Wanting to make fixed blade sheaths. Tips, what type of leather, etc.

[TripleF]

So how are you making out? Get what you need yet? Try one yet?

Ross

Not yet. Watched a couple videos. A lot of tools needed and leather ain't cheap.

[Rossr]

Scott,

Is there a specific knive you want to make a sheath for? You mentioned fix blade. But what size. Pouch type sheath?

Ross

[TripleF]

Scott,

Is there a specific knive you want to make a sheath for? You mentioned fix blade. But what size. Pouch type sheath?

Ross

There is indeed. Belt loop, knife goes in deep, tip of handle ends up right at belt line. I've scored a couple at garage/estate sales over the years
and use them daily for my fixed blades that fit.

[Rossr]

Scott,

Is there a specific knive you want to make a sheath for? You mentioned fix blade. But what size. Pouch type sheath?

Ross

There is indeed. Belt loop, knife goes in deep, tip of handle ends up right at belt line. I've scored a couple at garage/estate sales over the years
and use them daily for my fixed blades that fit.

Does this mean you have a sheath it's just the knife goes to far into it? If so. Isnit possible to unstich cut the top portion down and then reglue and stitch through existing holes. Fairly cheap solution

Ross

[TripleF]

Scott,

Is there a specific knive you want to make a sheath for? You mentioned fix blade. But what size. Pouch type sheath?

Ross

There is indeed. Belt loop, knife goes in deep, tip of handle ends up right at belt line. I've scored a couple at garage/estate sales over the years
and use them daily for my fixed blades that fit.

Does this mean you have a sheath it's just the knife goes to far into it? If so. Isnit possible to unstich cut the top portion down and then reglue and stitch through existing holes. Fairly cheap solution

Ross

No sir, this is what I'm wanting to make....

[Rossr]

Ok got.it. so you want them to sit.lower with a bit more leather on the knife and the top below the belt some. Correct?

[Alien883]

I know nothing about making sheaths.
What type of leather?
Where to buy?
Fixed blade sheath with no snaps.

Thanks

Always use veg tan saddle leather!! Chrome tan or oil tan will not provide enough support for a sharp blade!!
I use depending on the size of the knife blade about a 8 oz leather...layout the knife on some poster board...roughly draw the outline the....depending on the style of the sheath...you also cut out the front cover and strap for fastening the handle...use #24 snaps...don't forget to add a liner in-between the layers of leather....or you cut the thread first time sliding the blade in...make the liner same shape as the bottom part...then use the blade shape to determine how wide ur liner will be....at least twice as wide as your stitching line!! If all fits...use contact glue to attach bottom, liner and top!
Don't forget about the loop/opening in the back for ur belt!!
Use good waxed Nylon thread for hand sewing with 2 needles or lucky you have a heavy stitcher to sew it up!!
I dye my parts before assembly but either way works...when all sewn up...use sand paper or belt sander to smooth edges!
Done!!

[Alien883]

I know nothing about making sheaths.
What type of leather?
Where to buy?
Fixed blade sheath with no snaps.

Thanks

Sheath I have done...
Give me a shout if u need more help!!

[OLDE CUTLER]

I know nothing about making sheaths.
What type of leather?
Where to buy?
Fixed blade sheath with no snaps.

Thanks

Sheath I have done...
Give me a shout if u need more help!!

Some nice examples of your sheaths. I could never get into floral carving, preferred basketweave or animal carving. Your floral looks great.

[Alien883]

I know nothing about making sheaths.
What type of leather?
Where to buy?
Fixed blade sheath with no snaps.

Thanks

Sheath I have done...
Give me a shout if u need more help!!

Some nice examples of your sheaths. I could never get into floral carving, preferred basketweave or animal carving. Your floral looks great.

Just playing around, never been taught by a pro....just having fun with it!!

[TripleF]

I know nothing about making sheaths.
What type of leather?
Where to buy?
Fixed blade sheath with no snaps.

Thanks

Sheath I have done...
Give me a shout if u need more help!!

Beautiful work!!!

Just need the money to buy some leather.....

[OLDE CUTLER]

Sheath I have done...
Give me a shout if u need more help!!

Some nice examples of your sheaths. I could never get into floral carving, preferred basketweave or animal carving. Your floral looks great.

Just playing around, never been taught by a pro....just having fun with it!!

Another option to carving and stamping leather is embossing. When I was working leather professionally 40 years ago I had some embossing dies made that greatly speeded up the process. I have shown some examples with a couple of products that I still have from back in the day. A local rubber stamp company could make these for me out of a zinc casting from my pen on paper diagrams. The zinc is relatively fragile, but by epoxying the thin zinc die onto a piece of 3/8" scrap steel, they could be kept from bending which would break them and they would last indefinitely. I had my makers mark stamp made this way and still use it. I used to make a lot of military replica holsters and Civil War replica leather and the US die shown was used to emboss that onto the flap holsters. I too learned everything I know about leather just by doing it and making every mistake there is to make.


This was embossed onto the top of leather shotgun shell boxes that I used to make for hunters and trapshooters. The black silhouetted area is depressed into the leather. When the dampened leather has dried, waterproof indelible ink was used to make the design stand out.

I used to make large numbers of embossed belt buckles like this one I still use. Note all the wear and scuffing on it.

An example of the US embossing die work

The actual zinc casting for embossing the US on holsters and the belt Leatherman sheath shown.

[eveled]

I have found a drill press is the best way to make holes in multiple layers of leather. Trying to push a needle through by itself is not productive.

[TripleF]

Well, it's not a knife sheath, rather an axe collar.
I bought some assorted leather pieces of ebay for my birthday, then scored a roll of raw hide at the flea market last month (never
seen soooooooo many leather dealers before, wish I had a few hundred dollars to drop).

Thanks to djknife for the punch!!

Watched a few YT videos and here's my first leathert creation!!

[Rdubya21]

Lookin good Scott . I made one just like that too . Working with leather is fun .

[orvet]

In my area we have 2 shoe repair shops.
They have been very helpful and one is also a retailer of Tandy products.