So this fall, I finally pulled the trigger and got a Schrade H-15. I've been looking for one for a long time and found this one on an auction site with a badly damaged blade. Somebody tried to sharpen it with a Dremmel!!! 
On the good side, the obvious damage kept the price down low and extra double bonus, the leather handle was in great condition. A bit of quiet time with wet/dry sandpaper, elbow grease, a Lansky and a mustard and vinegar bath and I had this.
h-15 by Pinnah, on Flickr
Unfortunately, I didn't have a sheath.
Now... my son has an old leather wallet I made from a Tandy leather kit when I was a kid. He keeps his allowance and yard work money in it. So, when Christmas came around, I asked for a Tandy leather sheath kit. After the dust of Christmas settled, he and sat down and worked together to design a pattern for it. I showed him how to tool the leather, which he did. He applied the dye. And stitched it together. My job was to put in the rivet for the snaps. Here's his handiwork:
h-15-sheath by Pinnah, on Flickr
Some of you may have seen pictures of my grand-father's Bowie knife. Here they are next to each other.
sheath-knives by Pinnah, on Flickr
I'm working on a doll house for my daughter. No bounds to love, I guess. The tricky bit is custom cutting a boat load of wafer thin pine shingles at an angle to match the roof. The H-15 has been perfect for press cutting them with accuracy. Wow. I'm not a fixed blade guru, but I've handled my share. This H-15 is just amazing. Nice full handle gives great control and the balance and size are just right.
My son and I were chatting about his sheath and how well it turned out. I told him if he behaved himself, he could have it in 20 years or so. I might be done with it by then.
On the good side, the obvious damage kept the price down low and extra double bonus, the leather handle was in great condition. A bit of quiet time with wet/dry sandpaper, elbow grease, a Lansky and a mustard and vinegar bath and I had this.
h-15 by Pinnah, on Flickr
Unfortunately, I didn't have a sheath.
Now... my son has an old leather wallet I made from a Tandy leather kit when I was a kid. He keeps his allowance and yard work money in it. So, when Christmas came around, I asked for a Tandy leather sheath kit. After the dust of Christmas settled, he and sat down and worked together to design a pattern for it. I showed him how to tool the leather, which he did. He applied the dye. And stitched it together. My job was to put in the rivet for the snaps. Here's his handiwork:
h-15-sheath by Pinnah, on Flickr
Some of you may have seen pictures of my grand-father's Bowie knife. Here they are next to each other.
sheath-knives by Pinnah, on Flickr
I'm working on a doll house for my daughter. No bounds to love, I guess. The tricky bit is custom cutting a boat load of wafer thin pine shingles at an angle to match the roof. The H-15 has been perfect for press cutting them with accuracy. Wow. I'm not a fixed blade guru, but I've handled my share. This H-15 is just amazing. Nice full handle gives great control and the balance and size are just right.
My son and I were chatting about his sheath and how well it turned out. I told him if he behaved himself, he could have it in 20 years or so. I might be done with it by then.
