Custom Orders

I welcome custom orders: shirts, pants, moccasins, gun cases. I like to discuss the project thoroughly with the customer before starting. We will talk about design details, type and color of leather, measurements, etc.  In all my work I strive for perfection, settle for nothing less than excellence. If I don't feel I'm equipped to provide you with a superior product, I'll refer you to another artist.

Let me help you create your own custom designed and crafted leather project. Whether you want historical accuracy or contemporary design, we will work together to create your own one-of-a-kind leather project. You can choose from various weights and colors of a variety of leathers: brain tan or commercially tanned deerskin, elkskin, buffalo, cowhide, sheepskin, etc. Prices will vary according to design, amount and type of leather, and labor involved. 

The following are some of the custom projects I've created for customers just like you. Contact me to start the process and if you don't see what you are looking for, simply contact me with your request and we will design and create your one-of-a-kind special project. 

Custom Backpack with Proprietary Brand

Crazy Horse Cowhide Leather backpack with three outside pockets, interior section for laptop, detachable straps on the bottom for jackets, buckle strap closures.  12”x17”x7”        

​Proprietary Brand on the front, “Made in Montana by Buckskin Jim” brand on the back strap.

1837 Rendezvous site

​​                       ALFRED JACOB MILLER COLLECTION
Historically Accurate Buckskin Clothing and Accoutrements of the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade

A.J. Miller was an artist who attended the 1837 Rendezvous. He made extensive sketches and notes of the trappers’ clothing, equipment, and activities which he used to create a large number of accurately detailed paintings. Much of his body of work, including sketches and notes, has survived to the present day.

When historian Bernard DeVoto wrote his comprehensive history of the fur trade, Across the Wide Missouri, he made extensive use of Miller’s paintings as illustrations. On page 415 DeVoto said, “All told then, Miller contrived to set down a good deal of the mountain fur trade, whose era was so short that no other painter ever got round to it. As the first painter of the upper Rocky Mountains and the only painter of a vivid aspect of our history he is entitled to a permanent if somewhat modest fame.” 

​Sources I have found invaluable in my recreations of the fur trade era clothing are:

• The 1837 Sketchbook of the Western Fur Trade, by Rex Allen Norman.  An examination of the artwork of Alfred J. Miller.  Copyright 1996 by Scurlock Publishing Company, Inc. Texarkana, Texas.
• In the Image of A. J. Miller by Shawn Webster published by Historical Enterprises, Macon, GA 2005
• Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1947.

​I am using Miller’s work to accurately recreate the buckskin clothing of the fur trade era. I am using commercially tanned buckskin hand sewn with simulated sinew or machine stitched for a lower cost. I do have access to a limited amount of brain-tanned buckskin and deer sinew if you want complete historical accuracy. Items listed are examples. Your item will be made to order and will be similar. My prices vary with the cost of material and amount of labor involved.

Montana Possibles Bag

​I  call this my A. J. Miller bag. I got the design from the  work of artist A. J. Miller, who documented the 1837 Rocky Mountain Trappers’ Rendezvous.  You may want to check him out:  he’s the go-to source for 1830s - 1840s authenticity.
 
The old-timers would have made this bag with nothing but a short knife, an awl, and a piece of good leather. The lace is cut from the same hide as the bag. The leather is treated with waxes, oils, and dyes so that the color lightens where it is stretched or bent. Marks and minor scratches can be rubbed out with your hand. This is called a “pull-up” finish and is considered a sign of high quality, especially for rugged outdoor use.

I have personally carried a bag like this for years and find it has plenty of room for all my “possibles” without being cumbersome.  The strap being attached to the back of the bag keeps it hanging close to the body with minimal “swing”  The front pocket and extra strings make it easy to organize your “possibles” for fast and easy loading.
 
I make them to order, one at a time, and initial and date each one.  9”x7”x 1 1/2”.  No two exactly alike!

​
​Customer Review:
Jim, I was able to field test your bag a few days ago! What a great shooting bag! Never once did it feel bothersome, swing around in my way or worse, flop around at my side while hiking through the rocky stuff. I look forward to hunting season!   Jonathan Koziol, Frontier Muzzleloading

A.J. Miller Gage d'Mor Tobacco Pouch

The Gage d'Mor was a small buckskin pouch worn around the neck by early trappers and mountain men. It held a small pipe and an inner pouch of tobacco or kinnikinnic, an Indian blend of tobacco, bark and herbs. Historically accurate clay pipe.  ​

A.J. Miller Montana Gun Case

A. J. Miller’s depictions of gun cases show very simple buckskin sleeves without decoration or even a closing flap over the stock. There is usually long fringe at the muzzle. Standing on this fringe will allow you to quickly pull the gun from the case.

