Brokenolmarine

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll certainly be investing in the 23+ books, one here, one there until I have them. HIS videos have taught me a lot over the last year. Several others as well. I'll look for that Belt book too. You can't have too many references.

I learned a lot from both those guys. The hard copies of Joe's books are rather steep, have you seen them? If they are quality I'll spend the money. I have just finished the Thumbhole sling from Don's pattern, but didn't like the Oakleaf and acorn pattern included. The others were okay. If I don't find another source, I'll likely buy at least one pattern book from 23+, the one with the oakleaf and acorn belt pattern. thanks....

I bought the ones from Tandy, and they recommended the Stohlman books, a couple others. To be truthful, the quality of the patterns in many of the "Old Standards" were less than impressive. The books I bought from Tandy had patterns that were .... disappointing. The quality of the design was not what I expected and the reproductions were often blurred, like it was the tenth printing off the original. I'm looking for Carving Patterns for Oak Leaves and Acorns, Belt Patterns and the like that someone of intermediate talent can build on and up to. Suggestions? Thanks.

I have watched several videos of the folks in India making a living sorting thru the dumps, collecting trash and recycling it into real actual usable products.

need something like that for the milk cow. 20 acres, she's always wandering into the woods to cool off in the shade.

nice job, like the design.

I used a template to verify and remark the holes for the Chicago Screws at the top and the bottom of the sling. Then I center punched each one to eliminate (minimize?) the chance of a wandering bit. Using the drill press I drilled all the holes for the screws, then using a scalpel to insure each hole was crisp and clean. A cobbler's hammer reflattened the straps. The one hole just above the tooled section got special attention. A pilot hole then countersunk, and then a jeweled Sequin installed, it's the WIFE's sling. Just the one, she's not all girly. I slipped the loops in place and installed the swivels. Looked good to me. Once I was happy with everything in the shop, I took the sling inside and installed it on the CZ455 .22 the wife uses around the farm to control the varmint population. That CZ is a tack driver, capable of one hole five shot groups at 25 yards. Miss T was a squirrel assassin in Virginia where we had a huge problem with them raiding the two coops for chicken feed. The Boss was very happy with the results of my labor. Next up is a sling for my Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 556. Same Pattern, different accent in the panel. We'll see after I lay it out. Oak Leaves and Acorns? Basket Weave, Quilted? Time will tell. Color this one... done.

Thank you Sir. If you remember, it was YOUR post back in October that prompted me to order the pattern, and put the slings on my bucket list. I told you when I ordered the pattern they would have to wait until after the knives, and then the Christmas Projects for family... but I knew I would get to them. Well, our UPS driver dropped off a DAD package today with goodies for dad... including the swivels I ordered. Out to the shop to finish Tina's Sling.

Nice Job, I like the Dye as well. Overall an outstanding presentation.

Several more work sessions. The pucker factor was high when I cut out the sling from that wider portion of the leather. A simple single slip would mean starting over. Slow... and ... steady. I managed NOT to screw it up. I did the snoopy dance. I applied the first coat of Watco Natural Oil and let it dry. I wanted that tooling to really pop, so using a detail brush with a very fine tip, I dyed the backgrounded areas with Light Brown leather dye. Once that dries completely, I'll apply a resistor coat to seal it, then coat front and back with mink oil to keep this thing as flexible as possible. After buffing that out, I'll antique the tooling to highlight the detail, then put of full coat of finish on the sling, then burnish the edges. Getting near the end.

very nice... I love the detail.

A little work today, in spite of the nagging headache I woke up with. I worked on the backgrounding and more details, also sharpened some of the edges Then I recalled why you don't spend an hour working under the lights and wearing an opti-visor. It turns that nagging headache into a raging migraine. Well, Duh.

Next on the list was the beveling and carving to bring out the 3D nature of the pattern. I worked for about an hour, then had to stop. I am limited to the time I can work by certain challenges. Mainly the arthritis in my hands. Meh, I have nothing but time. Miss Tina was asked if she wanted natural or mixed dyes to bring out the pattern. She prefers the natural look, so I will put a lot more work into the tooling. I'm still learning, so wish me luck. I am thinking of a basket weave or quilted pattern for MY sling.

Inspired by post several weeks ago, I ordered the patterns the poster recommended, and set them aside to complete the bucket list of stuff I had to make for Christmas for everyone else. I finally got the chance to start on the slings I have been waiting to knock out. Since this is my first, I am being overly cautious. I, of course, used the strap cutter to cut TWO pieces of leather the proper length and width for the two thumbhole slings, and then marked one from the template I had transferred. After the thumbhole sling pattern, I added the pattern for tooling and carving the enhancements to the sling. I won't cut out the final shape of the sling until the lining is glued in and the stitching is done. You know, ALMOST finished. LOL.

Turned out really nice. I know a number of folks who would love to have something like that on the back of their jackets... ... Really great work.

If it's a stamp, I'd like the find the stamp for Naval AC wings....

Nah, A pilot would just EAT the crayon.

She added barbed wire accents to the end strap pieces.... After the entire project was done, she told me that the next time she was in OKC, she was stopping by Tandy and buying another kit and stopping off and spending the night on her way home so we could do another project together. "This was so much fun." I think the project turned out fantastic for her first effort... she was so proud. She is a great artist, making jewelry, spinning her own yarn, making clothes, painting, crochet, knitting.... now she is hooked on leatherwork.

