- Joined
- Oct 3, 2003
- Messages
- 7,207
I have had several guys ask me how I make my sheaths. I think there simple, usable and also look good. I am by no means a Sheath Maker but I choose to make my own sheaths for 2 main reason. I dont have to worry about someone elses time frame, someone else scratching up a new knife for the buyer and I dont have to pay any mark up and pass that cost on. Okay thats 3 reasons but whos counting right?
I start off with a folder many people throw out from work. Simply fold it in half and trace the belly and where the knife sits near the handle area. If the belly happens to be wider than the riccasso area the widest portion to slip inside the opening will have to be the opening width.
I trace a extra 3/8 to be the welt area that will be an extra piece of leather to protect the stitching from being cut. THIS WILL NOT BE THE FINAL WIDTH OF THE PATTERN.
As you see I still make the leather itself wider than my pattern because the added thickness of real leather will pull the sheath smaller than the template. Always make it larger than you think ans start off with larger patterns so you can use that leather for smaller sheaths if its too small and you need to cut the leather again.
Set a compass at 3/8 and draw in the welt. Should look like this and you will have enough extra to make adjustments down the road.
Next I cut a welt out about 3/8 and a top piece Ill glue onto the welt to make the handle have more room to fit in the sheath with out pulling on the leather too much.
At this point you should have the welt, size roughly where it needs to be, groove for the stitching and holes marked out on the leather as well as the top and belt loop rounded.
Tools used thus far (Minus straight edge and stone to sharpen blade)
Now I will dye everything visible and then put on a matte bag koate.
I stitch the belt loop over before gluing in the welt.
I start off with a folder many people throw out from work. Simply fold it in half and trace the belly and where the knife sits near the handle area. If the belly happens to be wider than the riccasso area the widest portion to slip inside the opening will have to be the opening width.
I trace a extra 3/8 to be the welt area that will be an extra piece of leather to protect the stitching from being cut. THIS WILL NOT BE THE FINAL WIDTH OF THE PATTERN.
As you see I still make the leather itself wider than my pattern because the added thickness of real leather will pull the sheath smaller than the template. Always make it larger than you think ans start off with larger patterns so you can use that leather for smaller sheaths if its too small and you need to cut the leather again.
Set a compass at 3/8 and draw in the welt. Should look like this and you will have enough extra to make adjustments down the road.
Next I cut a welt out about 3/8 and a top piece Ill glue onto the welt to make the handle have more room to fit in the sheath with out pulling on the leather too much.
At this point you should have the welt, size roughly where it needs to be, groove for the stitching and holes marked out on the leather as well as the top and belt loop rounded.
Tools used thus far (Minus straight edge and stone to sharpen blade)
Now I will dye everything visible and then put on a matte bag koate.
I stitch the belt loop over before gluing in the welt.