My A. J. Miller gun case is made to this same simple design. You send me a tracing of your gun and I’ll make a case to fit. If you wish, we can add extra fringe or a closing flap.

A.J. Miller Montana Leggings

I may be stretching the point to include these in my A.J. Miller Collection. The 1837 Rendezvous artist depicted numerous examples of fringed buckskin pants but no definite leggings. However, many of those guys were wearing long-tailed shirts/jackets so we can't rule out the possibility of leggings, can we? I'm offering these fringed buckskin leggings for the very reason that, when worn under a long shirt, they give you the same "look" as buckskin pants at a more affordable price (and the convenience of pockets and a zipper). Equipped with leather strings to tie to your belt.

If you order leggings and a shirt, I will match the buckskin.

---

A.J. Miller Montana Trapper Buckskin Pants

A.J. Miller, the painter of the 1837 Rendezvous, depicted a variety of cloth and buckskin pants and 'pantaloons". Some were drop-front, some button fly. Belts were common, but so were single or double suspenders or "galluses". Many pants had a underfoot strap to keep them from riding up when on horseback.

The accompanying photo shows my own pants of commercial buckskin roughened on the grain (smooth) side to look like traditional brain-tan. They are button-fly with antler buttons. The waist band has a small amount of lace adjustment at the back. The legs are fringed. Either antler suspender buttons or belt loops are available at no extra cost. If you want the underfoot strap, I'll add it at no cost. I have leather suspenders available at additional cost. I don't have historical evidence of pockets, but we can talk about it. 

These pants are entirely consistent with the variety of styles and materials we know were worn that summer of 1837 on the Green River at Horse Creek. You may want to add some dirt, grease, and smoke. 

You might want to order them a little large. I wear a 34 but made my pants a 36: it gives me more freedom of movement and lets me tuck in an extra-heavy shirt. (And gives me "growing room!")  ​Sizing 30-42.  

​If you order pants and a shirt, I will match the buckskin and there will be a big savings on shipping. 

---

A.J. Miller "Center Seam" or "Pucker Toe" Moccasins

• Smoke color buckskin with red cloth covered vamp
• Hand sewn​

Miscellaneous Custom Orders

Shirt

I'll work with you to create your own unique leather shirt. Options could include fringe, pockets, lining, etc. 

Vest

I'll work with you to create your own unique leather vest. Options could include fringe, pockets, lining, etc. ​

Deerskin Vest

Lined coonskin hat complete with face and tail

Drop-front deerskin pants

Also available in button fly style. Brain tanned and smoke deerskin is seasonally available. 

Cartridge loops and cheek pad and a leather wrap on the lever

Montana Buffalo Hide Rifle Case and Possibles Bag (set)
Unique-only one set

This set can be viewed at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana.
​
​This handsome case and bag set is highly functional and durable, designed for extensive use. Between trips to the field you can be proud to display it as a wall hanging representing your love of Montana history and heritage. 

Made of buffalo hide, this rifle case will definitely showcase your prized muzzle loader!  Closure flap ties securely around the wrist section of the rifle. Tastefully fringed and beaded. Bead work done by Native American craftsman, Ralph Gallapoo.  Fits guns up to 51".

The matching buffalo possibles bag features an inside buffalo hide knife sheath holding an antler handled patch knife crafted from an old-fashioned straight razor. It is a handy  9"x9" with two inner pockets and a smaller pocket under the beaded flap.

A Rifle Case for Rick

Rick needed a case for his 45-70 Lever Action Guide Gun. He and I worked together to design this Buffalo Hide and Elkskin case with all the features he wants: buckle closure, sling, and ammo pocket.

Rifle case for an 1893 Marlin

Buckskin Jim's latest custom order: A Rifle Case for Mike

Mike has a nice 1893 Marlin in .32 Win.Sp. that he intends to take on a horseback hunt this fall.

I made this custom buckskin case to fit the rifle and its vintage sling.

Moccasins for John - Elkskin

"Two Piece" or "Assiniboine" Moccasins

I recently made a pair of hunting moccasins for John, who wants to move quietly through the woods this hunting season. Good luck this fall, John . . . .hope you get your elk!

Here is how I did it:

Step 1: Stretching a commercially tanned elkskin by wetting it, then tacking it up to dry. Stretching is not absolutely necessary, but it helps stabilize the leather and results in a superior quality moccasin.

Step 2: While the elkskin is drying, I cut a pattern based on tracing and measurements of John's foot.

Step 3: I cut pieces for the elkskin uppers, using the thickest part of the hide around the foot and thinner, more supple parts for the tongue and boot top.

Step 4: I cut the right and left soles from buffalo hide.






Step 5: The moccasins are sewn, wrong-side-out and then turned.

Step 6: The hand-cut laces are added and, after a final quality check, the moccasins are branded "Made in Montana by Buckskin Jim."