Rawhide Leather
Buckskin Leather Company offers an extensive and consistent supply of rawhide sourced from a variety of animals, including cattle, goat, deer, elk, and buffalo. Rawhide refers to animal hides in their natural, untreated state, unlike tanned leather, rawhide is not subjected to tanning processes. Instead, the hides are cleaned, chemically de-haired, stretched, and dried, resulting in a stiff, tough, and exceptionally strong material. This makes rawhide ideal for many traditional crafts and applications where durability and rigidity are required. All rawhide leather hides are supplied uncut and priced per hide. They have been chemically de-haired, cured, stretched, and dried for further processing. We stock only natural amber-colored rawhides, which are the strongest type available. Please note, bleaching rawhides to whiten them weakens the fibers, causing the grain to split over time.
Deer Rawhide
Deer rawhide is known for being softer and more pliable compared to bovine rawhide. Sold by the whole hide, these natural amber-colored hides are lighter in weight and smaller in size, averaging 10–15 sq. ft. Since these are wild-harvested skins, some may show range marks, bullet holes, or knife cuts.
Elk Rawhide
Elk rawhide is our most popular option due to its larger size and clean area. Prized for its durability and toughness, it’s sold by the whole hide in a natural amber color, averaging 15–18 sq. ft. with a somewhat heavier weight. Ideal for drum covers and other uses needing extra strength, such as heavy-duty drum heads and robust lacing.
Buffalo Rawhide
Buffalo rawhide is prized for its robustness and thickness. As the largest and thickest rawhide available, these hides average 30–40 sq.ft. in size. Known for being incredibly tough, buffalo rawhide is ideal for products that demand extra durability, such as heavy-duty laces, large drum heads, and industrial uses. Its unique texture also makes it a popular choice for decorative items with a rugged look.
Cow Rawhide
Cow rawhide, commonly known as cowhide rawhide, is the most prevalent type due to its size and strength. These hides weigh approximately 3–5 oz and average 15–18 sq.ft. when dry—roughly 6 ft long by 3 ft wide. We stock cow rawhides as sides or half hides only. They’re ideal for larger drum covers and applications requiring heavier rawhide, such as rawhide lacing.
Goatskin Rawhide
Goatskin rawhide is known for its thinness and flexibility. It’s the smallest and lightest among rawhides, averaging 7–10 sq.ft. in size and typically comes in a natural grey color, usually free of holes. Goatskin rawhide is ideal for fine, detailed work such as intricate laces, small drum heads, accent braiding, and lightweight crafts. Despite its thinness, it offers good strength, making it perfect for precision applications.
