how many of you tried making your own leather sheath?

G

Gary007

Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
1,452
Ordered some leather from Tandy Leather, and tried to make my own sheath. Not as easy as I thought.

How many of you have tried to make a leather sheath and just failed miserably at it?:( Tell me I'm not the only one! :)
 
It is difficult...I am making one for a FBM at the moment. I have had three failures (for different knives, not the FBM) and this one is going ok. I need a drill press though as the stiching looks good on front but not the back. Should have pics up in a couple of days.
 
what do you use for a pattern? Cardboard? I really had trouble getting everything even and lined up.

Irezumi said:
It is difficult...I am making one for a FBM at the moment. I have had three failures (for different knives, not the FBM) and this one is going ok. I need a drill press though as the stiching looks good on front but not the back. Should have pics up in a couple of days.
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Yeah I have made a few.... and I have failed with a few.... just the way it goes I suppose.

Just use paper or card first before you commit to the leather.
 
I keep trying. I have yet to make a decent looking sheath. :D

If any of you guys have any questions about sheathwork, feel free to ask. I am always willing to help, unless of course you really think my sheaths are butt ugly, if you do you might want to ask someone else. :D

100_0211.jpg

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Very nice sheaths. My work would improve 100% if I could just lay my hands on a reasonably priced leather sewing machine.

My only failures have been accidentally a right handed sheath while trying to make a left handed sheath. I hate when that happens.

Almost forgot to mention, good leather makes good sheaths. Tandy leather will only get you so far. Check out Wickett and Craig when you are ready to try out some better materials.
 
What Slim said. I only use Wickett and Craig. Cheap imported leather is cheap for a reason. There really isnt any comparison, good leather makes a BIG difference.
 
Hey Chuddybear... awesome looking sheaths. :thumbup: I used the ones you made for me all hunting season and got a LOT of compliments from my huntin' buddies. Thanks again for the great work.

Question for ya... I have always wondered how you stitch that leather. Do you do it with a machine or by hand?
 
I tried it once and I am too embarrassed to show my leather skills :o:o

Perhaps next time I ought to do some research on proper ways to stitch leather. I tried to stitch all 3 layers of leather at once with a threaded awl without outlines, predrilling, or glue :eek::eek: Lots of grunting, cussing, and broken needles involved trying to keep everything aligned LOL :D
 
kdstrick said:
Hey Chuddybear... awesome looking sheaths. :thumbup: I used the ones you made for me all hunting season and got a LOT of compliments from my huntin' buddies. Thanks again for the great work.

Question for ya... I have always wondered how you stitch that leather. Do you do it with a machine or by hand?
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I do all my stitching by hand. I do cheat though and use a dremmel press to make the holes. I use an awl on thinner pieces but the dremmel on the main sheath.
 
Chuddy Bear said:
I do all my stitching by hand. I do cheat though and use a dremmel press to make the holes. I use an awl on thinner pieces but the dremmel on the main sheath.
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You mind showing a pic of that press of yours? I want to make a 2nd attempt someday.
 
Gary007 said:
what do you use for a pattern? Cardboard? I really had trouble getting everything even and lined up.
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On foldover ones I used a paper stencil for fit. Unfortunately I cooked that one in the oven too long :o ..not worth showing you :D ...the current one I didnt use a stencil cause it doesnt need it. I use 2.5mm leather, one piece for front and one for back. Then I use three pieces for the centre welt and cut out the space for the blade. I then glue the three pieces to the back and then the front and drill holes for the stitching. After that I use an electric sander to even the edges up. I am carving a wolf head on this on this one for decoration.
 
Gary007 said:


How many of you have tried to make a leather sheath and just failed miserably at it?:( Tell me I'm not the only one! :)
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OOOOH....OOOOH!! ME! ME!

Just keep on trying. It has taken me about six months to get to where I am now, where i can make a passable sheath. Although some weeks I don't get to do any leather work except on Saturday. Work keeps me busy a lot of the time. For me the best part is the building process. :)
 
Chuddy your edges never cease to awe me. So slick!

Currently I'm using a belt sander to do the edges, then sandpaper by hand, then burnish/slick, then a couple coats of Edge Kote, but they continue to show some grain. Someday I'll figure it out. :D

I made some ugly sheaths, but I like to think the quality of work is getting better. I've gotten lots of great feedback from the regulars here that are into working leather too. I still think I have a ways to go on coming up with good designs, which IMO is almost completely separate from making the actual sheath from the design. :D
 
Nice tutorial Chuddy Bear!

I've messed up several sheaths. There are definitely a lot of ways to go wrong.

On average though, they seem to be getting better and it's definitely easier if you ever make a second attempt on one for the same knife.

If this is objectionable at all (cross-forum reference) I'll certainly remove it, but I've found this forum to be very helpful: http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16
There doesn't seem to be an equivalent on BF.

Cheers,
DD
 
mikeymoto said:
Chuddy your edges never cease to awe me. So slick!

Currently I'm using a belt sander to do the edges, then sandpaper by hand, then burnish/slick, then a couple coats of Edge Kote, but they continue to show some grain. Someday I'll figure it out. :D

I made some ugly sheaths, but I like to think the quality of work is getting better. I've gotten lots of great feedback from the regulars here that are into working leather too. I still think I have a ways to go on coming up with good designs, which IMO is almost completely separate from making the actual sheath from the design. :D
Click to expand...

the sheath i got from you is AWESOME!

snake-skin inlay
DSCF0377.jpg



kydex= rainwalker
r-l
armoralleather
armoralleather
brkt
 
mikeymoto said:
Chuddy your edges never cease to awe me. So slick!

Currently I'm using a belt sander to do the edges, then sandpaper by hand, then burnish/slick, then a couple coats of Edge Kote, but they continue to show some grain. Someday I'll figure it out. :D

I made some ugly sheaths, but I like to think the quality of work is getting better. I've gotten lots of great feedback from the regulars here that are into working leather too. I still think I have a ways to go on coming up with good designs, which IMO is almost completely separate from making the actual sheath from the design. :D
Click to expand...

Dont worry about showing the grain through, it adds a lot to the look of the sheath, its like the grain on wood. Sometimes the grain on the edge can take on a very nice pattern, especially when theres several layers. Try Gum Tragacanth instead of the Edge Kote, it gives much smoother results and wont raise the "fuzzies" like the edge kote stuff does.

I dont ever bring out my first sheaths, they are hidden deep in the recesses of my shop never to been seen by human eyes. Those were dark days indeed. :p
 
I've done a few simple pouch type sheaths myself. Other than that, there are a few "more complex" ones that I started, but are still waiting to be finished (months later, lol). I need to get myself a cheap belt sander, that would help a whole bunch getting those edges smooth! In fact thats probably why those sheaths are sitting unfinished, I'm impatient and hate hand sanding!:barf::D
 
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