Look - one mistake and I am a lefty!

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
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Alright - so when I made my first Aurora sheath - I accidentally cut the pattern the wrong way. This made a lefty. I did not want the leather to go to waste - so I made it up. I tried my hand at a firesteel loop - added a drain hole - and I think it went well! I also tried some different stain and some other tricks.

I made some mistakes - but I am learning fast and leather is very forgiving. Check it out and give advice where you see fit:

LeftySheath002.jpg


LeftySheath004.jpg


LeftySheath006.jpg


TF
 
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You say it like it's not a blessing to be a Southpaw... :D

That sheath looks good. Nice placement of the loop and the stitching looks nice and even.
:thumbup:


B
 
Hey nice job bro! That looks fantastic. Did you do the stitching with a standard leather awl? How did you get them so symmetrical?

Looks great! :thumbup:
 
KD:

Read Al Stohlman's books The art of hand stitching and the art of making leather cases Vol 1.

20 bucks and it is all there. This is only my third sheath... Al is a great teacher!

Koyote,

Hey man - If you knew someone that made decent sheaths... maybe he (or she) would make one for you! ;)

TF


p.s. Tell Koyote Girl I am aspiring to grow up and be like her!
 
hahaha, he bugged koyote girl for all her sekrets!!!!!!!!

even stitching isn't really hard, it's just finicky and time consuming at first, which is why a lot of people don't do well in the beginning (that would be ME ME ME) - if you think of it as similar to carpentry- measure twice, mark accurately, poke once- it goes better.

TF- that's a fantastic job, and the waterforming went well. You are right, with the ability to reform after stitching, leather is pretty forgiving stuff.

Only real comment I'd add is that I'd probably have run a few more layers of stitching through the existing holes at the mouth. really depends on how solid the fit is, that can be a stress point. But Sierra doesn't do it, either. I tend to ...overdo some things.
 
Carrying left-handed isn't a bad idea. I got a Mnandi with the clip on the left side which makes it perfect for the left side of my left shirt pocket. If you switch the clip on a tip-down folder to the left side, you can carry it with the blade opening against the seam of your right front pocket.

And if like me you are right-handed, learning to work ambidextrously is a big help when you smash your right thumb ... oh, ouch ... :(
 
Christof,

Oooo you paid me a compliment. The mouth has double stiched down to the third stitch - but I must have hid them well enough for you not to be able to see. I also doubled up the point at the bottom that gets stress.

TF
 
jesus, I read the title of this thread and feared much worst! Ive seen your other sheaths on sheaths and such.. and they are an inspiration.. going to make my first soon enough.
 
Your students would be so proud!!!:p

Seriously, if I was left handed I would be pming you to sell me that sheath!

Its beautiful:thumbup:
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Carrying left-handed isn't a bad idea. I got a Mnandi with the clip on the left side which makes it perfect for the left side of my left shirt pocket. If you switch the clip on a tip-down folder to the left side, you can carry it with the blade opening against the seam of your right front pocket.

And if like me you are right-handed, learning to work ambidextrously is a big help when you smash your right thumb ... oh, ouch ... :(
Click to expand...

I'm fortunate in that I'm left handed but shoot right handed (I'm even capable of doing RE dominant). so I get the benefit of using a LH sheath and a RH holster without even trying. But I agree that it's a useful thing to practice.

And for a righty, it leaves you right hip space for a BIG KNIFE!!! (or revolver, hey)
 
Really beautiful looking! I have a big Ferguson damascus knife with a saddle ring belt loop. I think I like practical knives to ride a little higher, but that's just personal preference.

Nice work!

DancesWithKnives
 
I've made a few sheathes and I can tell you, the sure didn't look like yours! That's beautiful.

Also-- the next time you cut the leather the wrong way, consider making the sheath rough-side-out. That can look good in it's own way.

Nice job!
 
I've made a few sheathes-- and I can tell you--they SURE didn't look like yours! That's beautiful.

Also-- the next time you cut the leather the wrong way, consider making the sheath rough-side-out. That can look good in it's own way.

Nice job! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
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Only your third sheath? Looks like you've been at it for years. Those look great.
 
There's a key in this. I remember Koyote Girl talking about the questions- and not reinventing the wheel is a big deal.

Those two Al Stohlman books and the small amount of tooling really required is all you need except patience. Sierra started with a leather padded vise until I made her a stitching horse, the osborne awl is $8, needles and thread and you can use a spoon for a bone folder at first.

TF has done an amazing job, even with the books and tools - paying attention to the details and critical or problem-solving thinking is what takes it from apprentice to instant-journeyman work.
 
You finally did something correctly and you call it a mistake?
I would be as happy as can be if more sheath makers could make them correct handed more often!
Great looking sheath and it hangs on the "right" side. What more can one ask?
 
Koyote is exactly right - Although I have to say - I have a lot to do to catch up to Sierra1

Proto - my bad man. I will correct the title to : "I finally got it RIGHT - I am a lefty!" ;)

TF
 
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