Quivers

 
 
Skunk is the perfect quiver for someone who is a really stinking shot.

I got a tube tanned skunk skin with the intention of making a cap. Unfortunately, after cutting it flat, most skunks are too small for an adult head. It laid around for a while and I got the idea of an indian style quiver and decided to apply it as a decoration to a projected quiver. I made one of elk skin and sewed the skunk on after making the top cuff and before final assembly. I sewed the tube closed from bottom to top and put the rawhide stiffener into the cuff at the last possible moment. The X pattern is formed by two saddle stiches zigzaged. Yeah, that is four needles to keep straight. I like the result, but I am not certain I'd ever tackle that process again.

I used it for several years, but it was not stiff enough and I found that I preferred a waist quiver to a back quiver. I had also gathered more information about the traditional quivers. The latest mods are adding a hickory dowel to stiffen it and started extending the strap to baldric length. I considered beading a rose on the underside of the tail, but it wouldn't show because the elk extents too far. Click on the images for a larger view.

My son likes the over the shoulder style and used the skunk for some time until he heard my joke. He announced that he was NOT a really stinking shot (he is not) and wouldn't use it anymore, so I started this one.
 

 
Stitching is mostly artificial sinew using a saddle stitch with an edge wrap. The keeper is sewn with a baseball stich. This time I used cowhide with the flesh side out. The red leather for the cross is only slightly larger than the hole. On both quivers the disk for the bottom is very heavy harness leather. The stitching is diagonal entering the side of the disk not the top.
 

Lesson

  1. Research first, cut and sew after.

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