My second knife sheath (pics)

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
1,108
Technically this is my 3rd attempt at leatherwork. I made a small pouch sheath for a stag bird and trout, a holster for my dad, and now a sheath for my old pilots survival knife.

It's not finished. I plan on putting two rivets on the two corners. The stitches arent that astetically pleasing to me, and I don't think they'll be strong enough. There are 5 layers there, over an inch thick.

Hope you guys like it! This one was super hard to do. Took me a week. More pics to come as I finish this one up.

pilotsurvival.jpg
 
Thanks! I have some more to do with it. the edges aren't as smooth, even and slick as I'd like, needs rivets I think, and I see a couple of places where the cement resisted the dye.
 
Psycho, if I were you I'd rethink the need for rivets. It appears that your stitching being doubled at the stress points is more than ample to hold everything together even in extreme use. Further, the only rivets readily available that come in lengths long enough to use on the 1+ inch thickness you mention or the old tried and true copper harness rivets and you need a special set of tools to set the rivets properly. If you don't like the aesthetics of the stitching now, you really won't appreciate the effects of a less than perfect rivet job.

Paul
 
Hmm.... I think I know the rivets youre talkin about. The ones with the little washers on the back. I saw those in the Tandy catalog, and the little tool they have. The tool has a little hole, and a bowl shape next to it.... whats the hole for? How do you use the dang thing? :p

I was thinkin about some male and female cutlery rivets like on butcher knives/green river knives... Just a brainstorm.
 
I agree with no rivets. I cannot see where they help in most applications. I think rivets are used primarily for speed in most applications.

I have found that they key to smooth edges is sanding. Sand your edges back a little more (that will help with the glue lines and resisting of dye on those edges as well) and sand them back to about 400 grit or more. You will see when they get really smooth. Re-dye the edges and then burnish. If you want them shiney - use some Gum Tragacanth.

TF
 
Back
Top