BrainTanned
Deerskins
The barter system is alive and well here!!!
(Though I am not opposed to cash)

The DVD "Braintan Made Easy" is finally done! Send MO or Personal Check (we'll wait till it
clears), and your address and we will send you the DVD. I'll wait until enough people have
seen it and let them provide feedback and publish that here instead of me saying what I
think of it right now, except that I wish I had this when I first started or  5 years ago for
that matter.

High Definition DVD $20












"The best hide tanning video I've ever seen, and I have them all." Dave Bethke hide
tanning instructor for Rabbit Stick, 18 years.

Send Check or M.O. to
Robert Retallick
PO Box 418
Hot Springs, MT
59845



Elk and Deer Backstrap Sinew

I have both Deer and Elk backstrap sinew for sale. These are the long flat
lengths of sinew that are perfect for backing bows, sewing, hafting and
fletching arrows, and bow strings. Deer sell for 4$ a backstrap and Elk sells
for 6$. Get it before I go to Rabbit Stick!!!


Braintanned Deerskins

Trying to figure out how much to charge for braintanned deerskin is a little
like water witching, not that I've water witched. There are any number of
factors that go into what I think a nice skin is. There are other factors that
other people look at when they buy skins. For instance, I look at a skin as
something that will be made into clothes so I care deeply about holes in the
middle of the skin, the thickness of the skin, and if it has many scars. Folks
that use skins for beading tend not to care about holes or scars but want a
skin that "sews like butter" in the words of master beader and my Salish
friends and sisters Suzie Coughren and Joann Rautz. That being said, I tend
to just judge the skin by it's overall quality which includes thickness, holes
and where they are, scarring, and size.

Lot's of folks sell by the square foot. Some sell by weight. I basically
meditate a bit on a hide and wait for a number that seems fair to the
quality of skin I'm looking at. If that's too non-specific for you then I will
back what I sell with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like the
skin send it back and I'll either refund your money or send you out another
skin at an equivalent price.

I also reduce prices for more than 2 skins at a time. When I sell "in bulk" the
average of my skins is 190$ each.

When your ready to order you can just email me or call me and we can talk
about what you want to do with your skin, how dark or light you want it
smoked, which in itself is a very relative subject, and how many skins you
want. That way I can pick out a skin that will meet your needs or if your
going to make garments out of them, I can smoke several together making
sure your getting matching skins.

I can also make any kind of clothing article you have in mind. Again, this is
something we can talk about through email or on the phone. It's a good
idea to get input and ideas from someone who has worn buckskin and
knows the realities of wearing it 24/7. There is nothing in the world like
buckskins made just for you. They will change the way you feel. Many folks
use buckskin clothing for the traditional hunting experience. I can tell you
first hand that there is something to wearing buckskin while hunting. It is
perfectly silent, masks your scent, and the fringe helps break up your outline
much like camo.

Below is my son Camas dressed in his finery and myself with a couple of
nice 11 or 12 foot skins. You'll note Camas is wearing black walnut hull dyed
skins, particularly nice for blending into the forest.

Perhaps the best compliment I receive for my skins is that they are almost
sold exclusively to elder aboriginal American women.

My phone number is 406-741-5084

(currently approx. 2 month backorder)
" I do not recommend
divestiture into the sub
skins marketed."

Rockefeller