Ultimate Bushcraft Axe Sheath and Modular Supply Pouch Attachment System (Photo Heavy)

What kind of Bushcraft scenario do you have in mind when taking with you RapiDigger?
Just curious. Depending on situation, some people sharpen their shovels and never actually carry a hatchet
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
What kind of Bushcraft scenario do you have in mind when taking with you RapiDigger?
Just curious. Depending on situation, some people sharpen their shovels and never actually carry a hatchet
Click to expand...

Good question! I guess digging up fishing bait (which is actually listed on the box!), maybe digging a fire pit, clearing ground for shelter building or some such thing. But to be sure, it was also just to add another option to the modularity of it.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I like it! And that Mann RapiDigger is GORGEOUS. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of those!
Click to expand...

ithinkverydeeply said:
Thanks!
That is the same NOS one that I have posted here before but apparently not in the Mattocks thread..
zWJTg1H.jpg

eJzBXec.jpg
Click to expand...

It caught my eye, too. And you know my affinity for digging tools. That reinforced hoe looks tough as nails. It would dig in very rough conditions. But as NOS I'd be afraid to use it. But if my life depended on it I'd sure be glad I had it.
 
Everyone has already said what a nice job you did. But that's no reason not to say it again. Gorgeous work ITVD! It seems you can do everything really well! I'd be afraid to use something that looks that nice...
 
Leatherworking seems like an incredibly practical skill. I've only played with it at some of the most rudimentary levels.

If I might ask, what kind of resources did you use to learn, apart from practice, of course? Books, vids etc. Also, that leather looks gorgeous, have you come across a good supplier that you can recommend?
 
Very nice work and great ideas! I have been tinkering with leatherwork the past few months and really admire some of the work I find around here. Your work on this is over the top! That is a terrific looking rig.
 
Fmont said:
Leatherworking seems like an incredibly practical skill. I've only played with it at some of the most rudimentary levels.

If I might ask, what kind of resources did you use to learn, apart from practice, of course? Books, vids etc. Also, that leather looks gorgeous, have you come across a good supplier that you can recommend?
Click to expand...

Thank you all again for the compliments!

As S Square_peg said McPherson’s is awesome (and might ship nationally) but they are a little far south for me so I don’t make it there as often as I would like. I’m spoiled to also have Quil Ceda Tanning co. and a Tandy Leather relatively close to me.
Although I am am in search of and need to start ordering better quality hardware online.(someone gave me a link to an online hardware source that I need to go back and find.) Tandy is just middle of the road and even their heavy duty stuff leaves a little to be desired. Like button snaps, I don’t want to use nickel plated because I don’t want it to wear off. So I get their stainless steel ones but they come very dull so I get out the Dremel tool and polish them up.
AEBEAE91-A9-FC-433-E-91-FF-D9562-A7-BA241.jpg


I am about as good at watching tutorials online as I am at asking for directions when driving. I tend strike out with minimal direction and figure it out by trial and error. Oddly it is typically only after I am done with something that I will identify where I had trouble, look up a video on that specific thing, and be like “oh yeah, so easy, I should have watched that first.” But I suppose, for me, half the fun is trying to figure it out.

That being said there are a couple videos that come highly recommended:

I posted it before, but I just love this video. It inspires me to do leathercraft.

Armitage is the preeminent saddle-stitch guy.
Saddle Stitch
Saddle Stitch details

There are so many leather stamping and forming videos online that I’m not currently locating my favorite guy’s videos but here are a couple others that show some of the processes.

This one is entertaining to watch although I don’t prescribe to all of his processes.

This guys forming is good!
 
ithinkverydeeply said:
Thank you all again for the compliments!

As S Square_peg said McPherson’s is awesome (and might ship nationally) but they are a little far south for me so I don’t make it there as often as I would like. I’m spoiled to also have Quil Ceda Tanning co. and a Tandy Leather relatively close to me.
Although I am am in search of and need to start ordering better quality hardware online.(someone gave me a link to an online hardware source that I need to go back and find.) Tandy is just middle of the road and even their heavy duty stuff leaves a little to be desired. Like button snaps, I don’t want to use nickel plated because I don’t want it to wear off. So I get their stainless steel ones but they come very dull so I get out the Dremel tool and polish them up.
AEBEAE91-A9-FC-433-E-91-FF-D9562-A7-BA241.jpg


I am about as good at watching tutorials online as I am at asking for directions when driving. I tend strike out with minimal direction and figure it out by trial and error. Oddly it is typically only after I am done with something that I will identify where I had trouble, look up a video on that specific thing, and be like “oh yeah, so easy, I should have watched that first.” But I suppose, for me, half the fun is trying to figure it out.

That being said there are a couple videos that come highly recommended:

I posted it before, but I just love this video. It inspires me to do leathercraft.

Armitage is the preeminent saddle-stitch guy.
Saddle Stitch
Saddle Stitch details

There are so many leather stamping and forming videos online that I’m not currently locating my favorite guy’s videos but here are a couple others that show some of the processes.

This one is entertaining to watch although I don’t prescribe to all of his processes.

This guys forming is good!
Click to expand...
https://www.csosborneleathertools.com/about-us.php
I do not know how C.S. Osborne has not been murdered by Chinese competition.
https://www.csosborneleathertools.com/category/decorative-nails
https://www.csosborneleathertools.com/category/rivet-eyelet-setters
https://www.csosborneleathertools.com/category/snaps-setters-snaps
 
Here are a couple shots of how the sausage was made:

I would like to issue an official apology(in triplicate) for polishing this axe. o_O
Shagbark Hickory for the handle. That side of the wood actually became the back of the handle.
C6-EA2078-D5-BF-4-DF2-B17-E-40-BD42779119.jpg


Before flame treating the handle.
207-E7536-C8-FB-416-E-9478-8-B896-DCDDD48.jpg


E1165-CC8-290-B-4974-8197-17-E7-F4-AAB3-D5.jpg


A lot of wet forming on this project!
0-F6-C7754-CE7-A-49-BD-A0-FB-42260-E6451-B0.jpg

B975-D3-D2-83-D9-4183-B818-E10-BF58-DD223.jpg


Chiseling holes for saddle stitching.
FD52-FDC4-6-F7-C-4-DD2-AFD9-DE6-DB6387753.jpg


The main sheath was a challenge in its complexity. Skiving the welt so the edges aren’t too fat, cutting groves for the D-ring straps to be stitched into the seam, and making sure to assemble it in the right order always proves to be a puzzle.
3-AE48-EA8-DC6-F-4-A33-AD2-F-7-FCDEDA5-CB36.jpg


507-D4-F59-9-C50-418-F-B16-E-514-E7826-A270.jpg

40-F0-E0-C2-6-BA1-4-D5-D-B68-A-2113-E896-EBE3.jpg


I’ve taken to skiving thin little scraps of leather and gluing them over the rivets on the inside of sheaths so they don’t scratch the axe. (Especially if polished.)
36635576-12-B9-4747-BBFB-E577-B3-AF5-D6-C.jpg


Ready for rivets and final assembly
BCC18666-8-F4-B-4-A56-8640-CCEBC6-D14-CA0.jpg


Thanks for looking!
51-F3-E546-669-E-4138-A39-E-F5-A6-C12680-AD.jpg
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top