Suggestions for flatskins

When my father took a beautiful wildebeest he had the whole hide and the skull shipped. We had it made into a rug but with the skull included. Similar to a bear rug. Either for mounting on a wall or in a safe location on the floor. I will post some pics of it soon but it is quite beautiful and unusual. Picture the full head with the skull/horns but also with a complete hide. Can't quite put it to words but it is amazing for sure. Spectacular. If you go for a crocodile you can also see what my dad had done with his on my latest post..I wanted a Hyena rug in the same fashion as my dad's wildebeest but alas, I never had the chance to harvest one. Too tough a hunt for my sorry ass. I can't sit still for more than 30 minutes so that blew my hyena hunt. Sigh.
 
I also got some back skins, and I think it was a waste of $$$ for the amount of back skin I got back. I was in the skinning shed whatching my animals get caped, and I know there was a lot more back skin left. So, why did they tanned this way, why not tan what was left? I would like to know.
 
After my hunt with Marius, I am using "Hunters and Collectors Taxidermy" in Port Elizabeth this year to do my dip/pack.
I am also having them do my tanned "hair on" backskins and a backskin of a black wilderbeest for leather without hair.
But, I purchased quite a few of their tanned springbuck hides for about $40 usd each. seems like a good deal.
Also purchased some kudu horns fairly cheap that I plan to make lamps out of or wall sconces, or actually whatever my wife decides.
All of these things are going to be put into my crate with my capes and horns. supposed to be 1 crate.

Their website is www.huntersandcollectors.co.za if you want to check them out.
It'll be a couple more months before my shipment comes, I'll let ya'll know how things turn out.

blessings,
jerry
 
Accipiter I looked in that same shop on May 1st 2014 and the same 22,000 rand zebra skin! As others have mentioned you can hunt your own zebra and have the skin tanned and made into a rug for less.
 
We had a pillow made from our Kudu backskin. On the bushbuck, I really thought hard about a full body mount since the hide is so beautiful. We ended up doing a full flat skin of the entire hide and had rings added. It is hanging on the wall in the picture in my avatar. Attached is the Kudu pillow.

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very nice pillow. Did you get it done here in the States???
 
The Wildlife Gallery did all of our taxidermy work. The pillow, Kudu pedestal shoulder mount, euro on buff/impala/bushbuck, and the bushbuck flatskin in my avatar. Specialty Leather then dyed the cape buffalo hide and we had four belts made by Sam Andrews - Andrews Leather in Alachua Florida. Very happy with his work as well. Still waiting to get bags made out of the cape buffalo hide and a purse for Ann with the Impala hide with hair on. Maybe later this year.

One great thing about Sam's belts is that he does a slight curve to the ladies belts. Ann said they fit better than any belt she's ever purchased anywhere because of that.

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Wow, very nice work! Thanks for the info.
 
I'm having two rifle bags made from skins that came from zebra and red hartebeest back skins on the 2014 hunt. Looking forward to getting them
 
Thi9elsp, that looks greate. Excelent work.
Witold
Thanks Witold. Ann and I are really happy with the belts, pillow and bushbuck. We had some issues with The Wildlife Gallery - they made it right with us, but I would not use them again. John
 
Has someone perhaps had a lioness flat skin made? I'm personally not a fan of the full skin including the scull (I hope my terminology is correct...). Also, I've heard its better to use brown felt rather than black for the backing of a lion skin, if someone could confirm, I would really appreciate it!
 
One of my favourites is a Red Hartebeest flat skin. The colour is just lovely and as the light moves the colours just dance - almost like velvet.

FN
 
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.
Other than zebra and one or two spring bucks I’ve not found much use for mine. If you don’t have a plan for them don’t spend the money to tan and bring them back. Most of us have brought back back skins and had some flat skins made and later just have little use for them.
 
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.
Murray leather has made some for me.
 

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