Leather belt carrier for folder/mag block

pict

pict

Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
2,373
As you all know I'm getting into working with leather as it is dirt cheap, and I am as well and would rather make than buy my gear.

I had bought a Zebu slipjoint downtown, but the cases are all about $15. That's more than the knife cost so I decided to make my own. I also had a few extra Doan tools in the gear pile. In the past I have carried a Doan tool and a small Zebu tied together with a cord, a handy combination for dayhikes.


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The attachment is a semi-pancake that curves around the body and keeps a low profile. The knife is held in just by tension, reinforced with a thin internal coating of epoxy.

The Zebu is one of the best knives made in Brazil BTW, they have a very stiff spring but once you get them open it is almost as good as a lockback.

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I learned alot making this. Wet-forming is cool but it is hard to get the size right. I stitched it first and formed it second. It could stand a little more tension on the knife. I think with time it will loosen up a bit. Plan A is to punch a hole in the center welt and add a clip that will run up to the lanyard ring on the knife. The Doan tool is held with a perfect tension. The knife would pop out if I did a bungee jump with it. Since the purpose of this is to keep essential gear strapped on and secure, yet available, it needs some added security for the knife. Mac
 
Fantastic! Plain and simple, bombproof design.

I wish I was this handy. I can't even get leather around here.

CZ
 
I don't think anyone is exporting them to the US. They are decent knives. They make two sizes, large and samll and a variety of handles from economy plain aluminum to wood or resin with brass bolsters.

The steel could be a little harder but they are easy to sharpen and take a wicked edge. The spering is very stiff but the knife isn't likely to close. I have a few fo the small ones that I carry as PSK knives. They are great for carrying with a machete. I have used the small aluminum ones tied onto my sheath before. Currently one rides in my BK-7 sheath with my Altoids tin.

Its wierd but price is identical with the large and small version. If I shop around I can find these for about $10 (other palces sell them for as much as $18). Back when the exchange rate wasn't a dismal R$1.83 - $1 US they were a very good buy. I used to get them for about $5 so I haven't bought any for a while. They are handy. I use them alot when I'm prepping materials for making cordage. Mac
 
I was thinking about making a leather sheath sometime. Where did you get the raw materials from? Also, how hard was it to sew? Did you do it by hand? The sheath looks great, btw. Pretty much what I would like to try and make.
 
Good work, Mac! That looks like a really practical knife, and the fire starter is almost as practical, too. It's standard equipment for many of us. Your belt pouch for the two of them looks like a great idea. Happy hunting!
 
Doc,

I'm not in the business so I don't care. Glad you like it.

Longbow,

The Zebu folders are very good IMO. They tend to be very consistent in terms of QC. They are very hard to open until they get broken in a bit. The blade shape is very traditional Brazilian shape called a "Pica-Fumo" (Tobacco Chopper). They still use them to chop up braided tobacco to make hand rolled corn husk cigars. The Zebu is sort of an upscale pica-fumo.

The blade shape kind of grows on you after a while. One of these and a Tramontina machete and you're pretty well covered for workday cutlery in rural Brazil. I like them enough to make some leather...
 
Snow,

I'm in Brazil, my leather source probably won't work for you up there. My state exports beef and leather is real cheap here so I'm starting to get into it as a hobby. There is a large industry of cobblers, and saddlemakers here as well so most of the stuff I have available is from shops that cater to those industries. I get alot of funny looks downtown asking questions about my little projects while other customers are ordering pallets full of hides and I'm picking through the scrap bins.

The basic process I used: I made a paper mockup of the piece and cut it into a pattern. I then traced out the welts (The stitched areas are three thicknesses thick) and marked them for the stitch holes, traced them onto seperate patterns and cut them out. These were transferred onto the leather, cut out and punched with an awl for stitching. The welts were then placed onto the main body of the leather sheath and I marked both sides through the stitch holes in the welts, then punched both sides with
the awl. Once the holes are punched for the stitching it is pretty easy to sew using two needles. Once it was sewed up I wet the leather and forced the knife and magblock into place and formed the outline of the knife with a plastic rod. After it dried I dipped it in my beeswax and neatsfoot oil concoction.

I just took my time at it. If I had to do this stuff for a living I would die of starvation. Seriously, if I can do it anyone can. Most of the stuff I've made in life looks like it made by trained apes. Mac
 
I especially liked the forethought in making the opening at the bottom of the Doan for easier access.

Doc
 
Nice job. At least when ,you, make something, It looks like the apes were trained. Guess I`ll have to train my apes.
 
I just remembered the true beauty and wonder of the Internet instead of all of the negative BS. Two guys in Brazil, rural Brazil no less, talking about knives and sheaths with the rest of us.

Great stuff and great work too! Now if I could just get my hands on a vintage Fazendero Executive Edge, the BIG ONE.

That folder in this thread is awesome too.
 
Mac, very handy looking carrier for a couple of indispensable tools. As someone else noted, the finger opening at the bottom of the firestarter holder is real clever. Ya done good, amigo. :thumbup:

Snow said:
I was thinking about making a leather sheath sometime. Where did you get the raw materials from?
Click to expand...
In the USA the most common retail source for leather is Tandy Leather. They have lots of leathercraft materials, hardware, tools, instruction books, dyes, kits, etc.

Their store closest to you is likely the Tandy store in Wichita, KS (assuming your location shown here on BFC is indeed KS):
The Leather Factory #19 WICHITA
Toll Free: 800-984-7147
Manager: Mick Hickam
2435 W Pawnee Wichita, KS 67213-2861
wichita@leatherfactory.com
phone: 316-942-7773
fax: 316-942-7628

Another vendor who has gotten good reviews on sheathmaking forums is Siegel Of California. Those who have dealt with them speak highly of their customer service and quality of leather. Their website is a little misleading -- what look like simply lists of products available are actually links to pages of that product.

IMPORTANT:

Get only vegetable tanned leather for use on knife projects, **NOT** chrome tanned leather. The chemicals in chrome tanning induce rust/corrosion much moreso than the veg tanning.
 
very cool....:thumbup: i like it...

a friend of mine is going to make me one similar... a knife sheath for a fixed blade and a small pouch on the side...
 
Don Rearic said:
I just remembered the true beauty and wonder of the Internet instead of all of the negative BS. Two guys in Brazil, rural Brazil no less, talking about knives and sheaths with the rest of us.
Click to expand...

And not just Brazil, we have here Ontario, Occupied Europe, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Cascade Mountains, Santa Cruz Mountains...why, we are global! :D Sorry to get off topic.

Anyway Pict, nice work! You live in a fascinating area, I always read your posts. I think we all want one of those Zebus for our collection.
 
Mac,
You are talented not only with your execution but also with your ideas. If I could buy one of those for a Rat 3 I would buy it now. Chris
 
Well Chris, you send me a Rat 3 and I'll send you back an empty sheath, how's that for a deal!

Actually I'm going to make a version to hold my SBT but I still need some practice. My stitching needs some serious work. There are tools that are used to punch the holes with perfect spacing, groove cutters, edgers, all sorts of things that the real leather workers use to make it look professional. I think I'm up to functional, but still home made looking. It is alot of fun.

Hope you're feeling better,

Mac
 
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