mikeymoto
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- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 3,312
So I thought I'd try to make a leather sheath too. I've been using the Leatherman sheath from the Company Store for a while now, and it works great. My only gripe with it is that it rides very low. I've got kydex on order, but I needed something NOW, and heck why not do it myself.
First let me say I have exhibited far less craftsmanship than others with their posts in the recent past with beautiful looking sheaths!! I used the quality of their sheaths as the target for mine. Mine did not turn out very well, but I am pleased nonetheless. First and foremost, I have discovered that I can do it, and that alone the best thing to come out of this. Beyond that, I learned lots and lots of other little lessons (after making the mistakes of course). Without further ado...here it is.
I always see pictures of sheaths and that is good. Being the visual person that I am, I always end up wanting to see pictures of those sheaths actually being worn. So...
The pictures of the sheath on my belt illustrate its thickness, and exactly how it rides on the belt/waist/body.
Of course I was inspired by Leatherman's B.A.D. A.S.S. and the several similar sheaths I have seen pictures of lately.
My design goal was to make a very compact sheath to ride strong-side, high on the waist, and to cant the knife forward in the sheath. In those regards I believe I was successful.
At first I thought I would use the "X" pattern for the belt loop so the sheath could ride horizontal or vertical. After molding the leather to the Flame Warden, though, I discovered the X would have to be very loose to fit horizontally, so I abandoned that idea. Bummer.
You can see lots of "character" marks from me being careless throughout the various stages of manufacture. Also, in case you didn't notice, the sheath is pink. Well, maybe it's fuschia. Yeah, that's it. I used oxblood (supposedly a dark red) dye but I only used one coat which was not enough. In my eagerness to get it together this is what I'm left with. I am very, very happy with the wet molding I did; the knife fits very well and sort of locks into place when fully seated. I shaped the welt so the talon hole would rest against it and prevent stabbing the knife too far into the sheath. The glue wasn't fully dry before I burnished the edges and dyed the leather, so the dye did not take in places...bummer. I clamped the sides of the leather while molding and there are permanent creases form that which I won't do again.
I got all my supplies at a local Tandy Leather store.
The leather is 7/8 ounce top grain cow.
The dye is Fiebings Oxblood.
Edges burnished with a screwdriver shaft and some gum tragacanth.
Leather conditioned with Leather Amore.
Finish coat is a couple layers of Super Shene.
Stitching holes were drilled on a press at low speed.
Saddle stitched with Marlow #4 (0.8mm) waxed whipping twine.
Initials stamped in the outer-facing upper rear corner (not very deep though).
I look forward to practicing more and making some better sheaths for myself. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated, because I value all of your skills and knowledge.
First let me say I have exhibited far less craftsmanship than others with their posts in the recent past with beautiful looking sheaths!! I used the quality of their sheaths as the target for mine. Mine did not turn out very well, but I am pleased nonetheless. First and foremost, I have discovered that I can do it, and that alone the best thing to come out of this. Beyond that, I learned lots and lots of other little lessons (after making the mistakes of course). Without further ado...here it is.
I always see pictures of sheaths and that is good. Being the visual person that I am, I always end up wanting to see pictures of those sheaths actually being worn. So...
The pictures of the sheath on my belt illustrate its thickness, and exactly how it rides on the belt/waist/body.
Of course I was inspired by Leatherman's B.A.D. A.S.S. and the several similar sheaths I have seen pictures of lately.
My design goal was to make a very compact sheath to ride strong-side, high on the waist, and to cant the knife forward in the sheath. In those regards I believe I was successful.
At first I thought I would use the "X" pattern for the belt loop so the sheath could ride horizontal or vertical. After molding the leather to the Flame Warden, though, I discovered the X would have to be very loose to fit horizontally, so I abandoned that idea. Bummer.
You can see lots of "character" marks from me being careless throughout the various stages of manufacture. Also, in case you didn't notice, the sheath is pink. Well, maybe it's fuschia. Yeah, that's it. I used oxblood (supposedly a dark red) dye but I only used one coat which was not enough. In my eagerness to get it together this is what I'm left with. I am very, very happy with the wet molding I did; the knife fits very well and sort of locks into place when fully seated. I shaped the welt so the talon hole would rest against it and prevent stabbing the knife too far into the sheath. The glue wasn't fully dry before I burnished the edges and dyed the leather, so the dye did not take in places...bummer. I clamped the sides of the leather while molding and there are permanent creases form that which I won't do again.
I got all my supplies at a local Tandy Leather store.
The leather is 7/8 ounce top grain cow.
The dye is Fiebings Oxblood.
Edges burnished with a screwdriver shaft and some gum tragacanth.
Leather conditioned with Leather Amore.
Finish coat is a couple layers of Super Shene.
Stitching holes were drilled on a press at low speed.
Saddle stitched with Marlow #4 (0.8mm) waxed whipping twine.
Initials stamped in the outer-facing upper rear corner (not very deep though).
I look forward to practicing more and making some better sheaths for myself. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated, because I value all of your skills and knowledge.
The color is nice, oxblood has a nice rich tone. All these really nice first sheaths are, well, too nice! 
I've still got one of my first sheaths and WOW! Y'all make me jealous! 
