Nail Carving?

[CharleyS]

Hi,  this is my first post. I’m just getting into leather work.  I’ve done some in the past but now that I’m retired I really want to look into it much deeper.  I am into historical work. Mostly western as well as mountain man eras. I saw a slim Jim holster on River Junction Trading Company site that caught my eye. Its states it is nail carved. I really like the look but what is nail carving?  I am looking forward to learning a lot more.   Thank you. Charley

[fredk]

I suspect that nail carving is taking ordinary woodwork nails and filing them into fancy profiles for doing the tooling

I seem to remember that a few other leather workers/crafters on here have done just that

[billybopp]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

I suspect that nail carving is taking ordinary woodwork nails and filing them into fancy profiles for doing the tooling

I seem to remember that a few other leather workers/crafters on here have done just that

You're probably right.  Some leather shops "back in the day" may have had dedicated tools for tooling, but I have no doubt that folks decorated their leather - maybe around a campfire at night when on the trail or whatever.

I remember reading that Al Stohlman did some of that sort of thing.  He served in WWII and did some leatherwork then - and when he returned home didn't have access, or couldn't afford, proper tools so he made his own from nails, screws, bolts - whatever could be found.

- Bill

[CharleyS]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

I suspect that nail carving is taking ordinary woodwork nails and filing them into fancy profiles for doing the tooling

I seem to remember that a few other leather workers/crafters on here have done just that

That’s kind of what I thought. The original holster shown looked very subtle but the fact it’s probably 150 years old might add to that. The reproduction is much more defined. Thanks for your thoughts on it. 

[bruce johnson]

I have heard the term a couple times recently, and have never really found an original historical source for "nail carved". If anyone has the history lesson on it I'd sure appreciate it. The couple examples I've been sent are just like this holster. Basically a simple outline only free-flowing design with no middle detailing. Could have been traced on with a nail. I don't see a stamp used in this one. A nail, tickler, stylus, anything blunt could potentially make this design. 

[CharleyS]

24 minutes ago, bruce johnson said:

I have heard the term a couple times recently, and have never really found an original historical source for "nail carved". If anyone has the history lesson on it I'd sure appreciate it. The couple examples I've been sent are just like this holster. Basically a simple outline only free-flowing design with no middle detailing. Could have been traced on with a nail. I don't see a stamp used in this one. A nail, tickler, stylus, anything blunt could potentially make this design. 

I’d love to learn more too. It has simple lines but has a very traditional design to it. My imagination is of a 49er relaxing in his camp marking up his holster. Probably not but it’s a cool image. I’m going to make a Slim Jim holster and see if I can do something similar. If a mail was used to do the original it was a cut nail. Or called a square nail. They usually had blunt ends. 

[chuck123wapati]

I've heard the term used but for wood as well as leather in "FOLK" art. In this case though its just used more as a sales gimmick.

Poor folks back in the day made most of their tools for any craft, there wasn't any to be bought nor the money to buy them. So they made them. And then  after making the tools. they sat around when unoccupied , night , winter , storms etc and made stuff, there was no tv , radio etc to bide the time. And their designs came from the same place their own minds!!!

I've made quite a few of mine that i couldn't afford or wanted to spend what they thought it was worth. If you do go this route use stainless as much as possible. And i cant wait to see what you come up with. Good luck my friend!!!!

[Tugadude]

Here's something on the topic as it relates to Al Stohlman:  Taken from the now defunct  International Internet Leathercrafters Guild

Al Stohlman: August 15, 1919 - March 6, 1998
Al Stohlman's introduction to working with leather began in 1943 in the jungles of New Guinea during World War II. Some buddies were doing leatherwork. The only tools were nails, shaped into various forms to press the designs in by hand. Man has been linked with leather for centuries using it for clothing, shelter, tools, etc. Modern times have produced a great variety of tanned leather that can be used for anything imaginable. Al Stohlman has devoted most of his life to leather, constantly seeking ways to improve his work and develop new techniques. The results of his extensive research are published in numerous instructional books which have been - and still are - a guide and a source of inspiration for generations of leatherworkers all over the world.

[Tugadude]

And here's a cool thread from here:

 

[Tugadude]

There are multiple videos on YouTube where folks take various sized nails and make leather stamps out of them.  Some look very nice.