Suggestions for flatskins

[Trap123]

I will be going to Namibia in April and I have a couple of questions that I hope are not too foolish.
1.I have read quite a bit about people bringing back flat skins what exactly are flat skins.
2.what are some ideas on what can be done with them I mean what can be made out of them.some pictures perhaps would be great I am just looking for some ideas.
my list of trophies includes kudu gemsbok Springbok Impala zebra and possibly a warthog.

 

[BRICKBURN]

A "Flat Skin" is a game hide that has been tanned with the fur/hair on.
Skinned out and tanned like a rug. No backing on them typically.

" Full Skin" - Nose to toes hide with the hair on. Tanned flat again. (Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Hyena, etc.)

"Back Skin" Same thing just the back half of the animal hide not used for the shoulder mount.

Kudu, Springbok, Impala and Zebra will make great rugs.
The airport is full of Springbok skins. Lots of colour and pattern.

 

[joester]

I recently hunted RSA Eastern Cape with the main intent of obtaining skins from a springbok & blesbok. I think they are beautiful. I will probably drape them over the back of big chairs or a sofa. My wife wants to have the seats of each dining room chair done with a different animal, from the backskins we've been collecting.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

A "Flat Skin" is a game hide that has been tanned with the fur/hair on.
Skinned out and tanned like a rug. No backing on them typically.

" Full Skin" - Nose to toes hide with the hair on. Tanned flat again. (Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Hyena, etc.)

"Back Skin" Same thing just the back half of the animal hide not used for the shoulder mount.

Kudu, Springbok, Impala and Zebra will make great rugs.
The airport is full of Springbok skins. Lots of colour and pattern.

Perfect explanation. I would however wish to add that you could hunt your own animal for its flatskin at the price of the flatskin at the airport. One of my hunters who does frequent here on AH has found a supplier for Springbuck skins at very reasonable rate.
You have an option of tanning the skins without the hair as well. You can use the leather for whatever your heart desires.

 

[accipiter]

A "Flat Skin" is a game hide that has been tanned with the fur/hair on.
Skinned out and tanned like a rug. No backing on them typically.

" Full Skin" - Nose to toes hide with the hair on. Tanned flat again. (Zebra, Lion, Leopard, Hyena, etc.)

"Back Skin" Same thing just the back half of the animal hide not used for the shoulder mount.

Kudu, Springbok, Impala and Zebra will make great rugs.
The airport is full of Springbok skins. Lots of colour and pattern.

Thanks Brickburn. I did not understand the terminology when I left for my first safari and my PH explained it to me at the skinning shed. This post serves as great reference material for first timers.

 

[accipiter]

Perfect explanation. I would however wish to add that you could hunt your own animal for its flatskin at the price of the flatskin at the airport. One of my hunters who does frequent here on AH has found a supplier for Springbuck skins at very reasonable rate.
You have an option of tanning the skins without the hair as well. You can use the leather for whatever your heart desires.

What Marius says is very true. Here are some photos from the Out of Africa shop at the International Terminal at Johannesburg Airport. This was May 2014, so that Zebra rug was roughly 2,200 USD.

 

[Spooksar]

I'm getting a 3x4 ft rug made out of the buckskins I got with Wintershoek this year. My cabin at the lake has buckskins as rugs. The other thins I saw in Namibia is a rifle case made from flat skins

 

[James.Grage]

What to do?
I have just about all these:
1. Pillows
2. gun case- hair on or hair off
3. purses
4. Rug
5. wall hangings
6. Round, square or rectangle shaped rug, stitched together.
7. Braided bull whip
8. Have painted by some artist
9. Tail flyswatters

The definitions were well covered above...

 

[All-American Taxidermy]

James -
I think you got it covered on the options. Just to add a few - coasters, rifle slings, and ottomans. Cape Buff, elephant, croc and ostrich make cool hair off leather for belts, boots, etc

 

[Divernhunter]

I wanted to have a gun case made with my flat and back skins(one rifle and one pistol) but have not found anyone in the states or California to do it.
Does anyone know someone in the states and prefer in California which will make the gun cases from my skins?

 

[K-man]

There is a company here in Oklahoma called loveless boots (www.lovelessboots.com) that makes custom boots, wallets, briefcases, etc. with your supplied skins. Don't know if they do gunbags or not but you can check. They have a booth at DSC every year.

 

[Divernhunter]

I called them. They do not make rifle/pistol cases.

Anyone know of someone who can make me a rifle or pistol case from my hides?

I would real appreciate any help.

 

[Bullthrower338]

http://www.whittenguncases.com

 

[Divernhunter]

Thank you. I just call them and it looks good for what I want.

Thank you again.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Thank you. I just call them and it looks good for what I want.

Thank you again.

Glad I could help, let us know how it turns out.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I had a local guy sew some back skins together into a rug for my son. I got the idea from some fancy hunting magazine, I think they wanted a bit over $2000 to make one up. The local guy wanted to charge me $50 but I gave him $100.

In Africa, these rugs get walked on. In America, they get walked around. For $2000, I can see that, but I didn't want to to that, so I got the $100 version and I walk on it.

I think back skins are something we all got when we first started out, but as the collection grows, I know I don't get them all the time. At first, it seems like a "once-in-a-lifetime" event and you don't want to "waste" any hide. In reality, I've found them to be marginally useful. I really like my rug, but one is enough at least for now.

My move away from back skins may just be me. I've also gone from shoulder mounts to skull mounts for a lot of animals: sure, a cat I'd get a full body mount, a particular animal might warrant a shoulder mount, but shoulder is no longer my default position and I don't consider a skull mount to be a second rate/cost cutting measure, but rather an equally viable trophy choice. That it costs a lot less is a huge plus, but not the only consideration. I also like the aesthetic and they take up a lot less space.

 

[Royal27]

That is one cool rug....

 

[Royal27]

That is one cool rug....

 

[bluey]

the gemsbok and the waterbuck look way better than l imagined

 

[AB2506]

Visit Cambanos and Sons before leaving Jburg. I think I paid something like $45 for a felt back sprinbok hide.