World Premiere - Buckskin X-Kilt

**Eujeankilt** · 12th April 13, 09:05 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen of X-Marks, I've been away for quite a while pursuing other interests and hobbies, but tonight, I return with something I've been

planning for several years. One of my newer hobbies is traditional tanning deer hides, making them into buckskins. It occurred to me that kilts are made

from leather, so why not buckskin? Buckskin is different than leather. It breathes and it is supple and soft. These were hunter killed deer - three hides

skinned by a good friend that tans for a living and one hide was from a local friend who hunted the deer. These hides would have been left to rot or

dumped in a landfill, normally. The only thing used to process these hides is water, brains, smoke and a heck of a lot of elbow grease. It takes me about

12 to 14 hours to tan one of these beauties. I used 4 hides to make this kilt so I figure I have at least 60 hours into this kilt. Of course, it didn't happen

unless there are pictures. The first picture is a hide I tanned in it's finished form. the second pic is of a hide I cut for kilt material.

Here's the outer pleats sewn down.

Sewing down the inner pleats. You can see where I joined the hides.

Working on the waistband.

Sewing in belt loops - going through 8 layers of hide. For some of them, I had to turn the machine wheel by hand.

Finished! (and yes, that's a bullet hole)

My wife is out for the evening, so I had to photograph myself in the mirror.

Pleat shot.

It's really soft and comfy, but a little stiff so sitting takes some extra care, but it should be great for busting brush!

I hope you all liked it.

Dale

Eugene, Oregon

**TheOfficialBren** · 12th April 13, 09:40 PM

Wow! I will be honest and say that I am usually turned off by Modern kilts...BUT...your craftsmanship is superb and your choice of buckskin is truly unique and artful.

Well done, mate. I am very impressed.

**Riverkilt** · 12th April 13, 10:36 PM

Be still my heart! What an amazing follow through of a kilt idea...I'm not jealous...I'm not jealous...I'm not jealous.... Guessing there's a new career there for you if you wanna make a living sewing up deerskin kits!

kiltedwolfman · 12th April 13, 11:02 PM

That looks great! I especially like the bullet hole.

**tadyergey** · 13th April 13, 03:40 AM

I considered a leather xkilt for my next... I think you have found the key. I am jealous and may have to expend some elbow grease again to tan a few hides! awesome job!

**dutchy kilted** · 13th April 13, 04:13 AM

Amazing work!

**llyd** · 13th April 13, 04:38 AM

Very...very nice! I will be out kilted amongst a herd of mustang ponies this morning, and will think of this kilt a lottle jealously....now you need a buckskin jacket and buffalo robe!

**Spartan Tartan** · 13th April 13, 05:15 AM

That is very impressive. Well done.

**MNlad** · 13th April 13, 05:38 AM

Wow. Beautiful work. I may (will) have to find some hides after seeing that. Congratulations.

**ronin6290** · 13th April 13, 05:49 AM

Wow! Box-pleats look great. I'm not a leather kilt fellow but that is great work. I imagine it will soften with a bit of time/wear. That should last 2 life-times!