 2008
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Today I thought I would make a gift for a friend. This is what I made. The pouch is to be used to hold the flint and steel. I tanned the hide myself a number of years ago and had some scrap left over. I recycled the dew claws from the deer and the strikers are forged by me out of files. Now if that isn't green I don't know what is. The more ornate steel is my personal striker that I can thong around my neck. Bush jewlery if you will. I haven't pulled the forge out of the garage for awhile and the neighbors think I'm crazy. I guess I will start to tan hides again. I have a few in the freezer. Anybody brain tan out there?
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Very Nice Work on the Brain Tanned Pouch LooseArrow, The Deer dew claw's really add to the Beauty of the Pouch, And you did a Great job on the Steel Strikers, That's gonna put a Smile on your Friend's face ! I really like your personal Ornate Striker It's a Real Beauty, that's something I've alway's wanted to learn to do Is Brain Tanning, With Fur price's so Low, I'd like to use my Coon & Red Fox and Coyote Fur's for Hat makeing, It's a sad Site to see such Beautiful Fur's sold for a Few Dollar's when you can make some Real Nice Period Correct Fur Trade Rendezvous type Hat's & Coat's from them, Or just Tan some Beautiful Fur's for the floor In front of the Fire Place,
 
very cool man.. that came out great....:) nice job on those strikers too...:thumbup:
 
I have done a little brain tanning, and my buddy, Phil, has a couple of scraped hides in his freezer waiting for us to get off our butts. Didn't use deer brains, though - used pig brains.

Nice turkey feathers, BTW! :D

Doc
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
Nice little pouch and steels, Loosearrow! :thumbup: Brain tanned anything has got to be my favorite leather to work with and wear. A super strong (will last a lifetime), superior leather that is velvet soft and a real pleasure to own (costs a fortune to purchase!!).

I brain tanned a few hides in the past (elk and deer) and they really are labor intensive to properly tan. Wow, talk about work! :) Well worth the effort, though. Walnut husk dye (I get it in powdered form these days. The leather is soaked in the water diluted mixture) works real well to give the brain tanned leather a darker appearance...other than the smoked white. I like the darker leather at times for that "well-used" look and the walnut dye is an authentic process that will not hurt the nature of the leather.

That little pouch will make for a fine gift and kit. :thumbup:
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You are right on about the super strength of the leather. I've had people tell me it wasn't as strong so I gave them a thong to pull apart. They couldn't do it. I've used black walnut hulls to dye cloth but have not tried it on the hides. I usually just smoke them to the degree of color that I like. I have seen some dark reddish hides that were smoked but they didn't want to talk about ithe process They were probably tanned by someone else. It is a labor of love on a hot summer day to flesh, lace to frame, dry scrape the hair off, brain and work dry, smoke, then finally make something. The bag is going to Alaska and a person will most likely use it if it is plain. Thank you for your comments. I have always admired your work. Regards
 
DOC-CANADA said:
I have done a little brain tanning, and my buddy, Phil, has a couple of scraped hides in his freezer waiting for us to get off our butts. Didn't use deer brains, though - used pig brains.

Nice turkey feathers, BTW! :D

Doc
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I have used pig brains as well. They come is little plastic tubs. I throw them in a blender with some water. Blend the mix up. Take out any bone chips. Cook them till they go from pink to a light tan and use them while its warm. I usually wring the hide out with a stick. Dip into a cooler to sop the brains up and wring again. I catch all the drippings with the cooler below me. I do it many times in different directions. Finally lace back on frame and work the hide till it's dry and soft as flannel.
 
blech! Tanning, you guys have must have weak noses and strong stomachs! :D

Absolutely fantastic pouch and striker, I'll admit this is my first time hearing about brain tanning, last time I saw/smelled a hide being scraped I about lost my lunch.
 
I'm surprised at the colour of the possibles bag. I thought it would be darker, considering what Black Walnuts do to your hands.

BTW, I should mention, I use Black Walnuts to stain arrow shafts. I gather nuts (still in the husk) that have fallen and turned black. I crack it open and rub the juicy hull/nut up and down the shaft. I really like the results. The more you rub it, the darker it gets.

Not the best picture, but it's the only relative close up on my computer.

Myarrows3.jpg


Doc
 
Nice work shown on this post. I never had a problem with hide smell if I skinned and froze the hide myself till summer. Most people ruin the hide by scoring it with a knife instead of fisting it off. Not much smell with the brains as well. My hides have a sweet smokey smell.
 
Thanks Dannyboy. I consider it quite the compliment coming from you. :thumbup:

I didn't notice any bad smell with brains. We'd cook them in boiling water - and then mash them up in water to make a 'brain solution':rolleyes: - doesn't seem to affect their performance. It's not my favourite part of the process, though. I know what you mean about about ruining the hide with a knife. The hides we worked with, up to now, came from other people, and they had a few cuts in them.

Doc
 
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