Transitioning from Kydex to Leather

[SLC_Blades]

So I’ve now made a couple kydex sheaths that I’m happy with, but I’ve wanted to work with leather since day one. I’m not a fan of the process involved with working with kydex, nor the inevitable scratching that kydex sheaths bring. It seems like leather tooling is quite inexpensive which is a plus, but I’m concerned about the cost of the leather itself. Where is the best place to purchase small quantities of leather? I’ll be going off to college in a few months and am not interested in purchasing an entire shoulder’s worth of leather because there’s no way ill go through all of it, and it isn’t cheap.

Thanks!

 

[Horsewright]

Check Springfield Leather. The only place I know of that will cut ya piece of premium leather (Herman Oak) to the size ya want, say 12"x12" or 18x18". Buying leather like this is the most expensive way of buying leather, ya pay for it, but it will save you having to buy a whole side.

Please, since your getting into leather, skip the buying the cheap leather stage and just start with the good stuff. It will save you tons of $$$, frustration, hair pulling, using the top row of your keyboard etc. For most knife work you want 7/8 oz veg tan (or strap leather or tooling leather, different suppliers call it different names), larger knives I use 8/10 oz. The two American tanneries that produce this kind of leather are Herman Oak and Wickett and Craig. Each has their advocates (and detractors), I use both.

Herman Oak:

Wickett and Craig:

Don't know if you've been to Sheaths and Such here on BF but there is tons of good info over there and lots of folks that will give ya a hand. Just like here ya can learn to make a knife over there ya can learn to make a sheath, a good one.

 

[skillgannon]

Check Springfield Leather. The only place I know of that will cut ya piece of premium leather (Herman Oak) to the size ya want, say 12"x12" or 18x18". Buying leather like this is the most expensive way of buying leather, ya pay for it, but it will save you having to buy a whole side.

Please, since your getting into leather, skip the buying the cheap leather stage and just start with the good stuff. It will save you tons of $$$, frustration, hair pulling, using the top row of your keyboard etc. For most knife work you want 7/8 oz veg tan (or strap leather or tooling leather, different suppliers call it different names), larger knives I use 8/10 oz. The two American tanneries that produce this kind of leather are Herman Oak and Wickett and Craig. Each has their advocates (and detractors), I use both.

Herman Oak:

Wickett and Craig:

Don't know if you've been to Sheaths and Such here on BF but there is tons of good info over there and lots of folks that will give ya a hand. Just like here ya can learn to make a knife over there ya can learn to make a sheath, a good one.

I have been using Tandy leather because I live 5 minutes from the store. What is the difference in the leather?

 

[Horsewright]

Lots. Everything that is good about the Tandy will be better, a lot better. Everything that is bad about the Tandy won't be as bad. Edging will be better, tooling crisper and deeper, molding, consistency, oiling, dyeing, cutting, stitching, everything you do. I can speak from experience cause I use to use those leathers too way back in the day. Bout 25-30 years ago I started biting the bullet and buying the better. Ain't looked back. It really is a sows ear to a silk purse kinda deal. Or here how many times have ya heard someone say "don't mess with the mystery steel get the known?" Same deal. More money? Yep.

Now I ain't bashing Tandy. We buy some softer leathers from them all the time for purses that my wife makes and Christmas stockings etc and have been very pleased with them. Also some of their tools (I personally have 3 of their stitching groovers that I use almost daily and have for decades as well as an adjustable creaser that I really like). But for veg tan, stick with the two I mentioned, ya won't go wrong. Problem is generally (Herman Oak and Wickett and Craig) their leather is only available in sides and so its a couple hundred bucks entering up. But once ya do ya won't go back. It really does make all the difference in the world in producing pro grade leather items, things that will get used in real life:

 

[Fallbrook Forge]

S SLC_Blades listen to Horsewright then track down all his posts and read them!
He posted an amazing tutorial on how he does a pancake sheath and it is extremely helpful.

Definitely get good leather, Springfield or Weaver is where I got my first piece. Only reason I didn’t go with Springfield is their checkout was wonky when I wanted to order, kept adding $50 shipping to a $50 piece of leather! They’ve since fixed it.

So I’ll be ordering some of the Wickett and Craig russet soon!

 

[Busto]

On a Similar Note...If you make quality knives the buyer appreciates what they have purchased they see and feel the quality...Same goes for a quality leather product....Herman Oak and Wickett & Craig Show the quality and feel of the leather...My customers don't flinch at the price of quality they see in both of these leather products. Quality remains after the price is long forgotten!!!