Essential tools for survival leatherworking in the woods

[purple bean]

I have been thinking about what I would actually need to make leather gear if I were stuck in the wilderness indefinitely. Processing raw hides into wearable clothes or bags requires specific tools that are easy to carry and hard to break. I would focus on the basics like a very sharp knife for skinning and a sturdy scraper to clean the flesh off the hide. A simple bone or metal awl would be necessary to punch holes for stitching since you cannot just carry a heavy sewing machine. And I would need some way to create cordage or sinew to tie everything together. It is interesting to imagine which modern tools are truly worth the weight when you have to survive on your own.

 

[Alan]

a Round Knife or Head Knife is the holy grail for long-term leatherwork. Its semi-circular blade allows you to "push-cut" through thick hide using your body weight, which is much less exhausting than slicing with a standard belt knife. In a pinch, a sharpened ulu style blade made from a salvaged saw blade is the ultimate survival upgrade. Check it out.

 

[fluffyman]

I have been thinking about what I would actually need to make leather gear if I were stuck in the wilderness indefinitely. Processing raw hides into wearable clothes or bags requires specific tools that are easy to carry and hard to break. I would focus on the basics like a very sharp knife for skinning and a sturdy scraper to clean the flesh off the hide. A simple bone or metal awl would be necessary to punch holes for stitching since you cannot just carry a heavy sewing machine. And I would need some way to create cordage or sinew to tie everything together. It is interesting to imagine which modern tools are truly worth the weight when you have to survive on your own.

It is a good idea to learn which local plants contain enough tannins to help preserve your leather.

 

[Greg Looney - L]

I have been thinking about what I would actually need to make leather gear if I were stuck in the wilderness indefinitely. Processing raw hides into wearable clothes or bags requires specific tools that are easy to carry and hard to break. I would focus on the basics like a very sharp knife for skinning and a sturdy scraper to clean the flesh off the hide. A simple bone or metal awl would be necessary to punch holes for stitching since you cannot just carry a heavy sewing machine. And I would need some way to create cordage or sinew to tie everything together. It is interesting to imagine which modern tools are truly worth the weight when you have to survive on your own.

You can make the scraper on the spot instead of having the extra tool/weight. You can make your own cordage also.

 

[Greg Looney - L]

a Round Knife or Head Knife is the holy grail for long-term leatherwork. Its semi-circular blade allows you to "push-cut" through thick hide using your body weight, which is much less exhausting than slicing with a standard belt knife. In a pinch, a sharpened ulu style blade made from a salvaged saw blade is the ultimate survival upgrade. Check it out.

A skinning knife (think buffalo or similar skinner) would be the best compromise if you're in the wilderness with a minimum of equipment or supplies.

 

[WindWhisperer50]

you need a a heavy duty sail needle. you can tuck it into a hat or a survival kit easily. a bone awl works for punching holes, but a steel needle allows you to use finer cordage like bank line or even inner strands of 550 cord, making your gear much more water resistant and durable

 

[w.m.weir]

@purple bean Have you practiced brain tanning or other natural methods that do not require store bought chemicals?

 

[Greg Looney - L]

@purple bean Have you practiced brain tanning or other natural methods that do not require store bought chemicals?

I've used bark tanning on deer hides.

 

[red cayenne]

You should look for a knife with a carbon steel blade because it is much easier to sharpen on a river stone.

 

[piranha]

@purple bean Do you know how to make a basic wooden frame to stretch and dry hides in a camp setting?

 

[Greg Looney - L]

Alan, delete if this is "too much".

Let's get back to the OP's question. He's in the wilderness. Survival situation? What's he need to survive...including making leather items. Well, I doubt if he carried any tanned leather with him. So, what, besides knowledge, does he need. I think he could get by with one, or two, knives. The first should be a sheath knife, 4"-6" long blade. The second should be a pocket knife. The sheath knife can be used for heavy work like building a shelter, constructing traps/snares to supply food...and hides. The pocket knife would be easier for working with food and, possibly, dressing game and hides. Yes, you could do without the pocket knife and use just the sheath knife but it's also insurance in the event of damage or loss of the sheath knife. Yes, both should be carbon steel for ease of sharpening and to use with a rock to start fires. Yep, a smooth river rock (if he's not in N. AR or S. MO) could be use to keep the knives sharp.

