First try at leather sheaths...

nelsonmc

nelsonmc

Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
1,225
I just finished the last one (furthest right) and I'm pretty satisfied. I still need to learn more, still need to sand the edges down, etc. From the left to right, my first, second, and third. The first took me less than an a half hour and well, didn't come out that good at all. The second was a really oiled piece of leather, so I figured if I stored the knife in that (which is a Case CV Trapper) it wouldn't rust up as much if at all. The third which I just finished took me about 2 hours, added snaps, belt loop, etc. So whatcha think for a first try?

Oh and the leather used was about 2oz, pretty thick, for the last one. I used a segma snap, which I don't think was right for the thickness, but I've never done this so I have no idea.





 
No too bad at all for a first try. My first ones were no where near that good. I have used my belt sander to finish of the edges on the latest ones and it seems to work pretty well to make them match up and sit flat. Just have to watch that you don't get into the stitching.

I know how hard it is to make a sheath now. I never appreciated the work involved by the guys that do that until I did some myself. Of course doing it by hand is a different ball game and that is the only way I do mine. I wish I had a machine but I'd need to do more to justify that.

I bought a hand stitcher at Hobby Lobby and I must say I've gotten pretty good with it even on the thicker leather I have been using. It just takes a while.
 
Thanks STR!

I love this hand stitcher, it's a "speedy stitcher" my father bought probably 40+ years ago. I found one on eBay and I actually bought it since I have to give this one back to my father. I went down to a local tandy leather today to get a leather punch to make the sewing a lot easier. I was originally using a cordless drill to start the holes, but I didn't like how it made the holes look. I'll probably use a sanding block since I don't have many power tools, but a belt sander would be nice right about now. What kind of snaps do you usually use and is 2oz leather a bit too thick or does it really matter?
 
You're doing fine, Matt. It took me three tries before I even had something functional, never mind appearance.

I normally work with 5 or 6 oz. and stitch by hand. If you're not already doing so, make sure to groove and use an overstitcher...it makes things much easier.

Remember - a belt sander will dress up your sheaths, sharpen your knives, rework your handles, and make all kinds of jobs much easier. I don't know how I ever made it as long as I did without one. :)
 
Thanks Satori, what do you mean by groove and overstitch?

Oh man, I might have to break out the Sears card and get a belt sander :eek: :D
 
Not bad man ! Look decent and functional. I have made 5 sheaths so far , but for fixed blades not folders.
Part of the thing of making something your own is that you made it ! Even if it doesnt look quite "right" who cares ?!
In todays world of microwave food and cell phones and pre-packaged garbage , something made by hand is getting more and more attractive and rare .
I advise to keep making a few here and there , the more you make the better you get and maybe it can turn lucrative for you.
A good good friend of mine wanted a thick leather watchband one day but couldnt find one he liked so he made his own with no previous experience , now he makes one or so a week and sells them out of the motorcycle shop he works at , that is one of the things what has made American so great.
 
...and I'm done, sanded, finished, just plain done. I'm very happy and excited to do more. Thanks for all the nice comments and help.









Shopping list:
Belt sander
Better camera
More leather
Better snaps
Rivets

:D
 
nelsonmc said:
Thanks Satori, what do you mean by groove and overstitch?
Click to expand...

Groover

What it does is cut a shallow groove for your stitches to sit in. The shiny central part follows the outer edge of the leather, making the groove a consistant distance from the outside. It won't really affect the integrity of the leather but it makes the stitching easier and a bit neater.

Overstitcher

Basically a pizza cutter with points on it. It gives you evenly spaced indentations to punch out with your drill, awl, or punch. Again, makes the stitch nice and neat.

It looks like you're doing fine without them but they do take the guesswork out of things.

What Rebeltf said. Everything looks better when it's riding in a handmade leather sheath.
 
Satori said:
Groover

What it does is cut a shallow groove for your stitches to sit in. The shiny central part follows the outer edge of the leather, making the groove a consistant distance from the outside. It won't really affect the integrity of the leather but it makes the stitching easier and a bit neater.

Overstitcher

Basically a pizza cutter with points on it. It gives you evenly spaced indentations to punch out with your drill, awl, or punch. Again, makes the stitch nice and neat.

It looks like you're doing fine without them but they do take the guesswork out of things.

What Rebeltf said. Everything looks better when it's riding in a handmade leather sheath.
Click to expand...

Ahhh I understand now, that's quite neat and thanks for the links to tandy leather, got a local one about 10 miles down the road. I like the idea of the "pizza cutter", it took a pretty long time to evenly space those holes with my punch. The groover also sounds really good, cause with my first 2 sheaths the stitching looks zigzagged in spots and I have no idea why.

Ok should I be asking my questions in another section on BF or is this ok? Cause I have 1 more this morning... Ah heck I'll just ask. If you're making a sheath for a fixed blade whats the most common way to line the sheath so the leather doesn't get cut up? Or is that even something to worry about. I told KV my next project would be a sheath for a Frosts Mora and I was going to use the cheap plastic sheath that came with it as the liner, that cool?

Thanks guys.
 
The one I made in 2 hours last night is on the left. The one I just made in a little over an hour on the right. I have the fatter swiss army knife in the new one with the leather wet in order to shape the leather (I believe this is how it's done, but correct me if I'm wrong). This is quite addicting. :D

One problem with the one I just did is the snap flap is a bit shorter, but I made the front piece a bit longer, so it works out fine.

 
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