I posted this on the Taxidermy Forum too but this gets so much more volume:
I’m looking for somewhere to tan my elephant hid to use as leather for scabbards, etc. I know, I know I should have had it done in Africa and I tried but somehow it got shipped without being tanned. My taxidermist suggested New Method in SF and they told me they don’t do leather, just tanning for mounting. They suggested Fox Valley in Salt Lake but they told me they don’t do exotics.

Any suggestions?

West Coast preferred but reputation/quality and price supersede location.

Thanks,
Kyler

The short answer: You're screwed. I've gone through that and could never find anyone.

By the time you pay D&P, get in tanned in Zim(and they don't screw up the color), pay shipping , and pay the custom broker, you've invested more than its worth. Bummer.

Try Moyle Tannery in Heyburn Idaho. Their quality is fine and the price is usually right. Be sure to specify how thick you want it and if you want to keep layers of suede that are trimmed off.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

Start with the book makers... ElPaso, TX.

They consume the most volume of elephant, and can tell you who does it well.

Kyler,
You are not screwed, call

Specialty Leather Products
515-433-4434
2135 Industrial Park Rd.
Boone,Iowa 50036

They will tan buffalo, Elephant, Hippo, what ever you like.

Now you tell me!!

Kyler,

I had a local taxidermist send one out for tanning 3 years ago. I do not know where it went but the price was high and the quality lacking. I ended up covering a small sofa with it and it is okay but the fellow doing the job complained about all the repairs he had to make.

I would ask for samples before sending yours out.

BigB

Just wondering...

How much does an un-tanned Ele hide weigh?

Regards

Elmo

A related question, please.

Who makes a good quality rifle case out of the skin?

Judge,

Murray Leather will do cases...I am having my work done in Zim and shipped done to me...Going to use Newark as point of entry and going to drive out and clear it myself...

Mike

An untanned elephant hide has to weigh 1000 lbs. and smells good too..

I used salt valley in Utah on a cape buffalo hide and it came back well tanned but they ruined the crinkle texture, it looked like a cow hide...Having seen how well they do them in RSA, I was very disapointed...

I had my Hippo hide tanned in Zim, in the town of Chiredzi, they did a great job on it. Orginally I was going to bring it home and have it done here but every tannery I talked to never did one, hell! one said that he would try it, but it was too important to me for a "experiment"
I left it there in July, went back over the next June and picked it up. Worked out great. just wish I had something made out of it there, it hangs in my closet