Otto6294

Well, it is coming along. Many hours of tooling on this one. Have not planned out the dye job yet. I am considering airbrushing oil dye, but antique gel might look better. I like the oil dye better though. Also need to figure out strap attachment. Removable or Permanent with a buckle. Don't know yet.

I believe it is called a seeder for doing the inside of flowers. Makes a single dot and takes a good while for full coverage.

It is either Tan or Medium Brown eco-flo water based antique gel. 2 coats.

I like this very much....I never think to change things up with different colors.

I came across a metal brace that had a cool pattern and I am going to tool it on a quiver. I drew it out today and did a little graphite shading on it to simulate how I want it to look.

I like this very much.

Monica, The number one change would be an overlapped skived seam for the main compartment.....or butted with a backing strip and baseball stitched. The only thing on this one I do not like is how the tooling and body is wavy, puckered and distorted.

I decided to try something new with many techniques I have never tried. It was a total nightmare and I almost quit several times, but I had a lot of time invested so I kept going. 1st problem with Binocular case. Poor planning. I tooled an eagle head on a rectangular panel so I could bend it into an oval for the body. I wanted to use the sewing machine and sew the seam and then turn it inside out.....let me tell you 9 oz leather is stiff and does not want to be bent inside out. So I soaked it in hot water and wrestled with it until I accomplished it. Needless to say, 75% of my nice tooling disappeared and I did not take a pic of it when it looked really good. I was angry and put it on the shelf. My wife came down while I was working on a sheath. She asked what the eagle tube was for. I told her nothing now because it is screwed up. She said I think it looks cool and old. Dye it and see what it looks like. So after it dried, I did. Second problem. I have done very little wet forming and no gussets. Getting a wet piece of leather tucked up into the bottom was very frustrating and difficult. It kept moving around and buckling. Took a good hour to fit a wet piece in there and then I let it dry in place. Next I needed to make the cap. Third problem. I did not have a clue how to make the top and put it together. I have read about box stitching, but have never tried it. Maybe it isn't as bad on a square bag or box, but getting a smooth 45 degree angle on that oval top and side strap was very difficult. At least two hours later I was gluing it together. That was not even the bad part. Trying to punch accurate 45 degree stitching holes was ridiculous. The glue kept letting go and yes it was dry. I finally put the awl down and got my cordless drill and a 1/16" bit. That helped but still put a few stitches outside my line. My new sewing machine was pretty well useless for the whole project. Eventually I got it finished this evening and it turned out pretty good. I wish my tooling had not been ruined. I am going to make another one for my other binoculars and I think it will be much better. I learned a lot and it was a very humbling experience.

Made this for one of my friends last night.

My daughter brought me her deer hunting knife and told me she wanted a green sheath with fish scales. I bought her this knife on her 16th birthday....7 years ago. She deer hunts with my father and I. I decided to make one for my Jukka Hankala bladed Boar hunter while I was at it. I didn't think I would like green and didn't even have any green dye. So.....I went and got some professional water stain. I think it turned out beautiful....as did my Boar Hunter's sheath. I still have to put a finish on them. Her knife is a Gerber Freeman S30V. Mine is a custom Puukko hybrid made by a guy in Bulgaria. The blade is a Jukka Hankala with forging scales left un-ground. Scandi grind, maple burl handle, nickel silver bolster and guard.

Thanks guys....DL....That scabbard was the first project sewn on my new Cobra Class 4.

I'm an old school teacher. Scraped enough together to get the Cobra. My machine is set up.....I put it together and played with it for about 4 hours. Tinkered with some sewing. Adjusted the belt. Accidentally reversed the servo motor and spent 30 minutes figuring out how to change it back. Did a lot of stupid things my first hour. I forgot to put the foot down twice and bird nested it both times. The thread got wrapped around the tension disc once and the thread broke sounding like a 22 going off. Started a few pieces in reverse and immediately ran off the piece. Oh and it does not wind bobbins in reverse (that's how I realized I had reversed the servo.) I got better quick though. I sewed an entire rifle scabbard, belt and buckles in an hour. I also have a '48 Singer 16-188.....a totally different beast.

Quality work.

Yes. 8/9 oz veg outer-4/5 oz veg inner. I did not back the straps. I did on my baldric style shoulder rig and my cowboy belt and boy are they stiff. I just started in April and am new to this stuff. I think a back quiver and arm guard are next, but I seem to have exhausted my supply of leather. I bought one side of 8/9 and one side of 4/5. My first several projects.

Kiwican: Tooling time was about 10 hours spread over 3 evenings. Monica and David: Thank you.

This is the first project sewn on my Cobra. I had a few problems, but hey....I made it for me so there can be a few mistakes. I forgot to put the foot down once and bird nested the hell out of things. I accidentally got my thread wrapped around my take up arm and tension spring increasing my tension exponentially and screwed up on one of the straps. I got better quickly and for the most part the stitching looks great. Sewed everything in about an hour. I don't know how long it would have taken to hand stitch....probably 10 hours. Anyway, it looks great with my cowboy pistols. I'm going to put a little shine on it tomorrow and call her done. Otto

2 coats of dye.

Yes...It is a rather large knife for a dangler set up but I hang it on the side of my backpack.

I would keep the area ahead of me damp. It is 8 oz leather so it dries pretty fast and doesn't tool very deep, but I like the effect. Took me about 10 hours to tool.

I have been saving for this purchase for a while and had to sell a couple guns to make it happen. Let's see......so far I have spent about 5500$ on this hobby and I have sold one 50$ sheath and a leather bracelet. I just keep making stuff for myself.

That will get it done.

I like the tooling a lot. I think if you would sand the welt side a bit to even out the border around the stitching and then burnish the edge, it would be even better. I'm new to this, but I have taught art for 25 years and have an eye for aesthetics. I want to see your knives and sheaths. I love knives.

Great stitch work......nice contrast.

I went with my wife and we bought her a new quilting machine......Janome 6300 Professional. I know......it's not a leather machine. On the way home I said, "I'm jealous of your new machine. I want a Cobra 4 Leather machine." She said, "Order it." So I did. It ships Friday!

Started this a couple weeks ago to match my .45 pistol holsters.