Grunt

Awesome job Don !!! You have definitely achieved a high level of attention to detail. Very nice job indeed. I can vouch for the enthusiasm of the German people for American Western stuff. When I lived in Germany my best friend and I would go a gasthaus that hosted a line dance club on Friday nights. The place was always packed. The owner thought we were crazy until she stuck around for a while then she got in on the act. Although some of the outfit some of the fellas wore would have gotten them some strange stares here in Texas. In fact when my German friends found out I was moving to Texas they proceeded to give me the run down on Bars and Honky Tonks to go to when I arrived. They make the trip over here to the States once or twice a year. Thanks again for the pictures Don. Really nice work. Regards, Nick

Yeah you could say that

Badgers? We don't need no stinking Badgers! Nice knife and nice sheath. Welcome to the forums. Just be patient someone should be able to help you out with a pattern. Or in the mean time you could try doing one yourself. It's always worth a try and I can almost guarantee you'll at least learn something. Regards, Nick

Very nice indeed!! I would very much like to make somehting like that! Thanks for the great pics. Regards, Nick

Thanks for posting those pics Don! After seeing these pics now I want to try my hand at making a gun belt and holster. After so much was lost in the crash we need to get more of the pics reposted. Thanks again, Nick

Cool! Nothing like a matched set Regards, Nick

Bighearn, Just woke up and looked through here, since I make a few knife sheaths this is my favorite area, and saw your post. Keeping in mind I am not a pro and a beginner myself here we go :D . In my opinion you kicked some major butt with this project and heres why. First off you took the plunge and actually made the holster. You said it yourself it's rough as a corncob pipe but it is actually functional and wears nicely. Seems to me you accomplished a whole lot right there. Also you figured out a few things; needing a pattern and the size of your stitch holes. So you now know more about molding a holster, needing a pattern, and stitching than you did when you started. End result pf this project is you now have a holster, some new found knowledge, and you had some fun (or at least you should have ). As far as books go I would recommend Al Stohlman's book "How to Make Holsters". A good book that covers a whole lot about making holster. It's a great book, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and should get you on the right track making some really nice basic holsters. Just my two cents your mileage my vary Nick

Welcome to the forum. It's good to se another person from El Paso! Regards, Nick

WOW!! I think everyone else hit the nail on the head. Very nice work indeed! Regards, Nick

John, Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoyed your article in The Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal on making "Randall" style sheaths. Reading your article made me decide to fold the belt loop and stich it into the sheath iself. I like this method and will us it more. Unfortunately keeping this type of keeper strap from the cutting edge of this particular knife doesn't work. I have however got this particular problem licked. I will be using a different design on my next one. I like how you do the keeper straps on your "Randall" Style sheaths, just little different than most, very nice . I also chcked out your web site, you definitely do some nice work I also noticed that you have a rig that allows verticle tip up carry for a fixed blade knife, like the one in your avatar. Just a thought on this. When I was a young Private I had attactched my new fixed blade knife to my web gear suspenders tip up,all wrapped in 550 cord, just like I had seen in the movies. I thought I was real cool and salty looking, plus I was really proud of this new knife. My Platoon Sergeant, who was LRRP / Ranger with 1st CAV in Viet Nam, took me aside and in a fatherly tone said " That's a nice knife ya got there, but I got one question for you, "What's gonna happen when bullets are flying and you gotta put that knife away real quick?" I though about this for a second and then visualized myself stabbing my skinny little neck with this knife and maybe cutting my own throat in my haste. Upon seeing the look on my face as this dawned on me, SFC Sablan just gave a little smile and nodded. I quickly scampered off and put the damned thing on my web belt. Man I miss him. Just my .02 your milage may vary. Randy, Thanks, believe it or not, I enjoy stitching my sheaths by hand I find it very satisfying. A belt on the other hand . Plus I can't afford a machine right now so hand stiching it is, belts and all. Regards, Nick

Steve, Nice work on those sheaths. I like the way they ride, very nice. I think that the position of the sheath does depend on the end user and their intended use as well as how they move around. Intended use, ease of movement, and comfort of carry are all major considerations. For moving around a lot, in and out of cars, sitting down, etc a high ride sheath it definitely preferable. In my opinion a high ride or horizontal carry sheath is only suitable for folders or smaller fixed blades. Any thing larger than that runs into the same problems as a lower riding belt sheath. I think that knives are similar to pistols in this regard. The requirement of the end user should be the biggest consideration in design. My requirements differ according to my activity and whether or not I am in uniform, body armor and web gear, or civilian clothes. Whether or not I am in my Bradley, riding in a HMMV, or on the ground. I will post some pics of my sheath that I carry on my Tac Vest later today. I couldn't agree more. Coming up with different designs and configurations is second only to the actual building of the sheath for me in terms of enjoyment. Best Regards, Nick

Here are some pics of my latest knife sheath. Once again standard disclaimer about not being a photographer is in effect. Although you can't tell from the photos the sheath is dyed with Fieblings Mahogany. The color came out real nice and deep. I finished every thing with Neat Lac. Overall I am real happy with the way this one turned out. " Any comments are welcome and thanks for looking. Regards, Nick

Very nice work! Glad to have you here! I knew I had seen your work before. You and your brother built a custom saddle for the president. . It is awesome!! I look forward to seeing more of your work. If you guys haven't seen the West brothers work you need to check out their website. West Brothers Saddlery. Regards, Nick

Can someone please post the formula/ratio for these ingerdients? Thanks, Nick

Nice work! Very well done. Although don't let my wife hear you call it a purse, "It's a HANDBAG!" Nick

Dave, That seat is already classy looking! Very nice indeed Please post more pix when it is complete. Regards, Nick

Welcome to the forum! Glad you could make it. Regards, Nick

Looks great to me! Very clean and nice. Did the machine leave any marks or indentions on the back of the sheath? I think I recall seeing pics of some sheaths that were made using a Tippman Boss and they had some marks on the back. Regards, Nick

Drac, Thanks for the great tutorial! I'm glad it has been moved to braiding, I would not have seen it otherwise. I may need to get access to the grownup area as well. While the kind of things you make aren't the kind of stuff I make, the braiding instructions you did have given me ideas for other stuff to do. COOL! Thanks, Nick

Thank you for posting pictures of your work! The sheath looks very nice. I always like to see someone doing knife sheaths in a unique way. Having seen what you have done makes me want to try something different on one of my upcoming sheaths. Regards, Nick

Thanks for great pics and the technical details! Definitely some really nice work. Regards, Nick

Thanks for the great pics. Nice work as always.

Are you talking about an Army canteen or one of those round ones you see in western movies?

I bought my linen thread from Campbell Bosworth's web sight. Since they are not too terribly far from here shipping as quick. This will be my first time waxing my own thread, it comes un waxed. I am told this is some of the best thread you can buy, plus it comes in a 800 yd roll so it should last a long time. Nick

Those are real nice!! I am about as gren as the tops of those boots with envy :D I would like to take a bootmaking class one day! Thanks for posting those! Nick