I've been wondering somthin': Why do some folks wrap their knife handles with rawhide? I've seen several people do this, and wondered if it was common back in the day?

I have always assumed it was a repair when found on originals. A semi-permanent fix for a cracked grip panel, or a rusted out pin or rivet. In some cases the only means to keep the grips in place if in bad shape, or to keep replacements on if there is no means of installing new rivet pins. One my models has a grip of one piece bone, slotted to slide over a full width 3/4" tang. The bone is filled with wood all locked with epoxy, and then rawhide wrapped for increased strength in side load pressures. But there are also two iron 1/8" pins through the grip covered by the rawhide.