Indian women did
not soften leather by chewing it. Soft and pliable leathers were
prepared by chipping or shaving the hide using a stone or steel scraper
prior to tanning the leather to thin the skin. This is an especially
important step for buffalo hides. After the skin had been thinned,
it was critical to work the hide by flexing and stretching over a rope or
pole while the hide dried after tanning. For more information about
this process see Preparing Robes and Hides.
The
photo at right is of a Cheyenne "Chipper" made of Elkhorn with
an iron blade from the collection of the Museum of the Fur Trade in
Chadron, Nebraska.
er
prior to tanning the leather to thin the skin. This is an especially
important step for buffalo hides. After the skin had been thinned,
it was critical to work the hide by flexing and stretching over a rope or
pole while the hide dried after tanning. For more information about
this process see