Looking for a "howto" for a traditionnal Kukri scabbard

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I mean the traditional wooden and leather covered ones. Anyone knows of a tutorial online?

My search FU seems to be weak this morning. All the sheath info I can find is about all leather sheaths or kydex. I found one about a sword scabbard and that looks like the same process but I wanted to see if any of you guys had a link saved about that. Any how-to on wooden leather covered sheaths would be great.

Thanks
 
Patrice, I don't have a tutorial on a traditional wooden scabbord, but thought I'd just chime in to say I've seen some supper nice leather sheath's. In fact, a lot of people seem to prefer leather, not so heavy and you can attach to your belt or backpack. Just a thought.
 
Thanks David, if this was going to be a "field" Kukri I would go that way. But this one will probably not see that much work so I thought I'd go a little more traditional. Of course with a little twist if I can. ;)
It would also be a way to start learning about making hard sheaths which go well with the Persian type knives I like so much and other ideas I have bouncing around in my small noggin.
 
I have made a few leather over wood sheaths but would not consider myself skilled enough to do a tutorial. I have seen tutorials on a few of the sword-oriented forums, but don't have any links. I would do a search on MyArmoury, I know I have seen some there.

I do mine with 2 halves of poplar wood, carve the center out by hand, and glue together before covering with 2-3 oz leather. Toothpick alignment pins for the core are the best tip I have to offer, other than a sharp chisel and some riffler style rasps. Tiny hand planes can work sometimes as well.

Some guys forego this and just build up the core with thin slats of wood, cutting the center pieces around the outline of the blade in the manner of a welted leather sheath.

I have yet to properly understand the leather wrapping process, I just wing it and usually get decent results:) I have learned to be sparing with contact cement though, if it clumps and balls up it will show through the leather.
 
Thanks for the tips Justin. The part that is harder to wrap my head around is the leather covering. How to get a nice tight fit, clean stitching on the back and the throat. The wooden frame is easier to understand and the fittings I mostly need to learn to braze brass. Not necessarily two easy steps but easier to wrap my head around.
 
The leather wrap is probably the easiest part to screw up...I wrap with the leather damp, just dry enough for the contact cement to adhere, but wet enough that the wrap will shrink a little as it dries to tighten everything up. I use a wet rag to keep it damp while stitching. I do the standing seam style, I have never tried an edge-butted seam.

I use spots of contact cement at strategic points to help keep everything in place while I wrap and stitch, namely at the tip, mouth, and a narrow strip on either side of the seam. I use a home-made "casing tool" to case the seam at the back, just a piece of wood with a 90 degree corner that has been radiused/softened to not leave marks on the leather. I run this up and down the crease on either side of the seam, pushing towards the middle until the seam is centered.

The stitching itself I just do by eyeball with a stitching awl. This is probably where my method is most lacking, I just try to push the needle through in the bottom of the crease without scarring the leather. This is easier with the skewed or curved needles so you can angle the point up away from the sheath.
 
Pat, I have one that was made in India. The inside is heavy leather. The leather wrap around the outside has been wet formed, and pulled together on the back side in a very simple but uneven curve. It has not been sewn but glued. The seam has been trimmed very close to the actual leather covering. Frank
 
I am sorry guys, I thought I had responded to this. I did type the response but obviously clicked on the wrong button. :o

I appreciate the tips. That should be enough to get me started trying this. :thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top