Can I put a finish on rawhide?

[Hightower]

My first bow is a rawhide backed osage.  I`m real close to having a finished bow, and want to use true oil. But I have no clue if I can cover the rawhide with it.  Please help.  First timer.

[ranger 3]

Yes, but it will make it shinny. Just steel wool it if you don't want that.

[John Scifres]

I've not used True Oil but about any finish I have used works on rawhide as well as it does on wood.

[Hightower]

Thanks guys.  Thats what i needed to hear.

[Pat B]

I have(and do) used Tru-Oil on rawhide backings and it works well. One thing I have noticed it may turn the rawhide more transparent than usual but I kinda like seeing the wood under it. This is not always the case though.
  If you don't like the shiny finish a quick spray of satin poly will give it a nice dull finish.

[DVSHUNTER]

There you go Jason. Welcome to the bench!

[bjansen]

I've soaked the attached rawhide in thin superglue on mine and let it sit.  It will then sand to a glass like surface.  It also becomes transparant like Pat said, which I think looks really nice.