restitching a sheath

[ScottAR]

Hello. I just rediscovered my father's thought-lost Solingen Sheriff Knife. It had rust and pitting it; I removed some rust and sanded it down to remove most of the pitting. The main issue now is the sheath, which has lost most of the stitching.

I don't really know much of anything about stitching, so I'm not even sure how to look up this precise sort. There are two issues:
1) the different colored threads on the top and bottom,
2) the rivets. I suppose the stitching can't be restored to factory condition with them in place, but I know trying to replace them will be a rabbit's hole I don't want to go down.

My father passed away eleven years ago, and I'd like this to be restored to as close as it had been while his.

 

[duramax]

Hello ,

So I’m no expert and I’m sure others with more experience will chime in. So wait to here from them before attempting anything. The first thing you should look up is videos on how to hand stitch leather. Your looking for the saddle stitch technique. With the sheath on the stitch holes where the thread is missing, can you see clear through the holes ? Maybe with a light ? This means a saddle needle will pass through.
Now the rivets appear to me to be cap rivets ??? I’d be guessing but to remove those you might need a drill. I really don’t know. Once out if done neatly , you’d be able to replace them. You’ll need some basic tools and rivets. For supplies you can look up Tandy Leather.
Now let’s see what others will add. As again I’m not an expert.

Hope this helps

 

[ScottAR]

Yes, saddle stitches were the first thing that came up when I'd first looked, but this seems to be something different. Unless there are variants I'm not seeing, with saddle stitching you put a needle on either end of the same thread, which then gets stitched through to both sides. With this sheath, though, the threads are a different color on each side: red on the outer (finished) side, and a tan on the inner (unfinished) side, so it seems that two different threads are involved.

 

[Robber58]

Yes, saddle stitches were the first thing that came up when I'd first looked, but this seems to be something different. Unless there are variants I'm not seeing, with saddle stitching you put a needle on either end of the same thread, which then gets stitched through to both sides. With this sheath, though, the threads are a different color on each side: red on the outer (finished) side, and a tan on the inner (unfinished) side, so it seems that two different threads are involved.

The fact that the sides have different colors means it was most likely done on a sewing machine where the bobbin (bottom) thread and top are different. That can be done by hand using a certain type of stitching awl but it would take some time. Trying to redo it on a machine might work with someone that is really good with their machine but I suspect most would not want to take it on since it is an heirloom. If you just want to make it usable, I would recommend saddle stitching. It is easily done and will not cost a lot in tools or supplies. If you want to make it the same as it was, you can use something like this (https://www.weaverleathersupply.com...BRfIWyFo8npIXR5PDsViGpwuJNV4FfsRoC26wQAvD_BwE) and hand feed in the different color on the bottom as you progress. I hope I gave you some help. Restoring older leather sheaths can be a challenge. I have done a few for friends with mixed results relative to their expectations.
Randy

 

[Old Biker]

I'm fairly sure your sheath was machine stitched, with a different color in the bobbin than the main spool. Myself I would just use the top color and sew it up with the saddle stitch. It will be stronger that way, and nobody is going to be looking at the backside anyway. I wouldn't remove the rivets. I would stitch up to the rivet, back stitch at least two stitches, to lock the stitch. Pull both ends through to the back, trim close and the melt the ends. Then start a new row on the opposite side of the rivet. If you want to replace the rivets. Tandy sells a rivet setting kit that is easy to use, and some two piece rivets that would look the same from the front. The backside of the rivet is different than what you have. If you want two colors of thread, a sewing awl like, or similar to, what Randy linked above, is going to be your easiest solution.

O.B.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

While trying to stitch it up again, I would be careful as the leather may have become too fragile, possible dry rot, and I would suggest making a completely new sheath and just save that for posterity.

But if you are still going to try to fix it, be sure to open the gap between the layers and put in some contact cement to help it stay together stronger and as mentioned above do a saddle stitch, there’s a lot of videos about it

And if you add a strap I would recommend having it close around the handle in the opposite direction than the original one has, so when it is worn it doesn’t catch and come unsnapped by accident

G2

 

[Horsewright]

Lots of good advice here. I too would saddle stitch with red.

 

[ScottAR]

Thanks for the info. The leather seems pretty good, though maybe some conditioner first might help.
Old Biker mentioned melting the ends. Does this mean using a nylon thread?

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Polyester thread will also melt as well and a lot of thread options are available

These guys are pretty good

Maine Thread

For four generations, Maine Thread Company has been committed to providing and manufacturing high quality hand sewing threads from our family factory in Lewiston Maine, USA -- whether for a large shoe factory, a mid-sized leather goods outfit, or an individual maker, we deliver top quality...

www.mainethread.com

G2

 

[ScottAR]

Polyester thread will also melt as well and a lot of thread options are available

These guys are pretty good

Maine Thread

For four generations, Maine Thread Company has been committed to providing and manufacturing high quality hand sewing threads from our family factory in Lewiston Maine, USA -- whether for a large shoe factory, a mid-sized leather goods outfit, or an individual maker, we deliver top quality...

www.mainethread.com

G2

Thanks; I contacted them for a sample card (so I can get the size right).

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks; I contacted them for a sample card (so I can get the size right).

The size of thread in your pic does have me a little perplexed and wondering if it hadn't been re sewn sometime in the past. Seems like small thread compared to the needle hole.

 

[ScottAR]

The size of thread in your pic does have me a little perplexed and wondering if it hadn't been re sewn sometime in the past. Seems like small thread compared to the needle hole.

I'm almost certain it hadn't been; I'd also seen pictures of the same sheath in online auctions and the threads (front and back) looked the same.

 

[ScottAR]

... clarification: I'm almost certain the sheath I have was never restitched. Separate from that, the pics I've seen online of the same sheath are similar.

 

[Horsewright]

... clarification: I'm almost certain the sheath I have was never restitched. Separate from that, the pics I've seen online of the same sheath are similar.

Gotcha. Its just wrong sizes seems like. Here stitching with a light thread (136) and see how it fills the needle holes:

Heavier thread (207) and a much bigger needle (size 25). Still the thread is filling the needle holes:

Both examples are machine stitched. Top with a Cobra 18 and bottom with a Cobra 4

 

[i4Marc]

I had to deal with a similar style of sheath a while back. I chose to remake the sheath from scratch because the original sheath to the knife would have been slightly different than the one the customer had at the time. I was lucky because I only needed to use white thread. But in your case, I don't think I'd mess with the rivets aside from polishing them up a bit. I would just stitch each segment of the stitch line separately and not worry about making the entire perimeter a single continuous stitch line. Or you can use the original as a pattern and remake from scratch as others have suggested. The metal edging would be my only concern. Kinda gets in the way of the stitch holes.

This was the one I did:

Aldrich Knife & Tool on Instagram: "Kabar sheath done. 👍"

59 likes, 2 comments - aldrich_knife on October 9, 2018: "Kabar sheath done. 👍"

www.instagram.com