First large full tang + first leather sheath

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GrenfellsBrutalForge

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May 23, 2016
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Hi guys. Here is my first large full tang finished up last week and my first attempt at a leather sheath, just dry this morning.
Knife is 5160, differential hardened
9" tip to scales
14 1/4" OAL
Shallow distal taper, tapered tang
Walnut scales, copper pins
Blade etched to show hardening line

Sheath is 8-9oz veg tan, textured, wet formed around the handle and treated with birch tar.

Comments and critiques are appreciated!











Thanks
 
Really nice job there. I like the overall shape and the forge finish. Your quench line flows right into the grain of the wood. Really neat.

IMO if you're going to taper a tang, then TAPER it.
 
I suppose it's a matter of taste, but from a function perspective the balance looks about perfect, so I'd say it is tapered as much as it needs to be.
 
Like kdogmcg noticed, I only tapered the tang as much as I did in order to keep the balance like that. I could have tapered the blade more and then more on the tang to keep that balance plus make the knife a bit lighter. I had plenty to work with, .25" at the ricasso. Still doesn't feel heavy with the balanced like this
 
I really like the design. I would have also liked a more pronounced taper on the tang, but that just depends how much of a chopper is the knife designed to be.
 
Excellent job on the knife.

While the sheath you made will keep the knife covered, I would have preferred a built up sheath with full welts, an upper section for more drop, and a retainer strap. What kind of leather is that ( hardness, weight, and tanning type)? It looks like the wrong type for a sheath.
 
Stacey, the sheath is 8-9oz veg tanned. I textured the front and treated the whole thing inside and out with birch tar which hardened it up quite a bit.
I was thinking about doing a full welt with a retention strap but decided to go simple for my first one
I did some reasearch and ended up going with that type/weight of leather. Do you think it is suitable for knife sheaths of this size?
 
I would have used 10 oz for a large knife.I am not all that familiar with birch tar sealing sheaths, but as long as it doesn't eech out on the blade, the handle, or clothing, I guess it is OK.

A large knife - with a large handle - that sits high on the belt and isn't retained may grab on brush and can flip out of even a seemingly tight sheath. A lower hanging sheath with a retention strap swings to the side as it rubs against things and just moves out of the way safely and securely.
 
Here is a better picture of the knife in sheath and how it would sit on a belt:



I'm used to using kydex for sheaths so the input on setting up leather for a large knife like this is greatly appreciated. I'll have to order some 10oz for the next leather sheath for one of my big knives.
Hopefully this sheath won't cause too much problem.

Birch tar was an old way for treating leather and was used in the production of "Russia leather". It prevents the leather from rotting and waterproofs it.
It is applied to the flesh side until it soaks through to the grain, at which point the grain side can be died. Or so I have read from several sources.
I like the dark brown colour that the tar gives the grain side so I treated it as well.
Once it's all impregnated with the birch tar it takes several days to dry. Once it's dry it doesn't come off. The leather is stiffer in the end and water beads on it.
I really like the stuff but it takes a long time for the camp fire smell to go away
 
Man, that is beautiful--it has ol' wild west desperado written all over it! :thumbup:
 
That is better. I would be cautious when putting the knife in the sheath not to cut through the side, though. ( that is why I like a full welt)
 
I put a welt in this also in 8-9oz leather that goes from the opening at the top all the way to the tip. Is that what you mean by "full welt", or are you talking about a welt running both sides?
The welt I put in is 3/8" wide, the stitching runs down the centre of it
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.
Stacey, at what blade size would you stop using a fold over sheath like this and use one constructed as you describe?
 
Well then, I had better give that style a go. I typically don't make anything smaller than 4".
Next one is Z-FiNit for me that will wear a kydex sheath.
After while that's out for ht, I'm starting a 5" laminated blade that will get leather so I'll do a sheath like your talking about for that.
I'll post some pics as I get some of these finished up.

Thanks!
 
Great work. I like it. In particular the pommel which leaves more space on the spine side than on the edge side. After all that's how a human hand looks when holding a knife. A bigger palm and less wide fingers and for some reason there are many handle shapes that don't take that into account.
Can't wait to see more.
 
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