posted
With the Drop point knife now done. I started on the sheath. I am really getting into leather working.
I started with a piece of scrap leather to come up with the sheath design. After a few tweaks, It's ready to transfer to the good leather.
The good piece of leather is a 8 Oz. Veg tanned shoulder.
8 Oz. means it's slightly thicker than an 1/8 of an inch.
From this piece of leather I cut the sheath, The belt loop and the welt which gets sewed into the sheath to protect the stitching from the sharp knife blade.
The design I want to carve and stamp into the leather is a simple one. A border with a basket weave and a deer's head.
I wet (cased) the leather with water and a sponge so it would take the tooling I will do.
I then used the swivel knife to cut the border about half way deep into the leather.
Next, I used a stamp with the likeness of a deer's head.
-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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With the small basket weave punch (at the top) I kept striking the leather in an alternating pattern.
Lastly I used a feather stamp and went around the border.
When held up to the light, you can see the depth of the 3D pattern.
I finished the stamping part of the project by putting a pattern on the belt loop.
-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
looking good.... you have inspired me... i'm working on a knife from the knife build-a-long now so this sheath build-a-long is the perfect addition.... thanx
-------------------- >~Rob~>
"Dad, I need to sit down I'm shaking to bad" my 12 year old son the first time he shot at a deer with his bow. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Posts: 1476 | From: Virginia | Registered: Jan 2004
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wow awsome, were did you get the tools for that kind of designing? id love to get my hands on a few
-cory
-------------------- theres room for all of gods creatures...and thats right next to my mashed potatoes! Posts: 33 | From: greenwich ny | Registered: Apr 2007
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-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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This is perfect Ron! I have a knife that needs a sheath - I'm following this one step by step!
Posts: 8861 | From: Lake Mills, WI | Registered: Mar 2003
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I picked up a nice little knife from Fred Asbell at the Traditional Expo a couple of weekends ago. Now I can do a very functional sheath to go with it!!
Thanks for your efforts in posting the process.
Lobo in West Virginia
-------------------- Lobo Lohr -- Old School Hunter Posts: 702 | From: Mountains of West Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
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Teacher..I ALMOST bought one of those knives (wished I had later). He only had one small one left when I took off. Which one did you get?
-------------------- There is always someone that knows more than you, and someone that knows less than you, so you can always learn and you can always teach Posts: 12891 | From: Cincinnati, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2003
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I DID buy one of those little knives from Fred, great little knife, it's going to be handy if I ever get lucky enough to use it this year... I am going to make mine a neck sheath and include a "scout sparker" (fire starter)...
-------------------- >>>--Semper-Fi--->
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln Posts: 1253 | From: Boise Idaho...no, youdaho | Registered: Aug 2005
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Ron, exceptional lesson, looking forward to the sewing part. Can you include the tools required for a beginner; Any books or videos you would recommend to get into this hobby at the conclusion. Thanks Marks
-------------------- Aim Small, Miss Small Posts: 158 | From: Milford, Kansas | Registered: Apr 2004
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Mark. I have never read any books or watched any videos so I can't recommend any. I have never really done much leather work until about 2 months ago when I made an armguard. I'm leaning as I go. The Tandy leather factory is where I have purchased all my supplies. I have asked a few questions while I was there. Mostly I do things by trial and error.
-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
In order to hand stitch the leather, I find it easier to use contact cement to hold the pieces in place so after I punch the holes, things won’t be shifting and sliding around on me.
To stitch leather this thick I need to punch holes. To do this I used a forked chisel punch.
Then I repeated the process on the bottom of the belt loop. I am sewing with a heavy braided waxed thread with a breaking point of 35 pounds.
Next, I cemented the welt in place
I have to sew through 3 layers of leather for the welt. The forked punch is not quite long enough to go through all the layers so it takes a little force to push the needle through.
After stitching, I trimmed the edge all around and added a brass rivet in the high stress area.
Next up. Coloring and finishing.
-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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Fantastic Build along..... Nice worksmanship.... Terry
-------------------- "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.".. Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 2688 | From: Mesa, AZ | Registered: Mar 2003
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In order to shape the opening and make it stay in that shape. I wetted the leather and placed the knife back in the sheath.
After clamping it and letting it dry for a few hours. It took the shape nicely.
Next. I added a little color to the leather. I used a product called antique finish.
After applying the finish. I wiped it off and buffed it.
When it dried, I applied edge kote to the cut edges of the leather to make it smooth and make it shine.
-------------------- Member: WI Bowhunters Association Member: WI Traditional Archers Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Posts: 887 | From: SE WI | Registered: Jan 2007
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