You could sell the buffalo robe and buy several newer ones with the proceeds.

Keith

It is pretty plush, Ray. It has two layers of felt backing just as you'd see today on your average black bear rug.

I don't know what it's worth, Keith, but I plan on keeping it. I've had it for years.

As luck would have it, I'm having mine the same day. Maybe we could go...you know, dutch.

Absolutely ! I feel as though I should punctuate this with a semi-colon ;

I wouldn't worry too much about the arsenic (if there is any) as long as you don't eat it the robe.
Arsenic is a metal just like chromium is a metal, both have toxic compounds, I never hear anyone worrying about chrome tanned leather being toxic.

thats an interesting looking buffalo robe.. ive never seen one like it and my family shoots three bison a year. we all literally have them all over our house. its too the point now that we literally try to give them away, but nobody is willing to go through the work and money to get them ready for tan. we cant bring ourselves to toss them, so the pile of buffalo robes just grows and grows.

You need a picture with a Flash

Maybe these will be a little better. It has two layers of felt covered with what looks to be a wool blanket. The hide looks to be almost as much wool as hair.

I was reading that between the years of 1872-1874, 4.5 million buffalo hides were shipped east. The hunters were paid $3.50 a hide and could shoot upwards of a hundred a day for days on end. By the early 1880s, buffalo numbers were reduced to just a few hundred.

Great pictures! Thanks!

Posco if you don’t mind me asking where did you find it ?

Not at all. It came from my mothers side of the family. One of the big regrets I have is not asking more questions of family member about the origins of things. They're all gone now and so are the answers to my questions.

I hear that ! Thanks , I was just curious ( history nut ) !

Would I be correct in thinking it looks like they cut the hump out and sewed the hide back together? I have been told the indians often tanned the bulls that way. Hump being very hard to thin and soften. If it was truly indian tanned it would be worth a lot to collectors.

Interesting that you mention that. In all of the years I've owned this thing, the first time I ever noticed that patch was this morning when I used the flash on my camera. It jumped right out at me. In normal light it doesn't show.

A lot of these robes came out of Canada as well. It would be interesting to know if what you're saying is so.

What a crappy way to spend a day,

I don’t blame you that’s a nice one I have an old buffalo coat that came down the family line heavy as sin and twice as hot

I would not really worry about any arsenic at this time from what I understand it was not used in the tanning process but rather as a retardant to prevent bugs and their damage

At least that’s what the old books about taxidermy and tanning tell me

But I could be wrong but also as far as I know arsenic is not absorbed into the skin

But again I could be wrong it’s Been known to happen

Nightlife;

I don’t blame you that’s a nice one I have an old buffalo coat that came down the family line heavy as sin and twice as hot

I would not really worry about any arsenic at this time from what I understand it was not used in the tanning process but rather as a retardant to prevent bugs and their damage

At least that’s what the old books about taxidermy and tanning tell me

But I could be wrong but also as far as I know arsenic is not absorbed into the skin

But again I could be wrong it’s Been known to happen
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Where were you when they were filming in Winnipeg, they needed 6 buffalo coats and paid 300$ a day per coat, plus user fee and 150$ day standin fee for the movie shoot...lasted 21 days that shoot. And the dollars were par then

Arsenic is absorbed in the skin, it was used as a " ladies face whitener " back in the day

Where were you when they were filming in Winnipeg, they needed 6 buffalo coats and paid 300$ a day per coat, plus user fee and 150$ day standin fee for the movie shoot...lasted 21 days that shoot. And the dollars were par then

Arsenic is absorbed in the skin, it was used as a " ladies face whitener " back in the day[/quote]

Interesting did not know it could be absorbed by the skin but something to keep in mind, back in my youth I went to catholic school and we had a nun who was French and I remember her telling how arsenic was used by them to make themselves pale by taking small amounts

By the way I really wish that I had know about that filming I definitely could have used that money as it is that coat just hangs on the wall as a conversation piece I always get a kick when people come over and decide to try it on I never weighed it but it is definitely more then a bit on the heavy side can’t imagine wearing it all day but the it is split up the back to be worn on horse back so the horse should be carrying it most the time

By the way I was my grandfathers who was born in 1878 though I think the coat is older then he was