Making a new leather sheath (?)

D

Dave53

Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
18
Hi guys. I want to make two simple, traditional leather sheaths, with belt loops. Don't need custom-made or fancy.
I'm having trouble finding a supplier of a small amount of the right kind of leather. I did find one DIY kit, but it has crappy-looking tooling already stamped on, and I just want plain.
Alternatively, I would like to know of a source of affordable, ready-made replacement sheaths. Any ideas? (I'm all googled out, and no luck yet.)

Thanks,
Dave
 
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Dave53 said:
Hi guys. I want to make two simple, traditional leather sheaths, with belt loops. Don't need custom-made or fancy.
I'm having trouble finding a supplier of a small amount of the right kind of leather. I did find one DIY kit, but it has crappy-looking tooling already stamped on, and I just want plain.
Alternatively, I would like to know of a source of affordable, ready-made replacement sheaths. Any ideas? (I'm all googled out, and no luck yet.)

Thanks,
Dave
Click to expand...

Check Tandy Lather Factory.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
But be warned that at Tandy you can't by leather in tiny quantities, like enough for just one sheath. Maybe if you buy a belly, but I'm told you probably don't want that leather for sheaths.
 
Tool leather is sold in small quantities - well for $17-$30 you may have quite a bit of it in square or as a belt. And this is the leather to make sheath - full grain top quality leather is not good for sheath - too soft, but thick tool leather is what you need - other wise if you fall on sheath with soft leather you may end up being cut.

This is how it looks unpainted:

Sheath-12.jpg


And this is same but in camo:

Sheath-32.jpg


It is different style from what you are talking about, but I guess you need same hard and thick tool leather.

All from my local Tandy leather.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. I found some scraps of nice thick, not too-soft leather at a local recycler. If the project turns out alright, I'll post some pics.
Dave
 
OK. I haven't done any leather work since I was a kid.. Here's a first try for a simple sheath. Took me a couple of hours.

The leather is about 3/32" thick, and reasonably stiff. Started off by making a cardboard template, then I chamfered and contact-cemented the belt loop (followed by stitching it); then glued in the welt and the seams; lastly used a spiked pattern wheel to mark the stitch holes (8 per inch), and a large needle in drill press to 'punch' the holes. (Not sure about the 'moccasin stitch', but it seemed like a good idea at the time!)

The leather thong is a friction fit through two 3/16" holes; with a slight loosening, your thumb slips it easily over the bolster to release the knife. I prefer this to a snap.

(The knife is a poor old rusty Western scout knife that I found abandoned, which now serves as my general purpose/knockaround/fishing knife).

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Dave
 
I made this sheath for my new Howling Rat [it ships w/o sheath] start to finish, over the weekend. I will most likely play with other designs, but this one works great, I can turn it up side down and give it the shake test, the knife stays in the sheath, yet offers little resistance when drawn. I used a ball peen hammer for texture while I was wet moulding the leather.
Warning: sheath making is addictive:D
 
Great looking sheaths there guys.

Iuke, take that sheath and hit the edges on a belt sander with a 220 belt. Lightly sand them and they'll really finish off nice. You can also dampen them then rub them with a really smooth piece of hard wood (cocobolo works great) or the back of a plastic spoon.

Great work guys.

Charles
 
CShepherd said:
Great looking sheaths there guys.

Iuke, take that sheath and hit the edges on a belt sander with a 220 belt. Lightly sand them and they'll really finish off nice. You can also dampen them then rub them with a really smooth piece of hard wood (cocobolo works great) or the back of a plastic spoon.

Great work guys.

Charles
Click to expand...
good tips, thanks.
 
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