Making leather sheath with the rough side out?

[sogflash]

I have some pieces of leather with blemishes on the smooth side, and I'm considering making a sheath with the rough unblemished side on the outside.

Are there any reasons why this shouldn't be done?

 

[Horsewright]

I have some pieces of leather with blemishes on the smooth side, and I'm considering making a sheath with the rough unblemished side on the outside.

Are there any reasons why this shouldn't be done?

Absolutely no reason you shouldn't and all kinds of reasons you should. I do a lot of work in roughout.

Combos work well too:

Our most popular spur straps by far:

Bout 50/50 on rifle scabbards:

And as some of these pics show its toollable to. I wouldn't do flower craving or similar as it doesn't hold that kind of detail but stamping works well:

All of our IWB holsters are roughout. Always have been:

Anyhoo. If your design relies on friction at all for retention, make it slightly tighter., maybe half a hair. I did a post here sometime back (years) about working with roughout, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Bigburly912]

As stated above no reason at all not to do roughout and a lot of us love it. Wish there was more!

 

[Horsewright]

Here ya go I found it:

Thread 'Roughout Sheath Toutorial'

Jun 6, 2018

By Jason's @Diomedes Industries special request and seconded by others, a tutorial on roughout sheath making, at least how I do it. As always just because I, or someone else does it this way, doesn't mean it is the only way, its just my way and what works in my shop, for me.

Just about every batch of sheaths that I do I have a customer's request or two for a roughout sheath. Being a little dense, it took me a while to start doing some of my "In Stock" knives with roughout sheaths too. After a few years I caught on and now do a few in each batch on In Stock knives too...

• Horsewright
• Replies: 25
• Forum: Sheaths & Such

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And another that discusses care and feeding of roughout as well as some of its advantages:

Thread 'A bit rough on the outside'

Dec 9, 2014

I have been doing a lot of work under vehicles lately and my Leathernan sheath has taken a hammering being dragged across cement and dirt . The finish is really scuffed up and showing real signs of hard use .

Awhile ago I was making a SAK sheath and while I was waiting for some glue to dry I saw a piece of off cut leather and for no good reason I wet Molded it into shape , but with the rough side out .
It was just an experiment to see what it would turn out like .
I'm at home this week due to bad weather and while cleaning up I spied the " Rough " SAK piece of leather I had formed in...

• harronek
• Replies: 66
• Forum: Sheaths & Such

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[sogflash]

Now I have to try it! Thanks!

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

I have some pieces of leather with blemishes on the smooth side, and I'm considering making a sheath with the rough unblemished side on the outside.

Are there any reasons why this shouldn't be done?

Go for it! No reason not too.

Absolutely no reason you shouldn't and all kinds of reasons you should. I do a lot of work in roughout.

Combos work well too:

Our most popular spur straps by far:

Bout 50/50 on rifle scabbards:

And as some of these pics show its toollable to. I wouldn't do flower craving or similar as it doesn't hold that kind of detail but stamping works well:

All of our IWB holsters are roughout. Always have been:

Anyhoo. If your design relies on friction at all for retention, make it slightly tighter., maybe half a hair. I did a post here sometime back (years) about working with roughout, I'll see if I can find it.

Beauty work, Dave! I’m gonna try rough out soon!

 

[Horsewright]

Go for it! No reason not too.


Beauty work, Dave! I’m gonna try rough out soon!

Thank you sir!

Now I have to try it! Thanks!

Ya bet. Let us see your work when you are done!

 

[Mimic Knife & Tool]

This is great stuff. I love that I can come here and learn from the veteran craftsmen and women. Imma try this

 

[Horsewright]

Good deal!

 

[Lorien]

I don't build my sheaths with the smooth side facing inward because I've found that water will sit in there and rust my knife if I forget to take the knife out and let the sheath dry- it also seems to take longer to dry than the other way.

My sense is that the fibers from the rough side tend to wick moisture from the inside of the sheath outward. I regularly store my knives in their sheaths, and quite often don't dry anything out, even after working in the rain, and very rarely does that end up in a rusty knife.

I think rough out looks cool, and maybe has some advantages not readily apparent in the environment I live in, but apart from overlays I won't build sheaths this way.

 

[Horsewright]

I don't build my sheaths with the smooth side facing inward because I've found that water will sit in there and rust my knife if I forget to take the knife out and let the sheath dry- it also seems to take longer to dry than the other way.

My sense is that the fibers from the rough side tend to wick moisture from the inside of the sheath outward. I regularly store my knives in their sheaths, and quite often don't dry anything out, even after working in the rain, and very rarely does that end up in a rusty knife.

I think rough out looks cool, and maybe has some advantages not readily apparent in the environment I live in, but apart from overlays I won't build sheaths this way.

I would agree with you for your environment. For being able to get leather as water resistant as possible smoothout is the choice. I'd not thought of the wicking properties of the rough fuzzies as you described. Very interesting.

I think the reason you see roughout so much in western saddlery and cowboy gear is that it shrugs off wear and tear, abrasions and scrapes much better than smoothout. In some applications this also puts the smoothout against the horse where it is much better at resisting horse sweat. For water resistance, smoothout definitely rains, (see what I did there).

 

[Lorien]

haha! Good one Dave

 

[Horsewright]

Dried horse sweat:

Wore out one pony and had to switch to another for the rest of the day:

Other hazards:

Working in the rain, where smoothout reigns, even for your reins!

Anyhoo.

 

[Numbat]

I have some pieces of leather with blemishes on the smooth side, and I'm considering making a sheath with the rough unblemished side on the outside.

Are there any reasons why this shouldn't be done?

 

[Numbat]

I have done a fair bit of leather work and I think that is a brilliant idea. Go for it!
If you can let us have a pic when you are done.
btw you are my first comment here
from Oz. (Australia)

 

[jmh33]

I have a few rough side out.
Pics will follow tomorrow!!
John

 

[Horsewright]

Another one bites the dust:

 

[RPZIP]

High end leather mountaineering boots were often made rough side out because properly treated - oil, wax etc - they could resist scuffing on rock and maintain their waterproof property.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Another one bites the dust:

Are you combing it with a wire brush or treating it in any special way?

 

[HFinn]

I make a lot of pocket sheaths for folding knives and fixed blades. Rough out might help keeping the sheath in place when drawing the knife. Have to try this.