kiltboy

That is gorgeous work! I'd be happy to try and send over tools for you- but I won't lie about value/contents of things to the customs folks- I have a Tandy here, and they have a decent selection of tools. You could look 'em up on the internet, and see if any of those would be useful. As for making tools, many were of pewter, with a wooden handle. The negative "mould" is carved in wood, a "casting block" is made, they pour the molten pewter in, push in the handle, allow it to cool, and - tah dah! a new tool. this was easy, and pewter melts below the temp that wood burns, and can be done in your kitchen. Just don't spill, or your wife will get rather mad at you... I've made everything from knife rivits to arrowheads to tools this way. They last for a lot longer than you would think, and replacing them is fast and (relativly) easy. Keep up the great work- all of those are simply wonderful! Robert

Yes, I know- but the elk was exactly the right color, and I liked the "stretchyness" of it. I just got some super-light calf today, for a different project- strangly enough there seems to be enough extra for a ring-purse or two... hmmm... Yes- I also made the rings for the Double-ring a few items down in this same thread. I usually make knives, buit sometimes need something dfferent, and these ring-purses are a lot of fun to figure out. I am going to re-work the hanging hook on the double ring in the next few days, but for noe am dedicated to clean-up. Curse real-world obligations! Thanks! I enjoy making it; even better when other folks like it! As for the other purses Jana- it is the mother purse, all in one piece. I made a failed one, and am now going to logoff and cut the next attempt! I shall post if it works. If not, I'll try again. Bestens!

Thamks for the kind words- as you may have guessed, I just really like to make things. First off, it's fun; second, it lets me better understand why they did the things they did. And, of course- there is that fact that people love the nifty stuff, so I can make my "builder habit" pay for itself... Does it count as profit when you buy leather and steel with all the proceeds? Also currently working on the "one-piece" money changer's purse. Mad one serious failure so far, the next few will be awesome! I'll post it as soon as I get one cut correctly...

Aww... c'mon! We all knoiw it's all about bieng prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse!!! Might as well look good while fighting off the zombie hordes, after all. Both are very cool, by the way.

Criticisms? It looks clean and well made. Stamping is crisp, stitch work is even and again, well done. Good color(s). So terrible, I'll send you my mailing information so you can properly dispose of them... ;-P You should consider competetion, as it can only push you to greater tests and skills!

Another ring purse, this one not made from a specific one, but rather from several woodcuts and all the wonderful information from "Purses in Pieces" by Olaf Goubitz. The purse is made mostly of elk of uncertain origin- probably from Tandy. The edge detail is black suede from the good 'ole scrap bin, and the drawstrings are dyed hemp and silk. The beads are bone and brass, while the rings are simply mild steel and brass and copper beads. It is sewn with linen and sinew- the real stuff, as I'd had no excuse to try before. It is sticky to use, so beeswax is your firend! Anyhow, here it is! First, here is the single ring, it is large, as this is for a big fellow... Next, a pic of the swivel, to show it's articulation. The rings are of mild steel and the beads on it are brass and copper-alloy. Here is the whole purse, with 2 pouchlets on the front. And, finally- the open pouchlet. I made these large, as the fellow this is for is not a small person. The pouchlets open by pulling the bead on the front; they close by pulling the strings at the top of the pouchlet. Hope you like it! Lat real leather work I'll be able to do for fun for a bit. Now I'm off to make sheaths for monetary gain... hopefully! Take care, all!

Gorgeous! Well-done, I can't wait to see it with the proper buckle and all.

I've heard them simply called a "stacked-leather" handle. And as for it bieng a lesser type- no way! Finnish knife handles (pukko) are made of tree bark, stacked in the same manner- with different materials for color and contrast, including (but not limited to!) antler, bone, copper, brass, pewter, vulcanized fiber material, leather, etc, etc... They last a long time, look great, and have great gripping surface. One thing, though- make sure to compress the individual pieces of leather before making it into a stack- or it will not work right. I simply wet the leather, let it sit a little bit (3-5 minutes) then hammer it lightly to compress the fibers. Makes it much tougher and longer-lasting. Hope that helps! Robert

