Elk hide?

S

stitchawl

Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Messages
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I just picked up some pieces of buttery soft very thick (1/4-3/8 inch) elk and really need to do something with it. It's almost too thick for a slip case, not rigid enough for a fixed blade sheath... But it is SOOO damn nice to the touch that I really want to make something with it! I only have small pieces, each less than a square foot. Most are more like 6"x10" pieces.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Stichawl
 
Inlays...these are bison hide but you get the idea...

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Really beautiful work, Wild Rose, but I want something that I will be frequently touching. The texture of the elk hide is quite inviting to the touch. As a sheath insert I'd hardly have any reason to be handling it. I need something more like a toy! :)

Stitchawl
 
make a fixed blade sheath, copper rivet it, and then soak it in hot beeswax, remove and let the excess wax drain. The wax will really stiffen up the sheath and form it to the knife
 
Make a nice tight sheath out of 7 oz veggie tan with a narrow welt. Then cover the sheath with the Elk, sew it tight just outside the welt edge of the undersheath. you could sew in fringes like a welt on the outer sheath, if you want them. This way you keep the softness of the hide.

Regards

Robin
 
Bushman5 said:
make a fixed blade sheath, copper rivet it, and then soak it in hot beeswax, remove and let the excess wax drain. The wax will really stiffen up the sheath and form it to the knife
Click to expand...

It certainly would look pretty and work well, but it would defeat the supple feel of the elk. I might as well use ordinary cowhide.

It would be sort of like winning an Olympic Gold medal and then being so proud of it I had it bronzed... :p

It's really the feel of this wonderful leather that I want to preserve. If you've never handled 'orthopedic' elkhide, you're in for a treat when you do! :thumbup: Imagine a leather that's more than 3/8" thick that is still as soft as a thin deerskin.

Stitchawl
 
Pipeman said:
Make a nice tight sheath out of 7 oz veggie tan with a narrow welt. Then cover the sheath with the Elk, sew it tight just outside the welt edge of the undersheath. you could sew in fringes like a welt on the outer sheath, if you want them. This way you keep the softness of the hide.

Regards

Robin
Click to expand...

That is just what I've been thinking too. It needs to be a cover. Many years ago I was into black powder shooting and I had a beautiful bullet pouch made of elk. I don't know what ever became of it, but I loved just handling that bag. These days I don't shoot black powder and have no need for that sort of pouch, but I still would love to be able to have something that I could 'handle' regularly. I've already made a couple of key fobs, cell phone straps (the hide is waaaayy too thick to make a cell phone case without splitting it in half,) and the idea of some sort of sheath was all that I was left with.

Stitchawl
 
Stitchawl

Last year I got an Elk hide that was 32 sq ft of butter soft beauty. Just had to make myself a vest so I could feel the softness. It was the nicest hide I have ever had in 40 years of playing with leather. Good luck with your project.

regards

Robin
 
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