What to do with a deer and bear hides?

[auction8]

I picked up tanned (hair on) deer and bear hides. Any thoughts on what to do with them while re enacting the FnI period? I would like to get some use out of them.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Deer hides make great bag flaps.

Bear hides, well I'd find either a guy from a Grenadier Company, or a drummer from any British reenactment unit, OR I'd find a sutler who makes bear skin hats for either the grenadiers or musicians, and sell/trade the bear skin to them for something else that I needed.

I can put you in touch with a fellow from one of the living history companies of The 42nd Regiment of Highland Foote if you wish.

LD

 

[tenngun]

If you are a civilian in the f and I time bearskin was luckily used as a match coat or blanket.' Bear skin' coats are referenced but this refers to a thick wool with a raised nap, so it was fuzzy. Deerskin was rarely kept hair on.

 

[Snapper]

Bearskins were used by the French as sort of an 18th century sleeping pad. I've been using a bearskin in this manner for years and it's quite comfortable; and a nice warm layer to be on during the winter months as well.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[nwtradegun]

use the deer skin on the ground and bear skin as a blanket. hair side facing you

 

[George]

If you are a civilian in the f and I time bearskin was luckily used as a match coat or blanket.

You could go native. :wink: In 1766 James Smith walked from central Kentucky to the settlements east of the Appalachians accompanied by a slave boy named Jamie. Smith had this to say about their appearance when they finally reached the settlement:

"When I came in to the settlement my clothes were almost worn out, and the boy had nothing on him that ever was spun. He had buck-skin legging, mockasons, and breech-clout, a bear-skin dressed with the hair on, which he belted about him, and a raccoon-skin cap ..."

James Smith, An Account of the Remarkable Occurrences in the Life and Travels of Colonel James Smith

Spence

 

[auction8]

With the shape I am currently in, I would scare people if I dressed like that. :grin:

 

[ddoyle]

Nice thing about bear is that you get alot of fear for little skin. Thin hide long fur.

 

[Docgp]

With the shape I am in I would be shot and skinned as a bear if I dressed like that!!

Doc :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Deerskin was rarely kept hair on.

I know ye said "rarely". But, it happens.
I traded for this and made a vest out of it that I wore for more than 40 years. It had the longest and thickest whitetail fur I have ever seen. Sold it a few years ago and it is still in use.

[/URL][/img]