I just finished stitching up two new sheaths. (Pictures to follow) 
My goals were to make a sheath that would;
A) keep the knife vertical, but at a slight angle in my front pants pocket without needing a clip
B) prevent the knife from wearing out the front of the pants
C) keep the contours of the knife from visably imprinting on the pocket and being seen
D) be thin enough not to feel like I have a pocket full of something when wearing light weight dress pants.
I started with a piece of 5-6 oz. veg tanned leather and cut it to the shape of the pocket, from the bottom to just below where the slash cut opening begins, planning to use the rough side out/hair side towards the knife. (The knife goes behind, closer to my leg.) I skived the edges to they wouldn't show against the cloth and stitched a piece of split thick suede to the back side, following the general contours of the knives I planned to carry when wearing dress pants; a thin Al Mar or a very thin Moki. Then I dampened the veg tanned leather and molded it around my thigh, being sure that the edges were given some extra inward molding.
It all worked out better than expected! :thumbup: I decided upon using suede and rough-out leather so that there would be plenty of friction against the cloth to keep it in place when I withdraw the knife. Only the friction of the leather against the pocket material holds it in place. Using veg tanned leather allowed me to make it conform to the shape of my leg while in the pocket, keeping the edges from pressing outwards against the cloth. The 5-6oz leather is just stiff enough to keep the knife from imprinting on the pants material, and the inner suede strong enough to keep the knife from moving around but still soft enough to allow easy withdrawal and re-entry. The knife stays upright in the pocket at a slight angle, just as if it were clipped to the pocket's edge, doesn't show from the front or the top, and it easy to deploy.
Still one question to solve; how to finish the leather?
I don't want it waxy or oily. If I use something like Edgecoat it will stiffen up the fibers and reduce the friction effect. But right now they both look 'raw.' Anyone have some suggestions?
Stitchawl
My goals were to make a sheath that would;
A) keep the knife vertical, but at a slight angle in my front pants pocket without needing a clip
B) prevent the knife from wearing out the front of the pants
C) keep the contours of the knife from visably imprinting on the pocket
and being seenD) be thin enough not to feel like I have a pocket full of something when wearing light weight dress pants.
I started with a piece of 5-6 oz. veg tanned leather and cut it to the shape of the pocket, from the bottom to just below where the slash cut opening begins, planning to use the rough side out/hair side towards the knife. (The knife goes behind, closer to my leg.) I skived the edges to they wouldn't show against the cloth and stitched a piece of split thick suede to the back side, following the general contours of the knives I planned to carry when wearing dress pants; a thin Al Mar or a very thin Moki. Then I dampened the veg tanned leather and molded it around my thigh, being sure that the edges were given some extra inward molding.
It all worked out better than expected! :thumbup: I decided upon using suede and rough-out leather so that there would be plenty of friction against the cloth to keep it in place when I withdraw the knife. Only the friction of the leather against the pocket material holds it in place. Using veg tanned leather allowed me to make it conform to the shape of my leg while in the pocket, keeping the edges from pressing outwards against the cloth. The 5-6oz leather is just stiff enough to keep the knife from imprinting on the pants material, and the inner suede strong enough to keep the knife from moving around but still soft enough to allow easy withdrawal and re-entry. The knife stays upright in the pocket at a slight angle, just as if it were clipped to the pocket's edge, doesn't show from the front or the top, and it easy to deploy.
Still one question to solve; how to finish the leather?
I don't want it waxy or oily. If I use something like Edgecoat it will stiffen up the fibers and reduce the friction effect. But right now they both look 'raw.' Anyone have some suggestions?Stitchawl
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