Hi, All. Anyone ever use a deer skin apron? How does it hold up? We have a friend who is an avid hunter and another friend who is good at curing hides, etc and wondered if that would work to make an apron. Thanks.~Eric

probley pretty xxxx good i would imagine as long as their aint no fur on it lol

I've got a lot of friends that wear "buckskins" made from deer hide.....minus the hair, and those outfits have lasted several years and are still holding together. :)

If the tanning is done properly the deerskin will be much more supple and comfortable to wear than even split cow hide. And if there isn't a real catastrophy it will give you just as much protection at the anvil.

Bill

Nope, won't work! Has to be genuine mule skin.

I made my apron 18 years ago out of a deer hide. No problems yet.
Gobbler

Sounds great. I bet a buckskin welding jacket would be real nice too.

Mine is made from a elk hide no hair on works great!!!! I go to the mountain men rendezvous and wear deer skin pants etc they have held up really good.
Go for it!!!
Gaylan

Nope, won't work! Has to be genuine mule skin.

Don't beat around the bush, Dick. Tell us how you really feel:)

For everyday wear it would work, but I am wondering about being around hot items. When we branded buckskin items at camp it really shrank up fast, and deformed, unlike cow hide.

Buckskin is a lot stretchier than cow hide, so may not give the best protection from accidental impacts. What may be best is buckskin apron with a cow hide section where you need the most protection. I have seen a smith who forges with no shirt, no safety glasses, and a kilt with metal scales down the front. Choose your own level of protection.

When I was actively forging I wore a tee shirt and dungarees. It's hot here in Phoenix. I have seen guys forge in shorts and floppers, So I'm thinking bucksink would be a whole lot better than what I used to use.

I have been using mine for a couple of years now. Works good, still breaking it in.

I use a vegetable tan on mine and have had the same loin cloth and leggins for years of rendevous and powwows.

My old mentor, Victor Vera, was brought up in a blacksmith shop in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He said that his dad and uncle both wore deerskin aprons that came to the tops of their shoes.

Lots of farriers' aprons used to be made of muleskin which was thick and protective. Nowadays, their aprons are made of different materials or combinations of materials: "bull hide", cordura, "duratuff", latigo, etc.
Turley Forge and Blacksmithing School : The Granddaddy of Blacksmithing Schools

Well, I guess I was being a little particular. Mule skin was used by many old time blacksmiths because it is thick and protective as Frank said. Peter Ross uses cheap ($2-$3) cotton aprons typically for woodworkers. As many have said, just about anything works. Personally I don't wear one very often. I usually have burn holes in my blacksmithing shirts. I do like to wear a leather apron when I am using a wire brush on an angle grinder. If I do not, I am picking little wires out of my belly.

A friend of mine gave me a beautiful brain-tan apron.

I tell ya, it's about too purty use.

Smells good, too.