Ratmandu sheath

[nozh2002]

I am very impressed with Ratmandu. It deserve proper sheath! Geometry of th knife does not allow to do simple wrap as I did for Game Warden, so I have to proceed with laminated sheath - same I have for SAR Rat and HRLM.

This is all 5 layers

And this is how they stack to cover knife - tight and secure.

After carving done I just sew all this together using small drill bit and Dremel drill press. I sew it first all together, then unsew, sew all layers withoout base. sane edges, unsew it again and finaly sew all together again.

Ratmandu sheath with Game Warden wrap-sheath...

.. and with two other laminated sheath for SAR Rat and HRLM:

 

[nozh2002]

I already tasted painting on leather and like it a lot. After making slavic ornament on Game Warden sheath I decide to do something more then simple camo or even forest camo and try to do some ornament suitable for this knife which if Ratmandu - some kind of tropical exotic, rainforest rat - as I see it. However I try to avoid make picture on sheath - it should be more or less ornamental.

After many sketches I cam to this drawing:

I like red-yellow combination - vasilevs colors and decide to play it here also same as on Game Warden. And I guess it play well with leather. So first I did background - kind of tropical, I hope:

And this is what I use - spirit based professional markers, same as spirit based leather dye but better quality - I ask this in artist shop, it also penetrates leather and dry fast, but it is much easier to work with:

I decide to make foreground same as background - again this is just a sheath not a framed picture to hang on wall:

I put Carnauba cream on it and it seems like it dissolve a bit some black paint I use for outline. However I think it make it look more painting like. So I guess it is good for sheath.

Here scan I amade - camera unfortunately does not show all colors correctly, even scan is not same as it looks in "person", it does not show carnauba shining etc...

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[VANCE]

very nice & unique too

 

[Coolshot]

Very Cool! Man, I have no talent, patience (or time) for such a project, but I wish I did...I need to find a hobby....

 

[leatherman]

After carving done I just sew all this together using small drill bit and Dremel drill press. I sew it first all together, then unsew, sew all layers withoout base. sane edges, unsew it again and finaly sew all together again.

Sew, unsew, sew, and sew again? I have so many questions and suggestions, and lotsa questions about tasting markers and some good advise. but you dont seem to want to listen.

so, might as well keep up the good wishes, and say Good work! and go on being on your ignore list.

I really wish you could "get over it"

 

[Eric Isaacson]

Very cool sheath and I like the design that you have on this one the best also.

 

[J33psru1e]

...

 

[leatherman]

And those green leafs in the pics remind me of my college days.

Whoa! Your right J33psru1e! though my recollection is a little fuzzy. I once rented a house where I guess an avid herb smoker had lived, a whole bunch of funky little plants sprouted up under one of the windows after a rainy week.

 

[nozh2002]

On that three sheath I made I use paracord as most flexible way to attach it to anything. In general sheath has only holes for cord and you can tie them horizontally, vertically, up-side-down, diagonally, let them hang free (winter style) and so on.

My intentions was to make very practical, most convinient and secure sheath. As you can see - no any locks or ties, inner space carved to match knife geometry so it will just stay tight there, you can not shake it out of the sheath in up-side-down position even if shake them hard. Also absence of any lock gives it clean and simple look and space for decoration.

Also most important feature of the sheath I consider safety - I read about hard copter landing, and one guy was heart by his own knife which just cut through the sheath under much pressure at impact, when copter hit the ground. For this reason I use this thick sheath and make knife tight in it, this is why I make base bigger then knife - to prevent even handle to goes into ribs if you fall for some reason.

It takes about one evening to make sheath and another to decorate it.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Swizzle]

i like it vassili... thanks for sharing your work.

 

[sffar]

Nice artwork!

 

[leatherman]

Most likely the carnauba wax made the pen ink run is because most professional pen inks are water based, as is the carnauba wax. Thus you get a chance of making a nice sharp design into a runny mess. The best bet there is to fix the water based dye with a non water based fixative. that way you dont run the risk.

When I was in the graduate program at Texas Tech I did a lot of research on different pigments and how they react with other mediums. Its amazing what can happen when you mix to dissimilar pigments or fixatives. I've had light colors turn coal black, and totally eliminated dark colors in one swath.

When you get into the fine art aspect theres a lot to take into consideration. The most important factor is how long do you expect the medium to last. This takes into account all the factors, the substrate, the pigment, and the fixative (or coating). When you mix two dissimilar chemicals the result can be catastrophic, it may not show for many years but it will show. A few examples of old west leather really show how some were experimenting at the time, its either very well preserved or its a powdered mess.

In the long run, if you want your work to stick around for many lifetimes,you have to plan ahead and look at what works together and what doesnt. Most art suppliers will sell you the most expensive product proclaiming its virtues and longevity and when it comes down to it, it wont stand up to time. Back in the 70's way too many artitst were working with markers. Today that art is fading rapidly, and theres nothing we can do to preserve it.

I think the point is here is to use products that work together for the good of the medium, taking chances on mediums that arent tested for leather are just asking for issues later downt the line. There are chemicals in the leather and chemicals in the mediums that might have "interesting" interactions. For all you crafters out there, its best to try a new pigment out on some scrap leather and let it sit and use your usual coating to see if it has any adverse affects.

 

[Guyon]

Hmmm.... I like the sheaths, find the leaves an invitation for scrutiny from the authorities, and can't believe that Vassili would put Dwayne on ignore if he's a sheathmaker.

That about sums it up. Guess I'll be on ignore next.

 

[nozh2002]

Hmmm.... I like the sheaths, find the leaves an invitation for scrutiny from the authorities

What is wrong with leaves? This is Chinese maple tree - I just picked it from the ground to make picture bit more colorful. Here it is:

Thanks, Vassili

 

[Guyon]

Note the

I have maples in my back yard, but some folks here thought you were displaying your "herb" collection.

 

[nozh2002]

No, I am collecting different things:

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[leatherman]

The writin' sall bassackwards and such,

ah, now I get it!

No worries Gyon, he's one of those "sensitive" fellas.

 

[mike biz]

I can't wait to see that Rat-Man-Doobie sheath. Green is good. As the Dead sang, "We can discover the wonders of nature, rollin' in the rushes down by the riverside." Rock-on!

 

[mike biz]

What is wrong with leaves? This is Chinese maple tree - I just picked it from the ground to make picture bit more colorful. Here it is:

Thanks, Vassili

That looks like a Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). I'm a biology geek, so please excuse my need to identify everything. Such is what dorks do.

 

[leatherman]

lol! RatManDoobie! I like it!!!

Aw man, now your gonna be on "the list"