Recommendations for elephant skin tanning

[CD24]

I’m looking for recommendations for tanning elephant and crocodile skin. The skins are currently in Zambia. Are there any reliable tanneries in the states or SA that can handle elephant panels? Thanks for the help!

 

[Green Chile]

Yost can do them in the US for $36/sq ft. Much better to have them done in Africa where it's a common task instead of shipping heavy salted panels to US. These panels are heavy!

 

[K-man]

I recommend skins and flat panels tanned in country. Makes the weight much less and you will wait here at least 18-24 months after they arrive. Usually in country takes 6-8 months and will cost considerably less. Check with your ph on local taxidermy companies. You may get several leads here also. Congrats!

 

[Huntforever]

Who has tanned their elephant hides in Africa?

 

[BryceM]

Wildlife Gallery Tannery in Michigan can do it, but at enormous cost. I agree with what has already been said. Shipping dip/pack elephant hide will result in parcels you can't even lift. Mine was done in Namibia by a shop in Grootfontein. It's still expensive in Africa, and the size of everything even after dry tanning is astonishing. I had both ears, the tail, 4 legs with feet, 2 panels, and the trunk done.

Pay attention to what they do for color. I talked recently with a taxidermist in Windhoek about this. Apparently, it's not always so easy to predict the final result, and if you say "elephant color" you won't get "elephant color" unless they add some dye. Mine ended up a bit on the blue side, but c'est la vie.

 

[kpoynter]

Don’t even think about doing it in the U.S. basically
I threw away an elephant hide years ago
Tried to even give the panels to a guy that makes stuff out of it and he wouldn’t take the panels for free (because all his tanning is done abroad)

 

[Mike B.]

I had mine done in Zimbabwe. The total tanning for for all of the panels was $2216. I have zero idea on the quality of the tan as I haven’t received the crate yet, but I believe it will be just fine. I had a bunch of gun cases made, belts, ammo pouches, ammo belts, and wallets. All of that was super reasonable when comparing prices here in the states to have that stuff made.

If the costs in one of the above previous post are factored in, I’d suspect the tanning costs in the US would be in the 6000-8000 range depending on the size of the elephant, and that’s just for the body panels. If you did trunk, legs and head as well, just wow. That’s an absurd amount of money. Definitely a huge cost savings to have it done in country as you will also save significantly on weight and size of the crate needed to ship the dip and packed panels.

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m looking for recommendations for tanning elephant and crocodile skin. The skins are currently in Zambia. Are there any reliable tanneries in the states or SA that can handle elephant panels? Thanks for the help!

My only recommendation from experience is TCI in Bulawayo. They have done well on many different skins. I am sure there is an RSA option but verify. Better there than here.

 

[Green Chile]

I believe there are 6 panels on a ele plus ears, head, legs. Here's a stack of 5 and 1 ear after I shipped one panel and ear to see how it will turn out in the US. Long story...should have been 1 panel and it should have been tanned before shipping to US. Talk about a shocking shipping invoice! They are insanely heavy and abrasive to handle after being salted.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I have products made by TCI in Bulawayo and they are high quality. As said above be careful on the dye used. It looks uniform and clean. But is too uniform for my taste.

I would leave it natural. Un dyed.

I just happened to be headed to my daughter’s to shoot a few rifles at longer ranges. Here are two bags made at TCI in Bulawayo. one is elephant dyed all gray.

And here are two ammo wallets left natural.

 

[Altitude sickness]

You could have it shipped to Bulawayo from anywhere In Africa. Or to your Taxidermist of choice In Africa.

Have the products made. Fly over there. and bring it back in your luggage drastically cheaper than bringing it here and having it made.

 

[rookhawk]

Who has tanned their elephant hides in Africa?

I have collete's in Zim tan mine. I am unsure if they are doing it, or if they have a sub-contractor as their tannery. They do a nice job.

