I'm back into making sheaths! (questions)

[Ken C.]

Hey all,

I just started getting back into making leather sheaths and I have a few questions. My sheaths are going to be simple, working-grade folder and pouch style fixed blade sheaths. Not alot of embellishment but I plan on getting into that later on. My questions is this....What is the best way for me to add stamping to a sheath? My sheaths will be wet molded but I am curious as to when I do the actual stamping on the sheath. Do I do it after the molded sheath is dried or before? Do I do it after the sheath is complete (before dying)? If I do it after it is done how do I go about doing it? What do I use to make the stamping uniform in depth and appearence?

Thanks for helping out a newbie.

 

[Steve Hayden]

Dan Gray has some good stuff on his knifemakers tutorials and Chuck Burrows has lots of stuff on the Knife Network Forums.

Chuck also has a DVD out that is worth getting. He is one of the masters of sheathmaking and explains things very well.

 

[DC KNIVES]

Hi Ken, good for you and wish you luck.Seems like I have been doing more sheaths than knives lately.You will want to do your stamping prior to just about everything.Once I have the pattern cut out I layout the area to be stamped.You can use a compass or similar tool for layout lines off the edge( I use a machinst's hermaphrodite caliper,kind of a bent rod on one side and a scribe point on the other).You can use french curves and other drafting aids for your curves and patterns.As far as Uniform depth and appearance I'm afraid there is no substitute for practice but guide lines do help.You need to keep your leather damp ,not wet when stamping.It should almost look dry but be cool to the touch.Try it on some scrap with different wetness levels and you will see what I mean.I use Pro-carve on my sheaths for stamping and carving.You can get it from The Leather Factory or Tandy.After stamping procede with your assembly.If you have any questions just ask.Hope this helps some.Dave

 

[Ken C.]

Thanks Dave! Another quick question...you state that I should do the stamping prior to everything. Does this also pertain to wet molded sheaths that are molded tightly to the pattern of the knife? If so, how do I wet mold the sheath without ruining the stamping? I use my fingers and alot of elbow grease to get the outline of the knife in the sheath.

 

[DC KNIVES]

Ken, you still stamp before molding.The stamping must be done flat on a hard surface.And yes it is possible to mess up the stamping but proper wetness during stamping as well as during molding will keep it to a minimum.I don't find that I have to work that hard to wet mold so I haven't had much of a problem with the pattern going away while molding.Another thing that is very important is the quality of the leather.Good quality shoulders stamp and mold easily.Another thing is that the pattern can be layed out to miss any heavily worked area if you desire, such as doing seperate panels.This also makes me wonder how thick a leather you are using.I use 5-6 oz for folders, 7-8 oz for small to medium fixed blades and 8-9 for the bigger stuff.To each his own on this but this is what I was taught and the few times I went heavier was for big knives in extra heavy duty outdoor use.Dave