Leather Sheathmaking Question

S

StretchNM

Joined
Dec 7, 2006
Messages
2,806
I'm trying to make my first folder sheath for a new BM610. After seeing some pictures of "real" sheaths, I got the leather molded pretty nicely around the knife (and learned that neatly trimmed fingernails are essential in this craft! :D )

Problem is: my Tandy-bought leather is smooth as a baby's butt - there is no noticeable grain. I'm looking for that nice, pebble-type grain that you see in fine leather. Should I be looking for leather from a specific section of the hide? Like shoulder, belly, top-grain, etc.?

It's too late to do that for this sheath, but the next time I buy, I'd like to know what I'm looking for.
 
Here is the sheath in its infancy. Wet molded top ready to be glued to the base. I'll never get all those stray fingernail marks rubbed out. I'd sure like a nicer-grained leather, I just don;t know what part of the hide it comes from.

Rukussheath-01.jpg
 
Very nice start! Looking forward to seeing it finished. One place that you can get your leather is a craft store like "Michael's". They have scrap packs that would be perfect. Being from Tandy Leather, the leather is good. Good luck.

Jim L.
 
Thanks Jim for the compliment!....but I'm disappointed in the marks my clamping technique (fingers) left (fingernail marks!).

Yes, I'll look at Michaels, but I'm finding it hard to know which "cut" to buy.... top grain shoulder, belly, etc. What I'm using now is cowhide, but the grain is subdued and I want a better quality leather.
 
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