Now, he's got his shelter up, leaves and pine needles collected for use as insulating cover at night, fire wood collected and set to light. He has taken time to set some traps/snares. He developed something to hold water, assuming he's smart enough to camp near a water source.

He can sit back and wait for his food supply to come running in. While waiting, he can heat (very dry) rocks in the fire to place in his water in an attempt to kill as many buggers (giardia, etc.) as possible.

Wow, 2 of his snares worked! He's got some squirrels/skunks/rabbits/etc. to eat. With a full belly, he turns his attention to the hides. He's not planning on surviving in the wilderness for too long, so he isn't going to try brain tanning or bark tanning. Besides, he needs something now for foot coverings, head covering, containers for holding cooked food, or whatever. So, he makes sure that all the flesh and fat are removed from the hide. As the hide is drying, he begins stretching/working it in his hands to break/soften the hide. When it's (or they) are done, he can stitch them together with cordage that he's made or strips from extra hides. If he doesn't need the insulation qualities of the fur, he can dry scrap the hair to make "buck skin". This form can be made into containers (bags) and that lace he needed.

So, either one of his knives could be used for his "leather" work.

He must not have had a compass nor a day pack with emergency items. I hope he is wise enough to prepare materials for a signal fire...

 

[purple bean]

Thanks! These are good suggestions and I never expected that I would be getting a lot of responses on my post.

 

[purple bean]

Alan, delete if this is "too much".

Let's get back to the OP's question. He's in the wilderness. Survival situation? What's he need to survive...including making leather items. Well, I doubt if he carried any tanned leather with him. So, what, besides knowledge, does he need. I think he could get by with one, or two, knives. The first should be a sheath knife, 4"-6" long blade. The second should be a pocket knife. The sheath knife can be used for heavy work like building a shelter, constructing traps/snares to supply food...and hides. The pocket knife would be easier for working with food and, possibly, dressing game and hides. Yes, you could do without the pocket knife and use just the sheath knife but it's also insurance in the event of damage or loss of the sheath knife. Yes, both should be carbon steel for ease of sharpening and to use with a rock to start fires. Yep, a smooth river rock (if he's not in N. AR or S. MO) could be use to keep the knives sharp.

Now, he's got his shelter up, leaves and pine needles collected for use as insulating cover at night, fire wood collected and set to light. He has taken time to set some traps/snares. He developed something to hold water, assuming he's smart enough to camp near a water source.

He can sit back and wait for his food supply to come running in. While waiting, he can heat (very dry) rocks in the fire to place in his water in an attempt to kill as many buggers (giardia, etc.) as possible.

Wow, 2 of his snares worked! He's got some squirrels/skunks/rabbits/etc. to eat. With a full belly, he turns his attention to the hides. He's not planning on surviving in the wilderness for too long, so he isn't going to try brain tanning or bark tanning. Besides, he needs something now for foot coverings, head covering, containers for holding cooked food, or whatever. So, he makes sure that all the flesh and fat are removed from the hide. As the hide is drying, he begins stretching/working it in his hands to break/soften the hide. When it's (or they) are done, he can stitch them together with cordage that he's made or strips from extra hides. If he doesn't need the insulation qualities of the fur, he can dry scrap the hair to make "buck skin". This form can be made into containers (bags) and that lace he needed.

So, either one of his knives could be used for his "leather" work.

He must not have had a compass nor a day pack with emergency items. I hope he is wise enough to prepare materials for a signal fire...

Your response was very informative, but I'm pretty sure someone will be looking for me if that happens. I just can't imagine myself stuck in the wilderness without doing something to kill the time while waiting for rescue.

 

[Greg Looney - L]

Your response was very informative, but I'm pretty sure someone will be looking for me if that happens. I just can't imagine myself stuck in the wilderness without doing something to kill the time while waiting for rescue.

I doubt if you would be carrying leather and leather work supplies to while away the time...

 

[Alan]

You post is not too much. It's a survival check. It's not like you'll need to do leatherwork right away. First order of things is find a high ground, look for water source, then as you said, set up camp, find food with one or two knives.