Sheath too tight

A

alexmin

Joined
Nov 16, 2005
Messages
513
I have a sheath that I finished recently and it's too tight. It' totally finished. I wonder if can wet it and stretch just as unfinished sheath or I shouldn't do that? I remember seeing some bottled liquid at a shoe store for stretching tight shoes. Does anyone know what exactly is in that liquid?

Thanks,
Alex
 
Moneysworth Best--------- shoe stretch is one type sold in Canada , not sure where it would be available in the south
 
alexmin said:
I have a sheath that I finished recently and it's too tight. It' totally finished. I wonder if can wet it and stretch just as unfinished sheath or I shouldn't do that? I remember seeing some bottled liquid at a shoe store for stretching tight shoes. Does anyone know what exactly is in that liquid?

Thanks,
Alex
Click to expand...
I'm no expert, but I just dampen with water and gently work the knife in. Form with your finger. Leave it in till it drys. If it's carbon steel wrap the blade to prevent rusting. I'm assuming the leather has not been waterproofed. Someone else will come along that knows a lot more, but that's what I've done.
 
Then wet it from the inside; soak in warm water in a pan for approx. one minute.
Dump the water out, then slowly push the knife into the sheath. Form with your fingers, then take a hair dryer and dry it up some. Remove the knife and let the sheath dry for a couple of days. Don't forget to wrap the knife in plastic wrap first; I also oil the blade before wrapping it in the saran wrap, if it's HC.
 
Making a wooden or plastic mock blade the same size as the knife (or a tiny bit thicker) will allow a stretch without the problems of steel and wet leather.
Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
Making a wooden or plastic mock blade the same size as the knife (or a tiny bit thicker) will allow a stretch without the problems of steel and wet leather.
Stacy
Click to expand...

Hey Stacy, If you're going to go to that much trouble, you might as well just make a new knife! :D
 
Just the blade part, not the handle. Wood and UHMW grind real fast.
Heck,Some of these guys will probably program their CNC mill in 3D to cut out a nylon template knife.
Stacy
 
Alcohol for cleaning windows will soften leather and will let you stretch it quite a bit.
But if the leather is light coloured it might stain.

Where I work we make (leather) shoes. We use a lot of the stretching liquid you mention, it works very well.
Soak it and stretch it slowly. You can stretch leather quite a lot, just take your mime.
 
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