Rawhide from Wild and Domestic Animals

Produced in Germany by a family of professional tanners who have preserved traditional leathercraft for over 200 years. No chemicals—only natural processing, just like centuries ago. Perfect for those who value authenticity, natural materials, and a passion for historical reenactment.

Our rawhide is ideal for crafting medieval shield replicas, lamps, and many other handmade masterpieces.

In our shop, you can purchase  rawhides from different animals:

Split cowhide: Thick and rigid when dried; fine-grained.

Bullhide with natural scarring: Thick, smooth, fine-grained.

Boar: Coarse, thick, rigid when dried.

Deer: Fine-grained, smooth, soft.

Goat: Fine-grained, smooth, soft; thinner compared to deer hide.

Horse: Thick, coarse.

You can also choose the right size of rawhide cut.

Just like in the old days—we cut the hide to your exact measurements so not a single centimeter goes to waste.

If you need a custom size or a full hide, please contact us via email.

Important! When ordering rawhide from wild animals, keep in mind: Natural material may show traces of hunting, including 1-2 small shot holes. This is not a defect but proof of its genuine origin.

Rawhide Options for Different Uses

For Shields (full rawhide shields or covering wooden/metal shields):

• Horse
• Split cowhide

For Drums:

• Bullhide with natural scarring

Best for Lamps:

• Boar
• Deer
• Goat

Sizes

Each order corresponds to one hide cut in the available sizes listed below.

Available Hide Sizes in Our Shop:

• R6: 10.5 cm × 15 cm
• R5: 15 cm × 21 cm
• R4: 21 cm × 30 cm
• R3: 30 cm × 42 cm
• R2: 42 cm × 60 cm
• R1: 60 cm × 84 cm (Important! Natural hides of these sizes almost always retain traces of the animal’s life—this is not a flaw but proof of their organic origin)
• R0: 84 cm × 119 cm (Important! Natural hides of these sizes almost always retain traces of the animal’s life—this is not a flaw but proof of their organic origin)

Historical Background

Since ancient times, leather has been highly valued by our ancestors as a material for crafting various items—lamps, shoes, clothing, musical instruments, and even military equipment! Medieval siege engines were often covered with wet hides for fire resistance.

Warriors also made shields from solid rawhide, resulting in exceptionally durable yet lightweight protection. In Europe, especially during the early Middle Ages, covering wooden shields with leather was common. Interestingly, even when shields were covered with other materials (such as linen), the edges were always reinforced with leather strips for strength.

In today’s medieval reenactment scene, this method remains popular. Rawhide strips are soaked, edges are folded, and then fixed with forged nails or stitched to the shield using honey-soaked thread. Once dried, rawhide becomes incredibly tough—resistant to splitting and nearly impossible to cut through.