Traditional - Red Deer? vs US deer/Elk leathers

[Ryan Ross]

Lamar Britt talks about the Elk vs. Red Deer thing all the time. And I know that he works extensively with North American Elk, and that he has worked with Scottish Red Deer also.

I'll ask him how simmilar he finds the hides, next time I talk to him.

[Mule]

As an 18th century (colonial) re-enactor, the deer we hunt (whitetail) was called the Virginia red deer in the trade documents of the period. The hide was highly prized in Europe because of its softness, making it perfect for gloves soft bags and any other leather items needing a soft, luxurious feel. The deer was called "red deer" because it was harvested in the summer when the deer were "redder" in color. It was taken then because there were less veins and the pores were smaller, not having to support a thick winter coat of hair. Hope this helps!

Good to know, I have a LOT of family back in Western Kentucky that hunt. I will have them save me some hides, actually, they tan them too. So, I might get lucky and them have some for me. I'm going to be doing a MacKay targe with my instructor friend and will need the hair on hide for the backside of it. On a different direction, I have a nice kit KY long rifle and Real 3 band Enfield and Percussion cap musket in my collection.

Ryan, that would be good to hear it from someone like that. My main concern is just for a few projects, I doubt I could afford OR want to work just in Elk.

Thanks for the link Joe, much appreciated.

[Joe Gondek]

I 've worked with elk and deer hides for over 35 years
both commerical tan and brain tan
I just dicovered german tan about ten years ago

the main difference between deer and elk is in the size and thickness of the hide,commerical tanned deer and elk have the pretty much same texture and softness

a brain tanned young elk is very much like a large mule deer buck
and brain tan depends on who tanned it

german tan is like somewhere in between brain tan and commerical
tan and is an unique piece of leather I really like it, but like any 18th century guy I prefer brain tan or elk depending on the project