battlemunky

Really pretty leather, now I gotta get some horse!

Looks good!

Some very nice work you got there!

Thank you, Ferg. Even for the self-centered. Regardless of all else, you are doing good.

That sucks @Treesner, no matter the tool. Have you at least had a chance to use it like a rented mule or was it relatively unused? HDPE should lose every fight against even mild steel.

More great work man!

Expelliarmus! Looks super cool in purple :-)

Fixed it for myself....

Good job Yin. Way to go for it. I can barely fill in letters I've stamped with paint and have it look neat. I like the gnarly branch and how it kept it's gnarleyness even through the paint.

Really beautiful work that all clicks together nicely. Excellent job!

Your skills have become ridiculous Ryan. That background work is amazing, the carving is clean and sharp, the resist on the antiquing is phenomenal. I did see one thing wrong unless it was intentional, the second pic down, the belt/strap end is unfinished. So a 9.999 out of 100 will have to suffice for today my friend. I hope you are feeling good about your work dude, it really is something next level. Are you using any particular classes or anything to progress as you have done or do you just have the knack? ...I still can't get over your backgrounding Are you hand sewing or machine sewing? In either case, that is well done too.

Good job!

I'm glad to see this.

Yeah, costing these handmade items is almost as hard as making them. I hand stitch exclusively so any belt with a liner doesn't get priced for less than 75 for a plain dyed belt. If it's tooled, I figure another 20 to 50 bucks whether its carved or stamped. So far though, I've only stamped. I'm working up the nerve to carve one. I'm making a lined belt for myself and I may carve the lining just in case it turns out less than amazing.

Does it clean off good? I'd be afraid of fouling a set of stamps.

Good work Yin! I appreciate you leaving it natural as well.

Super cool!

Really cool stuff! "You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings." -David Allen Coe

You could also get a large tub and a qt of dye and dip dye it. It seems like this may use a lot of dye but since this seems like a rarer kind of item it may be worth it this once.

Even before the pattern. I have a hard time conceptualizing without seeing. I'll grab my knife and literally hold it where and how I want it to ride. I'll literally write down a note on how to do that part, then I keep stepping through the details, figuring out whether I want a belt loop, where to put the loop, do I want a pancake, do I want a dangler? Since this is your first, I'd recommend a dangler or belt loop vs. a scout or canted rig. You WILL need a welt. I'd make a taco out of the leather with the spine of the knife riding in the closed side of the taco, figure out where the belt loop and welt will go and sew them in. You control the depth. I usually go an inch or so into the sheath or if there is a good amount of curvature on the handle I'll wet form it so it'll retain without a strap. It seems daunting. I remember my first sheath. You'll learn a ton even though its a little stressful at the outset.

I like it. I think that nicely tapered handle will allow you to get a nice steep angle unlike my $10 Amazon Japanese skiving knife. It's pretty too

I usually play pretend to figure out the "how" when deciding weak or strong side carry. I always ensure the spine is in the forward direction when designing a sheath for up/down oriented or dangler carry. Canted or scout carry is a bit different of a critter but I play pretend the same way.

Yet another Gray Halliday home run. Man, I like looking at your work. Glad you are back at it!

Your works are amazing dude. I can't like them enough. This one is your best.

Can't wait to see how this is going to turn out.