The middle daughter and family visited for the long New Year's weekend and she had picked up a pair of Camera Strap kits from Tandy. She wanted me to help her modify the two kits to make a special gift for her BFF, a semi-pro photographer. She had ideas and wanted to make it happen. This is the daughter I made the epi-pen pouch for. Her idea for the camera strap was to cut a "view" window into one strap and sew it to the other strap, then sew beads to the bottom strap to sew a horse hair braid from the BFF's horse's tail to. OK, good concept, but: - We needed to cut out the window and Cement the two pieces together. - Then stitch them together for additional strength and cosmetics. - The beads? One on each end, one in the middle, and run the braid thru the middle bead, and into each end bead and sew the ends in place. Little strain on the braid and low profile. I advised her on the build, showed her various techniques but had her perform them. The tooling choices were hers, as were the dyes. The beads she had to pick up on the way out of town and she has to pull and braid the horse hair now that she has the size to braid it to. She was thrilled with the outcome.

Yup, for thirty years. The boss, love of my life, best friend, adviser... harshest critic. Well, anyone who has been married a long time can add to the list. Also a gifted Quilter, crochet fiend, seamstress... EMT, fly tier, Caster, fisherwoman... Not much she can't do.

The blade blank, rough bolster, and original bone came from Jantz Knife Supply in Davis, OK knifemaking.com Great People, friendly and helpful. I have the wood for scales, lots of it, so I don't have to buy that. I'm a woodworker at heart.

After making knives for everyone else for Christmas, I decided to make one for myself. Not that I needed one, but I wanted to try a couple things, and apply some of the lessons learned. First, I wanted to improve the polishing I had done on the past Bolsters, and had been researching techniques. I used three levels of rouge after working up to 800 grit sandpaper. The brass turned out pretty well. I also wanted to try a bone accent between the brass and the wood scales. Using leftover bone from a previous build, I did just that. A lot of hand fitting, but it turned out okay. NOT perfect, but okay. Then, I wanted to choose the perfect scales for MY knife. I thought Walnut. Nope, not enough Figure. Curly Cherry. Nope, the grain wasn't "Deep" enough. Then it hit me. A few years ago, I had cut down the silver maple we had planted at the old farmhouse in VA the first year we moved in. Twenty Five years later, Woodpeckers and Bugs had killed it. When I cut it up to burn, I discovered the bugs had spalted it. So, it got run thru my bandsaw mill and stacked to dry. I have made presentation and keepsake boxes, and knives. So... this knife would have scales that would have a sentimental connection. We moved from VA to OK two and a half years ago, selling one farm and buying another. I took my time, getting each step as close to RIGHT as I could before moving to the next. I was pleased with the knife when I judged it done. Of COURSE I noted areas where I could improve on the next one. Don't we all? Then on to the sheath. Normally I basket weave or tool them. I am never happy with my carving. This time, I decided to do Oak Leaves and Acorns for the practice. If it didn't turn out, I'd start over. Miss Tina liked it, so I kept going. I was happy with the stitch lines, and I tooled the back with a quilted pattern just to practice. I painted the background on the front of make the carving pop. I'm good. Not perfect, but the boss likes it and her opinion matters. The knife fits, and won't fall out. I doubt it will get worn much. I don't work around the farm, that's Tina's job. Her livestock. The only thing left here is about three coats of wax on the scales and the sheath. I'm happy. Next up? Thumb hole sling for both our rifles, or a full gunbelt for the Uberti .357 Single action. Belt, Holster, and Sheath. Haven't decided yet.

Outstanding. It's a representation of the relationship you have with the students that you come in to find Bender waiting.

A2, My son did four years in the Coast Guard, served on a Cutter out of Little Creek, The Albocore. It has since been decommissioned and sold to a foreign power. (Forgive me, anesthesia from 29 surgeries... My memory isn't what it once was... ). He was on terminal leave and headed for a job in Texas to work River Patrol for Homeland Security when he and his family were T-boned by a drunk in a dually pickup doing 70+ mph that ran a red light. My son was waiting to make a left turn. The first deputy on scene called him in as a fatality. They airlifted him when he gasped for breath. He was in a coma for several weeks. Took years for him to recover. I hated troubleshooting that kind of problem, the worst was troubleshooting, identifying the issue as a bad component. The new one comes in, you install it, and... No Joy. Retroubleshoot... Same answer. Bad part from supply.

In working the pattern, I made sure to rotate the Basketweave stamp between each strike. To help insure this was done, I had marked the shaft of the stamp on four sides with the reference for the location of the orientation of the center accent line. horizontal or vertical. Forget to rotate ninety degrees and you throw off the entire effect. Don't ask me how I know this. In addition, I set up that woodworking square for the offset reference from the side of the strap. This insured that the spacing was as accurate as I could get it. I checked, and rechecked placement before EACH strike. I then was CAREFUL before the border stamps, so I didn't ruin the line of the edges. I think it paid off. Miss T pronounced the strap "Beautiful." She is not free with compliments. We have been married 30 years, she doesn't have to be. Still have to burnish the edges and apply several coats of finish after the antique dries. No rush. After I finish the strap, I have to start on Miss T's Christmas Presents. Two Knives, Two Sheaths, and a presentation box. That will be a labor of love.