need help with some leather

[fast14riot]

I picked up this little knife and sheath today. The sheath is pretty darn stiff, but doesn't feel like dry rot. The strap did break from being stiff. I want to preserve the original sheath and hopefully bring it back to a decent condition. What would you guys suggest I do?

Also I would like to make a new sheath as well, I intend to use this little knife, I mostly want to copy the original but the belt loop is folder over to the front and secured by the top stitch and a rivet. Should I copy this or what other style would look good for this? I have some very thin leather already, but need some smaller thread.

Thanx

-Xander

 

[amcardon]

The more experienced guys will probably correct me and give much better advice, but with old dry leather I always warm (slightly, like with a hair dryer or something gentle) and treat with neatsfoot oil. If there's a chance of the leather getting wet I'll usually treat with a mixture of neatsfoot and pure beeswax (up to 1:1 ratio but I rarely use that much beeswax unless I'm hot dipping a sheath that's going to be used for a fillet or hunting knife or something similar...).

I say copy the sheath, good solid design. I would use 7/9oz leather, but that's just me.

Whatever you decide, good luck and post pics!

 

[fast14riot]

I keep reading about neatsfoot oil. I don't have any, but I do have mink oil (paste) and to my understanding it does the same thing, right? Can/should I coat the sheath liberally and warm it in the sun to allow it to soak in? It is a very small knife and sheath, the leather is only .070" (~2mm) on the original sheath and I have some comparable to it. I would like to stick as close to original as possible, although I am unable to do any fancy tooling like on the original.


-Xander

 

[amcardon]

Neatsfoot is from rendered cow hooves so it has the same enzymes and chemicals as the leather and is absorbed very well. Mink oil is quite a bit different and will degrade some materials (like artificial sinew).

Your application/warming method sounds to me like it would work just fine.