Sgian Dubh sheath

[SBranson]

I just finished up this sheath for a Sgian Dubh I made recently.

It was a lot of fun figuring out the knot and dragon.

And here's the knife in case you're interested.

What do you use for setting the little rivets? My setter is the one used for snap closures and it doesn't really work that great for these little dome rivets.

Thanks for looking.

 

[sheathmaker]

Beautifully executed! I use a simple little tool to set the double cap rivets that domes the top, per link.
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home/department/Tools/8100-00.aspx

This is ideal for hand setting the rivets.

I also use the Tandy hand press for rivets, snaps, grommets, etc. (Tandy# 3990-00) You can get dies for it for all snaps and rivets, but the set up is fairly expensive, once you buy all the various dies.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/3990-00.aspx (All the various dies are listed beneath the picture of the press.)


I now use a different method for securing the clip you pictured, using no rivets at all, but it works only on fully lined applications. Inset the clip early in the make up sequence prior to installing the lining on the back side and secure it with a little dob of JB Weld (5 minute variety) and kind of squish it up through the hole and level it off. Then put in the lining. It finishes off with nothing visible inside or outside the sheath and is nice and flat, and is easily as secure as if a rivet had been used.

Paul

 

[SBranson]

Thanks Paul.

That's the kind of setter I use I think. It looks the same but maybe the radius of the concavity is wrong. I tends to push down the edges and not properly contact the center so instead of a smooth dome I get more like a cone with the point cut off. I then usually turn it over and squish the dome flat. It holds but it isn't that pretty.

I am a little ways off from affording a setter like the press version. I've used one like that before for grommets and it works great. I still need to buy a splitter first.

It's funny you mentioned the jbweld as I put a little on this one just to be sure to secure it.

I was thinking of calling you Paul to discuss how you put these clips in. I've never yet put one in that I was entirely happy with. Do you use 2 thinner layers of leather with the clip between them or is the lining over it just the deerskin?
For this one I actually used a chisel to carve a dado for the clip to sit in recessed from the layer of the leather then I glued a strip of thin leather over it and then the deerskin lining. I think if I had a splitter I would've split the top layer and then set the clip and glued the back back on.

Either way, I usually avoid this type of sheath because i hate trying to make the clips work.

 

[sheathmaker]

Yes, I split the 7/8 oz and install the clip with the JB Weld and then cement the two split halves back together and then line it. I knew you did not have a splitter yet so that's why I explained it in the sequence I did. The split makes it easier and better looking and also gives it extra "padding" on the inside when it is cemented back together.

Paul

 

[efahl]

Wow. That is just beautiful.

 

[SBranson]

Thanks efahl.


Sorry Paul, I misunderstood your first message. A further problem I had with this one was that the sheath comes up over the guard. The clip spans the guard down into the blade area and being essential a little metal bar that doesn't want to bend around that curve... I figured I had to put the leather layer in to keep the guard from abrading through the deerskin because of the clip..

Hmmm... going to have to think this one through a little better for the next time.