Sheath edge with different leathers

[Yukonrookie]

Hi folks,

So I’m planning to make me my first Mexican loop style sheath. This is going to be my first sheath in that style and only my 5th sheath in total. The worst I can do is screw it up and learn from it for the next time. I’m looking forward to the challenge. This is for an 8” “Bowie” style blade. I have a side and a half of W&C russet skirting split down to 8/9 ounce and would love to use it for the complete build (save the loop strap) but I fear it’ll get too bulky by the time it’s done, since I’d like to line the skirt, albeit just with 3/4oz. Maybe someone who’s built some could chime in on that.

Of course I have other weights of leathers but they’re not all the same kind. My idea so far is to use the 8/9 ounce W&C for the sheath including welt. The welt would be about the same thickness as the blade. For the skirt I was thinking of using some 5/6 ounce natural Italian with a 3/4 ounce natural Italian liner

This would mean I’m using different leathers though. How big of a concern should that be? Looks wise I think I could pull that of since I think it might look alright to have the skirt in a different colour or shade than the sheath. I’m not sure how much it would show through on the edges though, even after dying them with dark brown pro dye. 
On my last sheath builds that had a welt I tried to use a slightly thinner leather after reading somewhere about an approximate 70% of the blade rule. I could use some 7/8 ounce natural shoulder I still have flying around but I don’t like working with it and it’s an even lighter natural shade than the other Italian stuff I have. 
I will say that I’ve done that on my last build where the front and back were the same W&C Russet skirting and the welt was good quality 6/7 ounce natural shoulder and I actually didn’t mind the look. It reminded me a bit of the stacked heels on my boots lol. But on this one I’d rather limit  to just 2 different leathers. The 5/6 and 3/4 ounce skirting are the same kind from the same tannery. 
But than again even worse would be if the blade would sit super loosely especially since I haven’t really planned for a retaining strap (or should I?)

Am I too picky and overthinking this? Or maybe using just the 8/9 ounce W&C for everything except the skirt liner wouldn’t look too bulky after all, with a larger blade like this?

 

I’m not sure if this helps but I’m basing my build a bit on one of Joe Keeslar’s Loop sheaths. I have his Book. Maybe simplifying it a bit here or there, but very similar. Obviously it won’t turn out to look like his but that goes without saying  
 

I would be really grateful for any advise or ideas anyone could add. 

[Yukonrookie]

Edit:

Actually I got things a bit mixed up when I wrote my post. The back panel of the sheath is also the outer shell of the skirt, if I’m not completely mistaken. At least that the way it’s done in Joe Keeslar’s book the sheath back panel is also part of the outer shell of the skirt. In which case using 5/6oz for it and 8/9oz front panel just wouldn’t look proper, or would it? So I’m thinking using 8/9oz for both and the 7/6 for the welt after all. Would that make it look to bulky in the end? It would be 8/9oz front panel, 7/6oz welt and 8/9oz skirt lined  with 3/4 ounce. That sounds pretty bulky to me. I saw one video on YT but that guy, Victor George I think was his name, built a traditional half skirt bounce loop style with sheath being completely separate from the skirt and just slid into the loops. Very cool too. Would anyone know of any more tutorials for Mexican loop sheaths?

[Yukonrookie]

I’m guessing not too many people making sheaths like this? I’m hoping to start on it this week. Still putting finishing touches to the blade and gotta attach handles still. Gonna try and put stone sheep horn grips on it from a sheep I shot a few years back. 

[Beehive]

Pictures when you start. I'd enjoy seeing what you describe. 

[Yukonrookie]

Will do. Probably won’t be pretty by most people’s standards but I’m slowly getting a handle on this;)