Looking to start a sheath project or two...

[desmobob]

Can anyone recommend a good site with tutorials?

I'd like to know the proper materials needed (type of leather, thread, needles, etc.) and a reputable vendor to buy it from....

Thanks for any advice,
desmobob

 

[StretchNM]

About 6 months ago, I was in the same boat. I was up in Albuquerque, NM and went into a Tandy store. I bought a kit that had a basic leathermaking book, needles, awls, thread, groover, etc., and I bought some 8-9 oz vegetable tanned leather (about 3 square feet I suppose). The kit cost about $40 if I remember right, and the leather about $12 or so. I bought a bottle of brown dye, some contact cement, and some clear finish.

Since then, I've made about 10 sheaths. I'm getting better and better and am proud enough of a couple of them to post pictures (when our new computer comes in [our new camera software won;t install in this old Windows 98]).

http://www.mickleyknives.com/html/sheath_1.html
http://www.knivesby.com/dan-sheath-tutor-1.html
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
http://www.ray-way.com/knives/sheath/index.shtml

I just posted these from my favorites without opening them to see whcih ones were best, but I'm pretty sure I liked the "dan-sheath-tutor" best. Check them and see what you like. Think about Tandy Leather online.

 

[desmobob]

Stretch,

Thanks so much for all the valuable information! I think I know what I'll be doing over the winter.

I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.


Thanks again, desmobob

 

[StretchNM]

You're welcome for whatever little help I can give. I've since found that 6-7oz leather is better for my knives. My Bravo-1 however, remains sheathed in 8-9oz.

Good luck

 

[leatherman]

Some thoughts:

Avoid Belly leather at all costs! Shoulder leather has the best properties for sheath and holster making. If you can dig through the pile at the store, #2 grade is plenty good. Watch for brands and soft spots.

For fixed blades I use 8/9 and 9/10 oz. For folders and molded work I tend towards 7/8 oz.

Good advice on that Tandy kit, theres several tiers, pick the best you can afford and you wont be in want later.

 

[Bufford]

I would vouche for Tandy. Good range of supplies and reasonable prices and prompt shipping. They have some good information to help you out with your project. Like others have said, they have some good kits to get you started, then after that try working with some decent sholder leather 8-10 oz will do for most sheaths.

 

[M. McCord]

Try to go to a Tandy store to purchase the leather. I like to be able to inspect any leather I'm going to use. I reserve buying sight unseen to suppliers with whom I've had good luck with in the past.

 

[desmobob]

Try to go to a Tandy store to purchase the leather. I like to be able to inspect any leather I'm going to use. I reserve buying sight unseen to suppliers with whom I've had good luck with in the past.

I just checked their store list. The nearest one is 3-1/2 hours from me.
Looks like I'll be mail ordering (I live in the sticks and rarely travel to "the big city").

Thanks very much for all the help, gentlemen! I'll let you know how I do when I finally get going with it.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[Mahoney]

If there's a thrift store out in the sticks near you, make a quick stop before ordering your leather. Sometimes you get lucky and find a wide leather "weight lifter's" belt, a tool pouch, or a purse/satchel in good condition. If nothing else, it's low cost stuff to practice with, and I have made a sheath or two from a tag sale find.

 

[StretchNM]

Try your local upholstery shops (or furniture makers if there are any). They may have some scraps for free or small to medium sized pieces for cheap. Upholstery leather in the 2-5oz range isn;t any good for sheaths, in my opinion, but they might just have some heavier stuff over in the corner somewhere.

 

[leatherman]

I just checked their store list. The nearest one is 3-1/2 hours from me.
Looks like I'll be mail ordering (I live in the sticks and rarely travel to "the big city").

Thanks very much for all the help, gentlemen! I'll let you know how I do when I finally get going with it.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

That can put a damper on things. When you do get ready to order some leather simply ask the fellow if he would mind going through the bunch and pick out what he would be wiling to use. He might not, but its worth asking.

Where in Upstate NY are you? My wife spent time at Plattsburgh.

 

[Ramm9]

The 8-9oz is a good weight for fixed blades. Be sure to use only "vegetable tanned" leather to avoid damage to blade steel!

 

[M. McCord]

Try your local upholstery shops (or furniture makers if there are any). They may have some scraps for free or small to medium sized pieces for cheap. Upholstery leather in the 2-5oz range isn;t any good for sheaths, in my opinion, but they might just have some heavier stuff over in the corner somewhere.

Be careful with upholstery leather. Not only is too soft and flexible, but most of the time it's chrome tanned. You want only veg tanned leather. Some companies call it Oak Tan, Bark Tan etc.

When you do get ready to order some leather simply ask the fellow if he would mind going through the bunch and pick out what he would be wiling to use. He might not, but its worth asking.

Last time we ordered from the Hide House we requested the absolute best in that grade. We had an order from them in the past that wasn't up to par with what we'd gotten from them in the past. Anyway I couldn't have been happier with the two hides I personally ordered. But we did order a total of 20 hides in various weights.

 

[StretchNM]

Be careful with upholstery leather. Not only is too soft and flexible, but most of the time it's chrome tanned. You want only veg tanned leather. Some companies call it Oak Tan, Bark Tan etc.
.........

I couldn't agree more about vege-tanned leather and upholstery leather being too supple (and thin). However, this idea was for you to get some scraps to start practicing with. There is nothing like the feeling, though, of taking some nice, clean, stiff, 8oz shoulder, cutting it, dampening it, and molding it around your knife blade and hilt..... and then seeing it stay that way, nice and stiff, the next day. Now that you won't get with most upholstery leather

By the way, I have a little mini-tradition that I've stuck with through at least ten sheaths: I cut and trim the leather only with the knife that the sheath is being made for. That includes carving and gouging out depressions ("pockets") where there may be some thread inside the sheath (where the belt loop sewing goes through to the inside of the sheath, for example).

 

[desmobob]

Where in Upstate NY are you? My wife spent time at Plattsburgh.

I'm south of Plattsburgh at the southern tip of Lake Champlain. I just went through there last month on a bicycle trip around the lake (400 miles in VT, QC, and NY). I camped out for two nights at the very nice Cumberland Head State Park out on the lake in Plattsburgh.

Nice area....

Stay sharp,
desmobob