Between his book "Stepping Through Time" and "Purses in Pieces", I've got enough projects to last 3 or 4 lifetimes! Assuming I ever reach the skill level requyired to do some of them, of course! My next project is the "mother purse" he has illustrated the cut pattern for. Ought to be interesting~ I was looking at the tablets last night- might try one soon (soon-ish, really~). I love the example one- 3 tablets, double-layer... neat! If you needed a set of rings- let me know, I can make them should you not have a source. I generally prefer the simpler patterns,but can do most anything~ and thanks for the kind words! When you do yours, post it! Robert

OK- don't have too many more pics, but what I've got is this- Overall size is about 12" bt 9 1/2", the rings are aboout5" inside width for the smaller one. You just need to make it so you get stuck in the "Monkey Trap" is all... This is a pic, from the top so you can see how you get into the larger pouch, simply lift the top (deerskin) pouch out of the outer ring~ I intend to remove about 3/4- 1 1/4 of length from the bottom- hence the rough stitching. I needed to see how it worked first. This is how it hooks to the belt (or, more properly, "girdle"). The metal hook is on a short length- about 3", and it swivels. This hanger will be modified by an additional segment, to allow for more freedom of movement, but that's for another time. I make these for my business, now- since yesterday, I've sent a few pics out- and have orders for 6 more, in various leathers! Yay! After a couple months of no real income, this is a nice change. Hope that clears it up a bit- again, get the book called "purses in Pieces" and it's all there. Well worth the cost, especially since the re-prints only cost $12 US!

Thanks, Doc! I make knives most of the time, real, useable knives- so the metal work is pretty easy, but fun to do something different. I love how you can bend and work iron into shapes of beauty, simplicity and strength. I also HATE to throw away good stuff, so when the chair was going away- I jumped on the chance to get the leather! Another project I'll post is a sword handle and sheath made from the same barcalounger. That is a project I'm enjoying a great deal- and the sword will be fun, too! Thanks again! Robert

First- awesome tutorial! Of course, I found it after I finished, and then tossed several pieces. He really means it when he says "trial and error" on how dry the leather needs to be!! For lining the bottel- I use a mix of brewer's pitch and beeswax, about 60% wax- I like this as the pitch makes the wax a bit more flexible, so any issues of seam leakage will be somewhat mitigated. Mind you, I live where cold isn't really the issue, heat is. I've had my pure wax bottels leak after a day's hike in the summer- but once the tacky pitch mix was added, those seem to do very well. Only issue is that the stoppers sometimes get almost welded into the bottel- especially after a very hot day! Another supplier possibility is a hobby store like Ben Franklin's Crafts or Michael's here in the US- beeswax is expensive, but available. As for brewer's pitch- has anyone found another supplier for it other than Jas Townsend? Thanks again for the tutorial! Robert in Reno

SO.... this is my first real post here, but not my first project~ I've been historical reenacting for many years- over half my life, and as time has gone by, gotten better and better at research. This particular project is my girlfriends' pouch, or rather "girdle purse". It is desogned after a find from Holland, as depicted in Olaf Goubitz's book "Purses in Pieces", page 51 (I think~). First a pic of the rings- made of mild steel, with brass and copper beads. Next, the open inner pouch. This has a drawstring; it rests inside the outer bag, closing it. It is made of doe-kid from Tandy, and swen onto the rings with the same. The beads are bone, found in my odd collection of stuff... and the strings are natural-dyed wool, which I braided. Finally, the whole thing. The outer leather is from my frind's old Barcalounger... Waste not, after all! It is turned inside out, and has a wonderful, soft hand. The bottom tassels are wool over a bead, drawn through a hole in the pouch, then whipped in place with dyed linen. In any case- everyone loves it- even those who are NOT reenactors! My first contract is from a woman who wants one for her daily wear- the only difference for hers is that it will have a strap instead of the hook. Hope you like it! Robert in Reno

Hi folks- new to the forum, but I've worked on some very old (200+ y.o.) leather before- so here goes~ Once the leather has begun to powder, oils usually only wet it- but it continues o come apart. Generally, your conservator will use PEG- poly-ethylene-glycol (spelling uncertain- it's been a while!) to sort of "refill" the cells, and give them body. This is the stuff they used on all the bows and such from the Mary Rose. I got my supply from the museum I was working for- and am uncertain if you can get it in the "civilian" market. In any case, that is gorgeous! I would contact the Admiralty, just to see if they have interest in it's whereabouts. Unlike the Japanese, the Brits rarely force a reparation of swords... Thanks for sharing it with us! Robert