Finally made something for myself

[Darren Haverstick]

I hardly ever make a leather doodad for my own use but I thought my arrows for this season needed a matching arm guard so I cobbled this together over the past few days. I may not be a good shot or a stealthy woodsman but at least I'll be color coordinated!

This arm guard has a Nile crocodile facing over a vegetable tanned cowhide backing. The arrowhead is made from tilapia hide and the trim is deer hide. I carved the lace hooks from deer antler and sewed everything up by hand using artificial sinew.




Darren

[rollingb]

It sure catches the eye!   

[The Miner '49er]

That looks great, Darren. I am surprised to learn that tilapia skin can be used to make things like this, but all I knew about tilapia, before seeing your post, involved a salt shaker, lemon, and tarter sauce. How durable is fish hide like this, and how is it processed or tanned?

[Ohio Joe]

As always, very nice Darren. Very Nice!!! 

[Darren Haverstick]

That looks great, Darren. I am surprised to learn that tilapia skin can be used to make things like this, but all I knew about tilapia, before seeing your post, involved a salt shaker, lemon, and tarter sauce. How durable is fish hide like this, and how is it processed or tanned?

Don, I'm pretty sure the hides are chrome tanned. It's more durable than snake skin but not as tough as carp hide. That stuff is awesome! If you want to see some really cool fish leather, look up "pirarucu leather". The pirarucu is a huge fish from the Amazon Basin. The leather is thick and tough...and very expensive. I bought a scrap piece a couple of weeks ago that is just big enough to make a single arm guard. I think I gave $20 for it!

Darren

[The Miner '49er]

I just finished an online article about pirarucu leather. That really is some stuff, for sure. Please post a pic of the arm guard or whatever you might make from it. Thanks.

[Two Steps]

You have skills Darren…you have skills 

[Uncle Russ]

You have skills Darren…you have skills 

Yes, the man does have SKILLS!
 

Russ...

[Bigsmoke]

That looks great, Darren. I am surprised to learn that tilapia skin can be used to make things like this, but all I knew about tilapia, before seeing your post, involved a salt shaker, lemon, and tarter sauce. How durable is fish hide like this, and how is it processed or tanned?

Don, I'm pretty sure the hides are chrome tanned. It's more durable than snake skin but not as tough as carp hide. That stuff is awesome! If you want to see some really cool fish leather, look up "pirarucu leather". The pirarucu is a huge fish from the Amazon Basin. The leather is thick and tough...and very expensive. I bought a scrap piece a couple of weeks ago that is just big enough to make a single arm guard. I think I gave $20 for it!

Darren

Expensive, yes.  But, don't forget,  the fish gave its life for it.
Just saying...

John (Bigsmoke)

[Winter Hawk]

You "cobble" something together that the rest of us would give our eye teeth to do half as good.  That's some mighty fine work there!

~Kees~