5th knife complete, seeking feedback and constructive criticism

Will Leavitt said:
Paul.... you're definately on the road.... when it gets bumpy just make gentle corrections :p

The bumps and bruises are usually from the wife/girlfriend for spending more time in the shop than the house :p
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It may be a road, but I haven't gotten to the paved part yet and I'm not sure my 'ride' has any springs or shocks!

mykulmorris said:
Now that's one good lookin' knife! Noone has ever made a knife that EVERYONE liked but I think most people will like this one, alot!!!
-M
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Thanks M, I appreciate your kind words!
 
I finished up the sheath for this knife today, and I'd value any input or critiques on the sheath and/or the entire knife/sheath as a 'package'. This is my 6th sheath so far, and it's modeled after the pouch sheath in Chuck Burrows/Wild Rose Trading's sheath making DVD.

The stamping isn't perfect and I think my basket weave stamp is too large for this small of a sheath, and I got a little carried away with the contact cement around the belt loop, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with it. The dye is Fiebings Pro Oil dark brown, which is a little darker than I had in mind but it looks light years better than the EcoFlo from Tandy that I've used previously.

Thanks in advance for any input or suggestions for changes/improvements!

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Will Leavitt said:
Paul... :eek: I don't have a damn thing to say about the sheath except how much do you charge? :eek: Wow
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James_Terrio said:
Darn tootin'! I haven't even attempted leatherwork yet, if I ever get some knives finished I will be looking for a good sheath-maker.
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I don't charge anything yet...we'll see if I ever get to the point where I feel like I have something good enough to sell! Those are very generous words, fellas; you're making my day!

AcridSaint said:
I think the sheath looks really good, have you started burnishing the edges with gum?
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Thanks Acrid! I burnished as follows: burnish with water during construction, and then using gum tragacanth after dye but before finish. There is a flaw/gap towards the top in either the welt or outer layer, and another maybe 2/3 way down...is that what made you ask or are there other problems I need to address with the edges?
 
P J 234 said:
There is a flaw/gap towards the top in either the welt or outer layer, and another maybe 2/3 way down...is that what made you ask or are there other problems I need to address with the edges?
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In my opinion that isnt a flaw, it's charector...

Jason
 
GREAT job, PJ! That's a fine looking sheath. You put Chuck's lessons to good use, I can see. Superb job, my friend.

--nathan
 
Looks good to me PJ. Great looking knife. But would suggest using liners perhaps in black. But over, great job well done. :thumbup:

Terry
 
Thanks for all the nice words, guys!

Barkes, I haven't tried using liner material yet, but it's on my list o things to try soon.

Robert, this is my 6th sheath so far.
 
The sheath is SUPER! One suggestion is dyeing the edges a contrasting color, in this case black would look great, and I like the edge ink from Fiebing's for this. Don't be scared it's easy and adds a bunch imo. Can't tell from the pics but you might need a little more rounding on the edges, but like i said might just be the pic. Did you cut a groove for the stitching in the backside? Can't tell in the pic.
Outstanding!
Matt Doyle
 
James_Terrio said:
Great, send me a couple free ones! :D
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Trade ya for a couple of those fancy hats...:)

mdoyle said:
The sheath is SUPER! One suggestion is dyeing the edges a contrasting color, in this case black would look great, and I like the edge ink from Fiebing's for this. Don't be scared it's easy and adds a bunch imo. Can't tell from the pics but you might need a little more rounding on the edges, but like i said might just be the pic. Did you cut a groove for the stitching in the backside? Can't tell in the pic.
Outstanding!
Matt Doyle
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Thanks Matt, very nice of you to say! I'm not sure how rounded the edges are supposed to be, so I don't know if they are right or not. They are beveled with an edge tool. There is a stitch groove in the back, but it does tend to get pushed out somewhat when I make the holes with the awl from the front. Going back over it with the overstitch wheel helps somewhat, but it's never quite the same afterwards. For the edge, do you recommend a different color dye, or one of those edge treatments? I saw a sheath once that looked like it had paint on the edges, and I didn't care for that look too much. If it was just a different color dye though, that might look nice.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
PJ, if you haven't tried this, you may give it a shot: after you punch through the back layer from the front, spend a few minutes with the awl pushing through the holes from the back to the front. Not full punches, but enough to open up that back layer a bit making it easier to push the needle through, and it will also serve to push the leather back into the hole a bit. Then use the overstitch wheel in the groove before and after stitching.

--nathan
 
As for edge dye, I've used the black leather dye and didn't like it too much. You may look for a very dark brown to finish off the edges? Then again, I think the edges you have look great!

--nathan
 
Thanks Eric!

Nathan, I have been doing as you say (going back through the holes from the back side and going over it with the overstitch wheel, but it just doesn't come back completely for me. It's not terrible, just not the same as when I first cut the groove. I've thought about going back over it with the groover, but that always seems like too much work at the time (I think I'd have to go back through all the holes from the front again just to find them, and then again from the back to open them up.)
 
Paul,
I like the knife and the sheath. Once again the file work is not great but is what it is.
I also did file work on most of my first knives, now I almost refuse to do it.

Greg
 
can't add anything that has not been said, very nice work. Handy looking with what appears to be good geometry. Should be a nice cutter.
 
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