What leather type, thickness & stiffness for Turkish qui
Hey fellas,
I need some info to make a Turkish side quiver. What is the characteristic of the leather used on historic Turkish quivers?
Should the leather be soft and flexible or stiff and rigid to hold its shape? What leather thickness is appropriate? 6 oz, 9oz or more?
Also, are there any particular preference for leather type? cow hide, sheep, etc?
cheers
I need some info to make a Turkish side quiver. What is the characteristic of the leather used on historic Turkish quivers?
Should the leather be soft and flexible or stiff and rigid to hold its shape? What leather thickness is appropriate? 6 oz, 9oz or more?
Also, are there any particular preference for leather type? cow hide, sheep, etc?
cheers
The quivers I have seen that seem to be in "original" condition appear to be made of stiff leather. Turkish quivers rely more on the leather to maintain their shape than steppe quivers which had three sided wooden frames.
I use leather from 3 to 4 mm thick for my reconstructions. However, different leather preparation techniques in the past meant that stiffer thinner leather was available.
There are some quivers that have survived but do not appear to rigid anymore. Some may have been designed that way, but most have suffered from age.
I use leather from 3 to 4 mm thick for my reconstructions. However, different leather preparation techniques in the past meant that stiffer thinner leather was available.
There are some quivers that have survived but do not appear to rigid anymore. Some may have been designed that way, but most have suffered from age.
Thks for responding Bede.
When you make your quiver, do you just use the top and bottom oval disc plate to confrom the side leather to the shape, or do you "pre-mold" them so that they have a curvature before attaching them to the top and bottom plates? I hope you understand what I mean.
I was wondering if the quiver sides should have a uniform curvature from top to bottom. Because the middle does not have an oval disc for support, it will be narrower. Is that how it should be?
cheers
When you make your quiver, do you just use the top and bottom oval disc plate to confrom the side leather to the shape, or do you "pre-mold" them so that they have a curvature before attaching them to the top and bottom plates? I hope you understand what I mean.
I was wondering if the quiver sides should have a uniform curvature from top to bottom. Because the middle does not have an oval disc for support, it will be narrower. Is that how it should be?
cheers
It is worthwhile remembering that not all quivers had the separator piece. I used to moisten the leather before attaching either the spacer or the base and stuff the tube full of newspaper. When the leather was dry, I removed the stuffing and glued in the wooden base and stitched on its leather cover. If there was a spacer, I added it last of all.
The sequence was to sew the inside and outside face together, add the pocket if there was one and then place the base in. If ther was an arrow spacer, add that last.
When I stuffed the tube formed by the inside and outside faces, I only put enough in to get the approximate shape I was after. The middle of the quiver looks after itself. If it is a bit flatter, it holds the arrows better.
The sequence was to sew the inside and outside face together, add the pocket if there was one and then place the base in. If ther was an arrow spacer, add that last.
When I stuffed the tube formed by the inside and outside faces, I only put enough in to get the approximate shape I was after. The middle of the quiver looks after itself. If it is a bit flatter, it holds the arrows better.
Thank you for sharing Bede.
One last question. What kind of leather is best for the quiver? I was thinking of latigo, but its pretty expensive and usually sold in large pieces, too much for a project or two.
cheers
One last question. What kind of leather is best for the quiver? I was thinking of latigo, but its pretty expensive and usually sold in large pieces, too much for a project or two.
cheers
I use plain vegetable-tanned leather (oak tanned). Other leathers do not take tooling or wet forming as well. I dye the leather myself using spirit-based dyes, which harden it as a side effect.
If you are just making a quiver, you won't need a huge amount of leather. It's the bow case that is large.
If you are just making a quiver, you won't need a huge amount of leather. It's the bow case that is large.
Thank you for sharing your methods Bede. Its helps me alot and I appreciate it.
Take care.
Take care.