Tightening up a leather strap? (uploaded a pic!)

[d.weglarz13]

This has also been bothering me since I got my GRansfors Bruks axe.....the sheath is too damn loose, and wobbles so much it almost wants to slide off. I didn't think this mattered, but after carrying it camping a couple times, it seems to be a real nuisance. Anything I can do? It seems to really be the strap, but I don't really want to lose the rivet that matches the other rivets and snap from GB.

maybe I can shrink the strap by soaking it?
Thanks for any advice.

Dave

 

[rayban]

I doubt it will shrink enough by soaking it....if the strap folds over part of the axe before it snaps, maybe add another thickness of leather(on the underside) at the point where is folds over, thereby shortening the span of the strap......I'd like to see a picture if possible.

 

[d.weglarz13]

Sure. Here it is. Its not that far off, so i was thinking about wetting it, then maybe hairdryer. Anyway, this is the sheath:

[/IMG]

thanks for any help you can give me.

dave

 

[leatherman]

Since its not too far off you can do as Rayban suggested and simply glue a strip of leather inside the strap, 3 to 4 inches in length and 1/16ths or slightly thicker. Use contact cement or a similar "flexible when its dry" glue.

Your local shoe repair shop, saddelry, or one of our craftsmen I am sure would be willing to let go of a strip of leather to solve your issue.

iirc Gansfors sheath maker uses a heavily oiled leather so it wont shrink up very much if any when dampened, and you run a risk of over drying your strap and reducing its flexibility causing cracks.

 

[d.weglarz13]

Okay thank you.

 

[Wyszrd]

Have you considered contacting GB to see if they will send you a replacement snap? Then you could punch a new hole at the correct spot and set the new snap there.

 

[d.weglarz13]

haha, hadn't thought of that! Thanks i will see what they say. All in all, the soaking it and letting dry did happen to work better than i thought. It is almost perfect now, but i wonder how long before it stretches back to its original condition....

dave