Blue Creek Traders - Brain Tanned Buckskins

[Thunderhawk1828]

I am looking for brain tanned buckskin pants and have come across Clint Livingston and Blue Creek Traders out of Lewellen, NE. He has German Brain tanned leather available.

Has anyone had any experience with Blue Creek Traders and / or info in regard to German brain tan?

Thanks.

Thunderhawk1828

[rollingb]

Crazy Crow also has German tanned buckskin, I'm not sure if it's actually "brain tanned" though,... as they have the regular and the smoked variety.

The Leather Guy has commercial smoked brain tanned buckskin, that is supposedly tanned with the the same chemicals found in animal brains and then smoked.

Both of the above are more economically priced than real braintan done the old fashioned way.

I use all three,... the German tanned, and the commercial brain tanned, and they are both better than chrome/veg tanned, but lack the exact "looks" of real honest-to-goodness braintan done by hand.

[Thunderhawk1828]

Rollingb:

thanks for the information. Do you know if they breathe / wear the same as "actual" brain tanned done the old way?

Thanks.

Thunderhawk1828

[rollingb]

Rollingb:

thanks for the information. Do you know if they breathe / wear the same as "actual" brain tanned done the old way?

Thanks.

Thunderhawk1828

Yes,... they're both similar to real braintan as far as wear and breathability goes, but the commercial braintan (from the Leather Guy) is much more "smoked" (IMO), than the german tan I've received from Crazy Crow.

I won't say the german tan isn't pretty good stuff, but my choice for buckskin is rated as,....
1. real smoked braintan
2. commercial smoked braintan
3. smoked german tan
(someone else may switch 2 and 3 around, as this is my personal opinion only )

Also BEWARE that,.... lots of sellers on ebay are selling "simulated" braintan, but it doesn't compare favorably to the top 3 (mentioned up above), and their descriptions seem to be (intentionally?) very vague regarding that particular fact.

When I can't get real smoked braintan, I place an order with "The Leather Guy" and get his commercial smoked braintan.
https://theleatherguy.org/product-category/leather-hides/deer-skin/deer-commercial-brain-tanned/

 

[Ohio Joe]

I wonder if this is the guy in Lewellen, NE that use to have Two Dogs Trading Post?  Don't know if it is, but I did (many a long years ago) by a nice Hudson Bay Butcher knife with a antler handle and have been using it at Rendezvous and events for 20+ years.  I know we're talking Buckskins here, but just wanted to mention this since Lewellen, NE came up. 

[Thunderhawk1828]

Appreciate the responses and information Rollinb and Ohio Joe.   

Will look into all suggested and go from there. May even wait untli Rondezvous season ans see what / who I can find there.

Thunderhawk1828