My first sheath

[Retired Spook]

Built for a KaBar 1266 Modern Tanto. Wickett & Craig russet skirting leather, hand-stitched with Barry King stitching awl. Far from perfect, but I learned a lot, and my next sheath will be an improvement.

My vision was for a functionally minimalist, geometrically clean, visually restrained working sheath designed for fast, quiet, unobstructed draw, informed by traditional forms filtered through restraint and proportion.

 

[bladegrinder]

Dang! That’s awful nice for a first! You can sure be proud of that one.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

That’s really good for a first sheath.

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, gentlemen.

I learned a lot, and I've already ordered more leather for the next iteration.

 

[jfk1110]

Well hell I'll take your second one!!!!!!.....

Great job........ Looks like its way well beyond your first.....

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, sir.

 

[Robber58]

That is an exceptional first effort! The stitching is very uniform and the edges are excellent. Very clean. Nice job.

 

[SharpBits]

Well, I’m impressed!

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, gentlemen.

 

[Horsewright]

Very nice indeed!

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, sir.

The next one will be better.

 

[Horsewright]

You bet! You’ve set a high bar. Good edges and even stitching on this one.

 

[Retired Spook]

Awl stitching is somewhat challenging at first. The Sam Brown button placard stitches were done with a C.S. Osborne #54 stitching awl that I tuned and polished. I switched to a Barry King awl and a large haft for the main body, and cut a stitching groove on the back panel, the same offset as the front panel, so I could watch where the awl wanted to come through, and I could adjust as I went. After a bit, it became a little easier - nice when the awl penetrates perfectly in the center of the back panel stitching groove - but it definitely requires attention. In the next iteration, I will focus more on maintaining consistent stitch tension.

 

[DrRollinstein]

Looks great! Good knife to start on too.

 

[bladegrinder]

That’s pretty much how I use to do it with the addition of using a stitching wheel. With good lighting I got pretty fast with it but after doing it that way for over twenty years with old eyes and creaky finger joints I bought a sewing machine. And I honestly wish I had bought it twenty years ago now.

 

[Retired Spook]

I'm old. I used a 7-power Optivisor, a Sinabroks 5-tooth and 2-tooth stitching iron to mark off the stitch locations, and a really good Ott task light.

In hindsight, I like the looks of the hand stitches better than machine stitches - but I am not stitching leather goods every day either.

 

[mitch13]

You should be proud.
Fine work for your first.

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, sir.

 

[nick681]

You knocked it out of the park! Well done!

 

[Retired Spook]

Thank you, sir.