Weight and Type Leather for Sheathmaking

[Triquetra]

I'm going to try and make my own knife sheath. I think one is going to be kindof like a pouch wet molded sheath and on the other I am going to try and make a wooden sheath with a leather cover and frog. Does anyone have any recommendations of the type and weight of leather to use? Also, where can I get leathermaking tools?

 

[Hibuke]

From what meagre experience I have, my friend and hobby bladesmith, Jason Cutter of Jason Cutter Bladeart uses *THE THICKEST*, thick leather he can get from a tannery... He told me he usually asks for "...Leather to make armour..." I recon saddle-weight leather would be the general idea.

Shameless Plug to my friend's website!

Hope that helps...

 

[Yvsa]

Does anyone have any recommendations of the type and weight of leather to use? Also, where can I get leathermaking tools?

CD, use 8-9 ounce for general sheath work for light to medium sized hunting knives. Use 9-10 ounce for heavier blades and 10-11 ounce for still heavier. Cut a welt
To wet and stretch and sew leather over a khuk scabbard 5-6 ounce would be nice. It's a little thicker than what the sarkis use but still flezible enough to work.
Almost any good leather supply outfit will have the tools as well. Glover's needles are good for sewing if you're not pre-punching holes.
Wax your thread before you start sewing. The leather place will have the proper wax.
Anymore questions please feel free to ask.
A search on Google will turn up lots of leather dealers. You will want vegetable tanned leather for sheaths and scabbards. Chrone tanned is what they make shoes out of and isn't worth a flip for knives or other metal objects.:grumpy:

 

[Triquetra]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Nasty]

Edutsi...what weight would you say the top split deerhide is that my flute bag is made of?