Instinctive

A friend of mine father has had this knife for a loooong time. Lots of miles and sharpening on it. He brought it to me 12 years ago for a new sheath but I was moving at the time. A few moves later and it got misplaced. Found it at the bottom of a tool box last week and finally got to finish the job. The owner still hunts (in his 80's now). Hunting season starts this week and I am so pleased to get this back to him.

Great looking sheaths. Definitely need to try the antique process. And now for the age old question: What do you use to make your stitching holes?

Continuing my practice with leather from a very old scrap bin, a new knife sheath. 9-10 oz leather (3 layers with the gusset) with a lot of neatsfoot oil to bring it back to life. Finished with Tandy EcoFlo Gel Antique Stain, acrylic top coat and hand buffed with beeswax. The carving is a little hard to see so I've included a pic of the carving before finishing.

"Simple" works really well.

I wish I had an artist eye and at least a small amount of coloring ability but I'm afraid I'm stuck in a monochrome world. Really nice. Great looking knives too.

Mike, That's a great observation. I'm just starting back into to leather work after a 20 year layoff so have been working from the scrap bin and what I have on had to practice. I am ordering the double cap rivets today. I have not used the tube rivets before but really do like the looks of them. I'm in Canada and our choice of suppliers is more limited than the US so I may need to break down and order from Weaver.

Just finished a knife sheath for the personal knife of owner of TripleX Knives who builds incredible bushcraft knives (www.xxxknives.com). This is a heavy knife with a 1/4 thick blade so I used 9-10 oz leather. Tried to get a "worn in" look so I dyed it with Fiebing's medium brown dye, then well oiled with neatsfoot oil and topped it with Tandy medium brown EcoFlo Gel Antique after the oil dried. Personally, I am most satisfied with the back. I think it looks as good, if not better than the front.

Does anyone make lacing / stitching chisels that will go through the equivalent of 20 to 30 oz leather?

Besides restarting my leather work this year I also dug out my bow and started practicing again. When I practice I typicall just stick the arrows in my back pocket rather than use the larger side quiver. I also use a finger sling that I made about 30 years ago to prevent the bow from falling out my hand whan I shoot. Enduring another snow strom today so I dug through the scrap bin and found a piece of oil tanned leather, measured my back pocket, drew a pattern in my CAD (computer aided design) system and a couple hours later have a new pocket quiver for arrows. While waiting for the glue to dry I also updated my finger sling. Picture attached that also show how thay are used I hoppe. My appologies for the butt selfie to show the quiver.

Simple elegance. Very nice. At the moment I'm working with tribal tattoo designs adapting them for my work. Please be sure to show us the finished product.

Practice is a good thing and not settling for "good enough" even more important. I've been away from leather for the past 20 years and am practicing myself making stuff from my old scrap bin tryin gto remember how I did it and how to improve.

Really good looking sheath. Stitching is really nice. Can you show us the back side? How are you doing your stitching holes? I'm using 6/7 oz with a 9 oz welt for a typical hunting knife. It find it allows a bit of the handle profile to show through which is a look I like. You can see the look a little further down this forum "Knife Sheath: Scrap Bin Project #4".

Thank you. The tooling is a work in progress. I just started back again after a 20 year hiatus and am keepi git simple for practice. I took a look at your site. Your work is fantastic.

Thank you. No problem with it falling out. The iPod is 2.5" wide and the hole is 1.5" wide. The hole also serves as a really simple way to remove the iPod form the case. The case is made from 5-6 oz leather which is formed with a friction fit so the iPod cannot fall out even if the case turn up side down. To remove the iPod you just squeeze the sides of the case and push it partly out via the bottom hole. I wish I could say I planned it that way, but I confess that that was an accidential feature. Picture attached with the iPod in the case. I also have a thin shell case on the iPod (red showing) for when I carry it with out the case.

The bin digging continues. Did this because I wanted a way to carry my iPod when a pocket was not available and as a stitching test for project #6. Wet formed the pocket with a wooden plug then carved with the wooden plug in place, which was much more difficult to do then I thought it would be.

Thank you. The digging will continue. It a long way to the bottom of the bin. As for the look, it been amazing what a bit of vinegar and water will do to clean the surface and what pure neetsfoot oils does to make it flex again.

Smart "simple" just works so well and a"proof-of-concept" makes it smarter.

I am inspired to try moulding. Thanks for the "how to" details.

Continuing on with turning my 20 year old scrap bin leather into stuff for practice I decided to upgrade the sheath for my 36 year old, Nova Scotia made, Grohmann Knives skinner. Having been absent from leather working for the past 20 years, this site has been very helpful as I relearn and now improve my skill set. That's the best edge finish I have ever done using a technique I read on this forum.

More from my 20 year old leather scrap bin as I make practice pieces to remember how to use my tools again. Pocket notebook cover with an integrated, out-of-the-way place holder attached. Finished with an antique finish.

I am continuing my restart into leather by making stuff from my 20 year old leather scrap bin for practice. Project #2 is a passport wallet made from some really distressed leather. Did it to pactice pattern making and stitching but I actually kind of liked the look when I was finished (even with the stitching mistake). Left the edges raw and unfinished because I though it suited the distressed look of the leather.

Starting up again after 20 years and I've had some leather pieces stored in a bin all that time. So to relearn I use to know, I have decided to take that use that old dried out leather and make stuff out of it. This is the first project. For 25 years I have wanted and case for my hatchet. Finally got around to it. I drew the pattern with my CAD system (retired engineer) Used my drill press to drill the stitching holes though 3 layers of 9 oz leather (something I read on this forum).

I have alwas said "never burn a bridge, you may need to cross it again". Starting this again feels just like that, crossing back to move ahead. Very grateful to be able to keep the mind working (harder I think) now that I'm "retired". Something to do even when there is no storm.

Thank you. I have noticed somethings have changed, particularly the improvement in the waterbased stains and glues. I'm allowed to use those in the house. Thank you Tom. Thank you. I think the reurn is going to be easier with a forum lke this. Very impressive stuff being done.

Greg, Nice to hear from someone from this region. You realy did do "time" traveling with the Bill Lynch Show. I remember them well goi gto the fall fair's. When I had my formal part time leather business, I did the christmas craft fair circuit. Made and sold piles of belts during those few years as well as the wallets, bads, etc. Interesting we both have water and sewer experience. My real business was a pump distribution business. Did lots of works o the clean side and the dirty side of water and wastewater treatment. No pink bridge in Moncton anymore and if you rememeber Highflied Square, that's gone too. I hope you are enjoying the milder Vancouver climate. We've have been slamed with snow this week. Piled high and deep. I don't think there is anything that compares to the smell of leather being worked. I to am loving the return.