You will pay a fortune bringing untanned elephant hides to the States, then you'll pay another fortune trying to get them tanned in the USA. Then you might find that either your State or the Tannery State is banned from handling elephant products. (the Anti-Ivory possession laws in some States are very broad to include any part of elepant)

Bottom line, get your hide tanned in-country before import.

 

[Huntforever]

Wildlife Gallery Tannery in Michigan can do it, but at enormous cost. I agree with what has already been said. Shipping dip/pack elephant hide will result in parcels you can't even lift. Mine was done in Namibia by a shop in Grootfontein. It's still expensive in Africa, and the size of everything even after dry tanning is astonishing. I had both ears, the tail, 4 legs with feet, 2 panels, and the trunk done.

Pay attention to what they do for color. I talked recently with a taxidermist in Windhoek about this. Apparently, it's not always so easy to predict the final result, and if you say "elephant color" you won't get "elephant color" unless they add some dye. Mine ended up a bit on the blue side, but c'est la vie.

Please don’t laugh but why add color? With other hides don’t they just tan them and it comes out the organial color of the hide?

 

[Rare Breed]

I have products made by TCI in Bulawayo and they are high quality. As said above be careful on the dye used. It looks uniform and clean. But is too uniform for my taste.

I would leave it natural. Un dyed.

I just happened to be headed to my daughter’s to shoot a few rifles at longer ranges. Here are two bags made at TCI in Bulawayo. one is elephant dyed all gray.

And here are two ammo wallets left natural. View attachment 771856View attachment 771857

please let me know if you ever want to sell one of the gun cases…beautiful!!!

 

[Huntforever]

I had mine done in Zimbabwe. The total tanning for for all of the panels was $2216. I have zero idea on the quality of the tan as I haven’t received the crate yet, but I believe it will be just fine. I had a bunch of gun cases made, belts, ammo pouches, ammo belts, and wallets. All of that was super reasonable when comparing prices here in the states to have that stuff made.

If the costs in one of the above previous post are factored in, I’d suspect the tanning costs in the US would be in the 6000-8000 range depending on the size of the elephant, and that’s just for the body panels. If you did trunk, legs and head as well, just wow. That’s an absurd amount of money. Definitely a huge cost savings to have it done in country as you will also save significantly on weight and size of the crate needed to ship the dip and packed panels.

Do you mind sharing who did your I had a bunch of gun cases made, belts, ammo pouches, ammo belts, and wallets?

 

[Huntforever]

I believe there are 6 panels on a ele plus ears, head, legs. Here's a stack of 5 and 1 ear after I shipped one panel and ear to see how it will turn out in the US. Long story...should have been 1 panel and it should have been tanned before shipping to US. Talk about a shocking shipping invoice! They are insanely heavy and abrasive to handle after being salted.
View attachment 771860

So you’re saying it’s better to have it tanned in the US?

Do you have any advice on tanning instructions?

 

[Huntforever]

I have products made by TCI in Bulawayo and they are high quality. As said above be careful on the dye used. It looks uniform and clean. But is too uniform for my taste.

I would leave it natural. Un dyed.

I just happened to be headed to my daughter’s to shoot a few rifles at longer ranges. Here are two bags made at TCI in Bulawayo. one is elephant dyed all gray.

And here are two ammo wallets left natural. View attachment 771856View attachment 771857

You answered my question further down the text about where

 

[Huntforever]

You could have it shipped to Bulawayo from anywhere In Africa. Or to your Taxidermist of choice In Africa.

Have the products made. Fly over there. and bring it back in your luggage drastically cheaper than bringing it here and having it made.

Would you have to have paperwork to get the finished products back home ?

 

[Altitude sickness]

For elephant a cities permit.

 

[Green Chile]

So you’re saying it’s better to have it tanned in the US?

Do you have any advice on tanning instructions?

Not at all...1000% no. I don't have it back yet but it will be super expensive and I doubt it's shaved down as good as the African machinery does.

As to colors, besides natural grey, the brown can turn out very nicely. Those are the only 2 that interest me.