Instead of sewing around the firesteel loop, consider sticking it into the welt. If you look at a Sharpshooter sheath, they fold the loop and end up using two thicknesses of leather for the welt. I wanted to do something similar, but I didn;'t want or need a welt that thick. So.....
.... before gluing in the welt, I mark it where the loop will go, then cut a section out of the welt. The loop is already made out of a piece of leather about 3" long by 1-1/4" wide. It is wet formed tightly around a firesteel. Then, I cut the loop and chamfer any mating edges to about 60 degrees. I really should take more pictures of the "making of the loop" in progress.
Here's a pic:
Here's the other side of that same loop:
AFTER the two pieces of the welt are glued to the sheath, and AFTER the sheath is glued, edge is shaped, drilled for stitiching, and completely ready for finish (except for stitching, I add some epoxy to the blank space between the welts and then slide the loop in. After it dries, I re-drill the holes where the loop is. Then dye, seal, and stitch.
It comes out looking like this, with no added thickness than a single-layer of welt:
Anyway, it's just a thought. Good luck!
.... before gluing in the welt, I mark it where the loop will go, then cut a section out of the welt. The loop is already made out of a piece of leather about 3" long by 1-1/4" wide. It is wet formed tightly around a firesteel. Then, I cut the loop and chamfer any mating edges to about 60 degrees. I really should take more pictures of the "making of the loop" in progress.
Here's a pic:
Here's the other side of that same loop:
AFTER the two pieces of the welt are glued to the sheath, and AFTER the sheath is glued, edge is shaped, drilled for stitiching, and completely ready for finish (except for stitching, I add some epoxy to the blank space between the welts and then slide the loop in. After it dries, I re-drill the holes where the loop is. Then dye, seal, and stitch.
It comes out looking like this, with no added thickness than a single-layer of welt:
Anyway, it's just a thought. Good luck!
