DCKNIVES

Thanks, another fun project for Terry, now on to the sheath.The blade steel was forged by David Lisch,the guard and other spacer are blackened brass with Muskox spacers thrown in.The handle scales are Mammoth ivory.Dave

I have a quick photo tutorial of doing inlays on a sheath on my website.Look under "Knife Info" and it should help explain how I do it.Dave

Here is a site thats has a load of different formulas for variuos metals and differents colors Patina Formulas. You can also buy a chemical that does it, Jantz. add to that Ferric chloride (circuit board etchant from Radio Shack) has a different effect as does plain old household bleach fumes.Dave

I prep all my exotics that have loose fibers or are excessively thick by sanding. Spraying down with a little water will cut down on the dust and help it sand better.Dave

Got the Maul in today Kevin .Thanks again.Dave

I agree with specializing on Western style carved holsters, not sure I agree about concealment type, only because it always seems a waste to me to have an embellished holster hidden.There are also hundreds of concealment holster makers in the $50-$200 range.Put your best effort in and go with high end holsters.You may not get the quantity, but the rewards are higher.I specialize in highend inlaid and laced OWB holsters and belts.I never get huge numbers of customers for these but the ones I do get are usually well to do and buy multiple items.Dave

The classes I have taught have all been one on one classes, and very specific to knife sheaths.I start off with the basics, where and how to buy leather, layouts patterns, cutting, dyeing and sewing.Then if they have that down , then we move on to embellishments, like tooling,carving ,inlays and lacing.Dave

I apply Skidmore's after the dye has dried fully and been rubbed down, then it is the final finish.Holsters and sheaths are just as firm as before, that was my main concern also before I had tried it.My mentor a master leathersmith advised me strongly against using hot wax preparations, and I think you'll find few professional sheathmakers that use them.I mean they are messy, time consuming, and don't offer any more than you can get from a commercial topcoat..Dave

I was always a proponent of Tan-kote and Leather Sheen, but a saddlemaker turned me onto Skidmores Leather Cream and I love the finish I get.Dave

Thanks Kevin, it was very generous of you.Dave

Andrew, depends on what you line it with of course, but I typically use a lighter veg-tan and glue to the outside flesh to flesh, so you have top grain inside.Glued properly you can sand and burnish the edges and not see the seam.In stress parts like the beltloop you can run a line of stitching around the edge, but I have found over the years that stitching all around the liner is not needed and sometimes ruins the looks.For something like pigskin liner, you can place the pigskin top grain to top grain at the top edge and sew around the edge, then roll the pigskin over the sewn edge and glue in place, and then trim the edges by the main seam back a quater inch or so, so they are not coming pass the welt.Dave

Andrew, I see several areas which you could improve on. One like said above is see the flesh side,if you are going to use that design,then you have two options.One is to burnish the flesh side and dye/seal it, or to line it .Since I mostly do inlays, those are always lined but I usually will line the others too,if not I burnish and seal. You need some work on your edges, both the main seam and the belt loop.Use an edger on all outside edges and sand the main edge to about 400 grit then burnish. On the beltloop, you should round the bottom and stitch in a "U" shaped pattern.The squared end looks doesn't look professional, work a few curves into your sheaths and you'll be much happier.As far as sheath design, I think you need more coverage on the handle, typically use a two-three finger rule on how much of the handle is exposed, of course this is for pouch style sheaths.Your stamping looks pretty good and even but it will get better with practice.I hope you don't think I was too hard but you asked and sheaths are what I specialize in.Dave

Thanks everyone.Been awhile since I made anything like this since I have gotten rid of most of my woodworking tools in favor of knife/leatherworking tools.Had I to do over with my wood tools, I would have made it with a hardwood and done it up a bit fancier, but its working class now.Ray, I just used some of Lowe's 1"x 12" whiteboard.Dave

Just got finished building this.Being a knifemaker as well as a leathersmith does have its own set of problems especially in a smaller shop.My main bench is already somewhat crowded due to knife parts,tools, computer and such.My ever increasing amount of leather tools was in one of my six toolboxes, which meant getting up to fetch tools to do any leatherwork, also not having room for a dedicated leather bench or room to put a tool rack on my main bench, like most of you have.so I built a new rack and added it to my center bench, which is in very easy reach of my main bench, and can even be used while on my center bench which is typically used for ongoing projects.So far it has worked great .The best part is I have less than $15 in the project.Dave

The handle is made of stabilized Koa wood as are the sheath inlay's.Dave

Well what your showing is cowhide embossed to look like croc, which is fine as long as the customer knows he's getting a fake hide.Should you actually want to use real Allligator,go here Ostrich Market , and talk to Henry.Dave They have bone colored alligator here White alligator

The way I do stuff like that is to copy the picture to Photoadobe or Photoshop and size to the sheath, then print out.Lightly dampen your carving area, and trace the pattern on to the leather, and carve away.Dave

It should work fine.I like Leather Sheen because its an acrylic and sets up good on the scales.Dave

Griz, I do all my own sheaths as well as for collectors and other knifemakers.Iwill do custom designs and allow them choices of carry, color and just about any other thing, but your name is on that sheath and I would not allow him to change the way you do things.Believe me I have been in the knife field for over 20 years, there aren't many pro sheathmakers that would allow that either, if any. Steve, most sheathmakers mark thier sheaths so people will know.I have heard of knifemakers not wanting sheathmakers logo's put on but , there again I will them them ,no logo ,no sale.Dave

Griz, I do quite a few sheaths like that .Usually mine are lined which takes care of that problem.A couple of other ways is to cut a small flap into the flesh side, about half the thickness,installyour snap and glue the flap down.Another way is to take a flat 1/2" wood boring bit a counterbore into the flesh side and recess the snap.Those snap caps look pretty cool and I can see getting some but without seeing them mounted am inclined to think they might catch on the knife upon insertion.Dave When doing sheaths like this remember to keep the retaining strapclose to the top of the sheath, so the knife doesn't slide up.You did a fine job , but others may try this style.My EDC is wearing this style of sheath For beltloops I am sorry I don't have alot of pics of the backside, but this is the style of beltloop I use quite often good looking sheath and knife

Nicely done Mike.It is a very good design.Dave

That's why I typically don't like doing overlays and prefer inlays so much more.Trying to thin the edges and sew them and actually getting a good stitch by hand is hard to do on some hides.I would reccommend against using Hornback for that reason and the fact is the knobs on the hornback are usually too large to fit beltloops and holster very well. If you inlay your belt and dog collar you can acheive the same results, without splicing and having the hide fight you, and hornback dosen't groove very well either.I would use a smaller gator or Caimen if you want the back or use a belly cut.Dave Gator inlaid gun belt Another gunbelt with ten gator inlays Caimen inlaid dog collar

Thanks everyone.Dave

I just finished up this sheath for a friend who just got this beautiful knife from David Broadwell.The sheath is lined with veg-tan and dyed a contrasting color and is inlaid in Koa wood the same as the handle.Dave

Well,, there small differences none the less, but if the customer wants Gator then get them gator and charge accordingly.Just because you can't see the differences in the two should make it all right to substitue without the clients approval.Go here Ostrich Market and you can see the real hides not embossed. While they sell Nile Crocodile and Gator, they also sell a nice Caimen hide which is a close cousin of the Croc.Dave