All the photos of pocket slips is making me think about trying my hand at making them. How hard it is really to get into?
The sheath I showed, was made with a razor knife, stitch wheel for spacing, edger, groover, and 1/16” drill bit in drill press for the holes to stitch it. Sanded the edges after it was stitched. Burnished the edges, dyed. Before my house burnt I had these tools.
The holster, I made with a knife and a 1/16” bit in a hand drill. It was so long now I can’t remember but I probably used my 34OT old timer to cut it out. I don’t think I had an edger then, and I trimmed the edges with my knife. But I might have had the edger as I got another one at some point. I still don’t have a groover yet.
So basically all you need is a knife, a drill and the gumption.
Make a pattern out of card stock or paper. Lay your knife or item on the paper and trace it. Then allow some extra for your thickness, for a slip is guess 3/8” on each side from the knife to stitch line. I like to give a few marks as to the layout of my stitches. If you have a stitch wheel, trace the stitch line with that. If not just prick with your knife a few places to indicate the stitches. Then lightly scribe on the leather, with a nail or awl or anything, a mark to show the stitch line. Glue the two halves together with leather glue or tacky glue. I had leather glue before the fire, tacky glue now. Once dry drill your holes. Use artificial sinew from any craft store, and leather needles bought at the same place. Cut off a length of sinew about twice as long as you guess you need. Separate it in half so it’s only half as wide. Use one of the halfs and put a needle on each end. Start stitching, one for each direction. Needle nose pliers to pull the needle if it’s hard. Backstitch atleast three stitches when you stop or have to use another length of thread.
When you’re done stitching, check the fit. If it suits you then trim the edges together and sand them with sandpaper or shape on a belt sander if you have it. Trim the corners with a knife or edger, Use gum trag on the edges or just burnish the edges. Wet a length of edge with spit and wipe vigorously with a stick or piece of bone or antler or your hand if you’re a man. Once the edges are good enough, submerse the whole thing in hot tap water for... 1-3 seconds, shove your item in the leather and press the leather with fingers to wet form. For a more defined form, use the round end of a sharpie or a tool called a bone made for it to shape the leather. Anything dull can be used. Remove your item and then let the leather dry, don’t forget to tend your wet item. The dash of a hot car, oven on the bare minimum setting (200 or less) or natural will all work for drying. When it’s done, paste wax or natural shoe polish all over for finish.
made by BF member 
