Using bear hide

[BillinOregon]

Guys, I am hunting bears here this fall, and it occurs to me that although I hear constant references to bearskin hats, rugs, etc., I have never heard a reference to bearskin leather, tanned with the hair off. It would seem like this might be great stuff, but if so one would certainly see it used more frequently. Does bear leather have some negative quality the precludes its widespread use?

 

[BrownBear]

I can't speak for all bears and I've never used it as plain leather, but here goes: That I've handled is generally pretty thin and soft- on the order of 3oz, and softer than veg tanned beef but not quite as soft as deer or elk. Up over the shoulders it seems like it would be great leather, but it thins noticeably down on the belly and on the arms.

 

[BillinOregon]

Thanks Brownie. Seems as though it would be a good choice for shooting bags and other such items.

 

[BrownBear]

Dang it all anyway!

As if I didn't have enough unfinished projects, you got me thinking the same thing. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Like Brownbear said, it unfortunately is on the thin side, you wouldn't think so but it is. I have part of a hide, left over from a mount. I thought of using the tail part for a flap and maybe do something with the rear feet but whatever I do, I will laminate the hide probably with 3 or 4 oz Elk. Then stitch the pieces together. The problem I'm having now it the hair is so dang long, I may just build a bag from Elk and use the tail for a flap only, but I'm not sure how this will look. :hmm:

 

[T.C.Albert]

On winter killed bear from most regions that have bear seasons, the fur tends to be too dense and long to make up into a good looking bag in my opinion...it would look like a fur muff...the few original bear hide bags Ive seen were what I thought to be southern mountain bags, and were made from "hair on" bear hide...and they look like the hair was pretty thin, like from a summer killed bear, but most of the hair has worn off over the years anyhow, so I may be totally wrong.
They are pretty neat though.
TCA

 

[rabjr]

Yeah this was a medium sized bear taken in either November or December and has a beautiful coat of hair. Why I'm hesitatant, even just using it for a flap.

 

[BrownBear]

Yeah, using the bare (bare bear?) leather like BillinOregon proposes would be one thing, but using it hair-on would be another matter altogether.

I "spindled and folded" an awful lot of hair-on bear trying to figure out how to use it, and it will take just the right design and just the right bear to make it work, I think.

I was all inspired after a visit to Williamsburg a few years back, where their leather master showed me a pair of pistol "holsters" (not what he called them) with hair-on bear for the flaps. Wow! Did he ever turn out a fine piece. He said it was a period technique for rainproofing, since the bear shed water so well.

As I recall it was shorter hair, and danged if I can remember the attachment detail at the top of the flap. In my folding and spindling, any time you roll the hair-on hide over a fold, the hair flares up like a Mohawk haircut and looks like the dickens. And I doubt it would shed rain very well sticking up in the air like that.

Let us see pictures of what you turn out Swampy. Sounds like there's a bunch of us out here waiting for your inspiration and good example! :hatsoff:

 

[rabjr]

Well like I said the only thing I can see as a posability is to use part of the rear with the short tail hanging center for a flap, the rest of the bag made of Elk probably. I kinda was disappointed as I really wanted to do something with the two rear paws I have still attached to the hide but they seem on the small side to do anything. I briefly thought of stitching the two onto a flap and having them hang down on each side of the flap but that don't work for me. :shake:

I'm not sure what I'll do with it, it's a shame because I see parts for several bags if just using it for flaps.....but the hair is just to dang long. I didn't mind at all working with Buffalo and was hoping this would be similar but it sure ain't. :idunno:

 

[gmarc]

Generally, the more luxurious the hair, the thinner the skin. Some thin skins make decent leather, like pig and squirrel. I have used squirrel skin, but not fer anything large!

Pigskin makes a good liner as well.

 

[BrownBear]

Pigskin makes a good liner as well.

How true! I use it in camera bags, and folks love it.

I don't know how PC/HC it is for shooting bags, but if folks are close enough to be digging around in my personal shooting bags, they're close enough for a butt swipe with my rifle. :rotf:

 

[T.C.Albert]

Paws and claws make a good flap Swampy...and jaws a good knife to match the set..This paw is applied to the flap...and the bag was shaped with the paw flap in mind..

TCA

 

[Deadeye]

Nice bag, Albert. here's a whole bag with long hair, makes it a large bag, kinda like carrying
a pillow under your arm but still kinda neat.

 

[Deadeye]

Here's the inside, lined with green wool flannel.
Deadeye

Good place to put your hands on a cold day.

 

[rabjr]

Ok, thats what I kindawas figuring on, similar to that but the paws left on this hide are rear paws and on the small side. It's actually whats left of a half mount, with a piece of the bacl/tail and the two rear legs. So I'm still looking at it, tossing around a couple of Ideas atm.

 

[rabjr]

Nice bag also Deadeye and I'm afraid if I just made a bag, it wouldn't look much different from yours. This hide has really long hair too which is really making it difficult to think about how to go about things. But, between the two shown I do have an idea, I'm going to have to see if it works or not..

I was going to ask you Mr Albert about the bag you posted if that was one piece, hour glass shaped sewned up the sides but it appears it is two pieces sewn together from what I can see and welted.

 

[RickD]

I have a buffalo hide pouch made by Swampy

 

[T.C.Albert]

Hey Swampy...that bag was done a few years back, but as I recall the body is two pieces and welted.The bear paw was applied to the flap top, then the flap was lined with another piece of leather to cover the exposed stitches made from attaching the paw...The red strip at the top is the hinge..one edge is sewn across the top of the back panel, the other across the top of the flap...
TC

 

[rabjr]

Ok, I may try a version of it, not sure yet.

I think that Buffala is easier to work with Rick, at least it seems so from what I see of this bear. :thumbsup: