Making my first sheath

I'm a lefty so I can sympathize with you! I carry my smaller knives (under 5inches) on my strong side slighty to the rear. My larger knives also sit on my strong side but right on the side of my left hip and I use a leg tie down. All edges are facing backwards and are safer to handle IMO.

Here is an example of a Randall style sheath:

Teddy2.jpg


This sheath has an ambidextrous keeper strap. The strap was riveted in and can be spun to either side.

100_1947.jpg


This is a pouch style sheath I did that has a separately stitched belt loop.
ShepherdSheath003_resize.jpg
 
Very nice sheaths! I sure want to try making a leather sheath.

I was lookng and trying to figure out why you have the double leather on those sheaths, right at the pouch entrance, where the hilt of the knife will rest. I'm guessing that maybe you affix your snap to this and then sew it on the pouch...so the metal portion of the back side of the snap doesn't mar the knife. Is that right? Or is it for asthetics?
 
Hey Dialton, that's quite a story! Thanks for the time you put into this! My new knife will be in VG 10-steel, stainless. I will wrap it up anyway, after spraying it with Ballistol. What do you mean by not fully soaking tje leather? What I read mostly is that people leave the leather in (warm?) water for about 10 minutes. You don't leave it in that long? I must say the leather I have is quite thick, 4 mm's, just over 1/8". I hadn't given any thought to colouring, I actually like the colour the leather has now, just natural. I'd love to see how it wears in time. I will give a good coat of waterproofing wax though.
I don't even have a drill press, so using an awl is my only option. Now that you tell the result might actually be better, I'm glad the old way might be the better way! What you said about the belt loop is very useful, just the thing one might overlook in the rush that sheath-making gives you!
Again, tank you very much for the tips, should any more pop up, let me know!

Regards,

Gijs
 
DO NOT SOAK THE LEATHER!!! I use a damp sponge to wet the leather on both side and then blot off the excess. What will happen, especially with pouch style sheaths, is that when you mold the leather to the knife you will get a glaze on it. This is the result of excessive rubbing the leather to mold to the knife. I never wet a non-pouch style sheath.

Hint: Dye your leather before gluing it all together. Glue is very hard to remove and leaves a residue that will not take dye.
 
Hey Ken,
Man, you ARE quick! Your previous mails gave my some ideas, your last one even more, thanks! As for the carrying position, I'll just have practice a more (with a kitchen knife that is, the only thing that comes close to my new knife, that still has not arrived!). How come I keep reading different things on the (not) soaking of the leather? Is soaling just for "pancake-style"sheaths? Or should I just forget about it altogether? I'm back to the drawing board now!

Gijs
 
You can make a working model of your sheath out of cardboard and plastic tape. Staple where your stitch lines are,include the welt. This will be strong enough to put the knife in and put on your belt. Ware this around for a bit and see how it will work for you. Leather conforms much better than cardboard. It only takes a few minuets to make and can tell you a lot about how it will carry with out cutting your leather up. I have actually made a cardboard holster with camouflage tape to Carrie a heavy pistol, that fooled every one at my gun club.
 
Hey Rheagy,

Sorry for my dead-slow response, I've been away for a while... Thanks for your feed-back, I like the first link you put up!

Gijs
 
Thanks for reviving this thread, actually. I might have missed it otherwise, as this forum is great because there's so much info to search through. So how did the sheath go, anyway. Got pix?
I can't wait to read through the article(just downloaded it myself) and the tutorial.
 
Hey Deadeye,

The sheath turned out quite nice, I might actually go out and use it! It has some flaws, but I forgive myself, since it's the first sheath I made. As soon as I can get some pictures up, you'll find them here. I started a similar thread on KnifeForums by the way, also contains a load of info: http://knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/787845/ .

Good luck,

Gijs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top