What was the buffalo 'hide' used for?

Answer 1

Buffalo hides are generally far too stiff and thick for making clothes, but ideal for moccasin soles. Tanned hides were sewn together to make tipi covers. Worn out tipi covers which had been made waterproof by constant exposure to smoke from the internal fire made excellent moccasin soles.

Tanned hides were also used for bedding and winter robes, mittens, arrow quivers, gun cases and riding gear.

Rawhide was used for making containers, headdresses, ropes, saddles, knife sheaths, quirts, belts, glue and rattles; the thickest part of a bull's hide (the neck and shoulders) was used as the basis for war shields.

Answer 2

THose tribes that hunted buffalo, both the true Plains tribes and those living on the margins of the Plains, quickly discovered that the thick hide from the neck and shoulders of a buffalo bull, when heat-shrunk to thicken it further, would deflect enemy arrows.

The original purpose was to protect a warrior in inter-tribal warfare, against enemies armed primarily with bows.

In addition to the very thick hide, sacred designs and amulets were painted and tied to the front of the shield, giving spiritual protection from harm. Sometimes the entire shield was kept in an outer deerskin cover which would only be removed just before a fight, to reveal the sacred power of the design and amulets.

In the reservation era, when the tribes could no longer wage war on each other, lightweight "dance shields" were made, often with a hoop of wood covered in thin leather - these were never intended to be used in battle.

See link below for a photograph of a Crow war shield:

Answer 3

Primarily for clothing and shelter.