Buffalo is heavy leather, much less if the fur is left on. The problem with decoration is finding ACCURATE information about the Indian Tribes, their clothing, jewelry, markings etc.
We are a bit better in our knowledge of "western" Tribes, ie, those located West of the Mississippi and the Missouri, after The Lewis and Clark expedition, in the early 19th century than we are about tribes located in the Eastern part of the country. What little evidence of Eastern Tribes and their Pre-European culture is known only as the result of private collections of artifacts, a few diaries, and reports of early explorers, missionaries, and settlers. The French archives have more information on the Eastern Tribes of N. America, for instance, than we find in either British, or American museums, and archives.
When I wanted to decorate my "Persona" with items common to the Kickapoo, Sauk, and Potawatomi tribes, native to Central Illinois, I researched all I could find in the books, and was frustrated. I traveled up to Chicago to visit the Museum of Natural History, only to find a display of Potawatomi "dress" with the Indians displayed wearing loincloths made from Dark Blue Fabric, with the gold Fleur-de-lis , which are the emblems and colors of the French Flag! Clearly , while this dress was Pre-British, and Pre-colonial American in its "origin", it was not pre-European.
I had heard a lecture by Professor Emeritus at the U of Illinois, who had visited Paris, France, and explored the French Archives there. She found early diaries from the first french explorers, Joliet and Marquette, indicating that the "Illini" Indians, living along the Illinois river, wore no clothes at all, and draped furs over their bodies during the cold months.
Obviously, I could not display that accurate a "portrayal" of that Indian Culture. So, instead, I opted to display A part French, part- English speaking trapper, who had explored and trapped through out Illinois, and had traveled into Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, trading and trapping, with the Indian tribes there. Since most tribes were friendly with the French traders, ( they had the reputation- true or not-- of being more fair with the Indians in their trades, than the British were) My persona adopted the French colors for his sash, and leg straps, wears a blue toque, with a "French Cross" sewn to the hat to indicate his loyalty, and the fact that he is a Christian.
My point is that you have to be very careful in your research before you decide on decorations on your equipment, or clothing. Thankfully, you live in Vancouver, and there is a lot of information about the West Coast Tribes. In fact, the time I was at the Chicago Museum, they had a HUGE display on the native tribes loving along the coast of British Columbia, and on up into the handle of Alaska.
Now, you didn't indicate ith which Tribe you wanted to be associated, So that doesn't allow us to help you much. My futher study showed that the tribes in the Midwest like the multicolor beads, so I decorated a necklace with such a piece, and then hung a smaller version from a piece of sinew from the trigger guard of my rifle. Jewelry made from bones, teeth( Tusks), and shells were common to all the tribes, so you have a wide choice of options available to you.
Regarding fringe, Its my believe that fringe was used, on clothing and gear to give a ready source of strong cordage when the need was immediate, and to help camouflage the actor and his gear when standing or walking in woods or tall grass. The long fringe seen on shirts, and sheathes helped to conceal movement by moving with the body, or, when standing, moving with the wind in the same direction and at the same speed as grasses moved with the wind.
If you have scraps of buffalo hide left, and can make fringe from it, you can tie or sew the fringe to the rifle case. It does not have to, and probably should not, run the full length of the case.
I have seen long lengths of leather straps, folded in half, to create a loop. Then the loop is run through slits in both halves of the gun case seams, and the end then fed through the loop. Then the two ends are pulled through to tighten the loop to the case, to hold the seams together. Sometimes, an ornament may be attached to the LOOP to indicate clan affiliation or tribal affiliation.
The ornate cases and clothing were used and worn for ceremonial occasions( Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes) and rarely worn when hunting, when planer work clothing was worn. The ornate clothing might be worn in battle, but on small raids, such clothing was usually left back at camp.
IN battles, warriors expected to be killed, and wanted to be dressed in their finest when they met their Maker.
On raids, the purpose was to take horses, food, & weapons)kill if you could do so without risk of being killed, count coup on your enemy to make your own magic gain power from them, and to escape unharmed. Even in battles, between tribes, it was often more NOBEL to count coup- touch your enemy without him being able to injury you or kill you in return- in front of witnesses, to show your own bravery, and skill, while humiliating your enemy-- than to kill an enemy.
None of these comments I have made are intended to apply universally to all tribes. Each tribe had its own beliefs, and ways of dealing with neighbors- friends or enemies. Ornamentation was used for both Religious purposes, and to identify the particular Indian with individual, clan, and tribal indicators.
This fact- the great diversity -- works in favor of the historic re-enactor, or portrayer of these historic times, and people, both white settlers, and the Indians they met.
Do your research carefully. Document anything and everything you can, and then go with it. Someone may disagree with your choices, but reviewing their information, and comparing it to your own research is how you learn. :hatsoff: :hatsoff:
