Question for you quiver makers/leathersmiths

[shortstroke 91]

I recently got a square yard of Elephant hide from a friend who spent a ton of money in Africa. The hide is well tanned and very soft, I believe it was left over from his mount. My question is if there's a way to stiffen up the hide enough to make a side stalker style quiver. My fear is it will be too flimsy and try to collapse in the middle. I plan on using some to make an armguard too and it's perfectly soft enough for that.
Any help would be much appreciated.

[ron w]

If you want you can back it with nother piece of leather to "stiffen" it up. Almost any kind will work.

[shortstroke 91]

I though of that but this is some heavy leather and I don't want to add any more weight than I have to.

[ron w]

How about if you just roll and lace or sew the top of the opening. that should give it some stiff without adding wieght. It would be all the same leather then also.

[Littlemans-Grampa]

Shortstroke, you could use some rawhide that is very thin, ask for drumhead rawhide from one of the leather companies out there.

May the Creator watch over us all!>>>------>

[Maxflight]

If you know anyone with a wire-feed welder, you can weld a light frame together out of thin rod or I've even used a coat hanger. Two circles for the top and bottom and I prefer 3 legs although I have seen 2 used. Then coat it with liquid tool handle dip that you can buy at Lowes/Home Depot. Secure one leg when you lace the seam. Secure the circles with the bottom lace and top roll lace.

[wharvey]

If you can afford it, I'd have a pair of custom boots made from it. They will last forever.

Years ago a friend of mine bought some elephant hide boots. The instructions for cleaning were to brush with a wire brush.

[jhinaz]

Just a thought.....if, for whatever reason, you decide against making a side stalker style quiver out of elephant hide then how about making a plains-style quiver? Arrow "insertion/removal"  differs but you can wear it the same as you would a side stalker, and the pliable leather will help keep the arrows from rattling against each other. Again, this is just a thought. - John

[shortstroke 91]

Gave that a thought and still have enough to do that but I cut out the shape today and am waiting for it to dry around the mold right now. It's inside my truck and with the 100 degree Texas sun baking it so I don't think that will take long. Let me tell you that elephant hide is a bugger to cut but I think it'll come out nice and I finally have a plan to stiffen it. I'm gonna roll all the edges in on themselves and either put rawhide or small wire inside the roll, I figure that'll do the job. I also hav a strip of rawhide to run down the middle of the bottom on the inside if I need it. I'll try to pst some pics when/if she's ever done. Deffinately not looking foreward to stitching 40" of elephant hide but it will look a lot cleaner that way. Thanks for all the advice yall!

[Procyon]

If you rehydrate the hide before you sow it up it will be a lot stiffer when it dries out. The only downside would be shrinkage of the hide during drying.

[snag]

How about applying Barge cement to the inside surface?????

[Roughcountry]

Try Tincure of Benzione from the drug store. (not sure the spelling is right) Try it on a scrap first.
Bareback riders use it to stiffen thier riggin gloves. It does have a distinct smell, not sure if it would spook game.
Use a dobber and aplly to the flesh side. It does darken the leather.

[wisconsin wood butcher]

procyon is onto it rehydrate it and it will get stiffer. maybe sew in a rawhide or whatever you like  toe and a band at the opening ? or send the hide to me and i'll make a back quiver for me .  

[shortstroke 91]

Well the first attemp was a total failure, apparently when elephant hide is still damp you can tear it pretty easily. While stitching her up I pulled a little too tight and ripped the stitching right through about 10 holes. Good thing I have enough to try again    Wish me luck.

[wisconsin wood butcher]

any hide when its wet if fragile.  good luck

[shortstroke 91]

Got the new pattern cut out and partially stitched last night, gonna' work on her a little more this evening. Might try to post a few pics as I go if there's any interest.

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

SS-91,

By all means, post photos!!  Not often a guy gets a nice piece of exotic leather to work.  I'd love to see your finished gear.  Were it me, I'd try to save a couple bits of leather to do a matching handle on my bow and/or a sheath for my knife!    

[shortstroke 91]

I'm tinkering with the idea of a matching tab and armguard. I need to go get a piece of suede for the armguard and I have a small piece of his impala with hair on for the inside of the tab. Thinking today that I might cut the stitches from last night and do it a little differently tonight.

[shortstroke 91]

Here's where I'm @. The first pic is laid out with the end stitched and the edges rolled together for support. If you look closely at the picture you can see the 2 white fiberglass rods that go down the middle for support. They are what the leather thongs are tied to on the end, they are inside the rolled edges on each side of the opening. Next pic is of the wooden endcap that's in the garage with the cover piece of hide waiting for the glue to dry.   Finally is a profile partially stitched and waiting for the endcap to be sewed on so I can dye the whole thing at once.   Youre probably thinking there's something missing and that would be the strap. A very generous LADY, and talented artist, you all know as Shell has contacted me and offered to give me a strap for it so I'll hold any more pics until I get it completely finished.