Argentinean Style Knife Handle And Sheath

[Ecapone]

Beautiful work. String or thong is makes no difference to me either.

I'm still getting used to the idea the shoes are now flip flops and no longer thongs. Tells ya my age and how things change.

Enrique, please keep posting here. I feel you are going to be a wealth of information. I have always admired the Argentinian way of rawhide braiding. I would give my left arm to spend 6 months there working with some of the older people that braid but then I could not braid. Your work is very beautiful.

Thank you for taking the time to explain me about the use of the word Thongs. I am glad you like the Argentinian way of working with rawhide. I fell in love with it some 28 years ago when I saw some work done in a set of reins in Argentina. I saw that 2 turns braided knot over the reins and I just had to know how they were made. I guy there tought me the basic three thongs ring but that is all he knew. Then he sent me to a gaucho that show me how to do it. I didn't understand, but at least I knew that it was done with one thong. I grab a shoe lace and I starting trying until I got it at 2 AM. I never stop since then.

Cheers,

Enrique

[blackhammer]

Beautiful. Did you post that knife on armas blancas? It Sure looks familiar. To the rest of the group, If you havant been to armasblancas.ar, you are missing out on some incredible S. American work. If I might ask, is the blade on your knife Arbolito? If so, do you know how I might be able to order some from the U.S./ Ive heard that they are very well made and it looks like a lot of folks down there use them. Again, wonderfully done.

[Ecapone]

Beautiful. Did you post that knife on armas blancas? It Sure looks familiar. To the rest of the group, If you havant been to armasblancas.ar, you are missing out on some incredible S. American work. If I might ask, is the blade on your knife Arbolito? If so, do you know how I might be able to order some from the U.S./ Ive heard that they are very well made and it looks like a lot of folks down there use them. Again, wonderfully done.

Yes, I posted this knife in Armas Blancas. The blade is "Defensa" wich is a second brand of Boker. I realy like this blade. I boght it in Argentina last year. I posted some tutorials in Armas Blancas. My user there is ecapone. With time, I will translate and put this tutorials here.

Enrique

Edited September 26, 2011 by Ecapone

[flatlander2]

Yes, I posted this knife in Armas Blancas. The blade is "Defensa" wich is a second brand of Boker. I realy like this blade. I boght it in Argentina last year. I posted some tutorials in Armas Blancas. My user there is ecapone. With time, I will translate and put this tutorials here.

Enrique

Enrique,

Beautiful work. Could you talk a little about how you softened the rawhide. Also, since you were using deer rawhide I was wondering if you were using it dry, or nearly dry? In order to limit the streaching.

Flatlander

[TroyWest]

Ecapone,....beautiful work.

[Alan Bell]

Que lindo Enrique! Very beautiful! Now I'm afraid to post mine! Vas ir a TCAA in Oklahoma? Ya me voy con una de mis hijas si quieres ir con nosotros. I'm going to start another handle this week and I need your help. I made the handle myself and have some horse rawhide. You can call my cell at 972 467 2827. Abrazos

Alan

[Ecapone]

Alan,

When are you going to the TCAA? I have to travel to Canada on Sunday October the 16th and we have a party on saturday so that weekend I can't. I heard that the works are exposed for 2 month.

I will be glad to help you with your knife handle. My phone number is 214 636 4647

Cheers,

Enrique

[Ecapone]

Enrique,

Beautiful work. Could you talk a little about how you softened the rawhide. Also, since you were using deer rawhide I was wondering if you were using it dry, or nearly dry? In order to limit the streaching.

Flatlander

Dear friend,

I use the strings almost dry. I just rub them with a little bit of soap paste.

To soften the rawhide, I get the rawhide wet until is tempered. Then I rolled it by the conners with the hair side inside and I hit it with an especial mallet that we call maceta (see picture). I made this maceta with 2 pieces of 2 x 4. After hiting the rawhide I roll it and I save it on a plastic bag overnight. Next day I take it out for another session and I save it back on the plastic bag. It take about 7 days to soften it. Between sessions I also rub some pork fat or some glyceryn soap.

I hope this information help

Cheers,

Enrique

[flatlander2]

Dear friend,

I use the strings almost dry. I just rub them with a little bit of soap paste.

To soften the rawhide, I get the rawhide wet until is tempered. Then I rolled it by the conners with the hair side inside and I hit it with an especial mallet that we call maceta (see picture). I made this maceta with 2 pieces of 2 x 4. After hiting the rawhide I roll it and I save it on a plastic bag overnight. Next day I take it out for another session and I save it back on the plastic bag. It take about 7 days to soften it. Between sessions I also rub some pork fat or some glyceryn soap.

I hope this information help

Cheers,

Enrique

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[braiding4fun]

Dear friend,

I use the strings almost dry. I just rub them with a little bit of soap paste.

To soften the rawhide, I get the rawhide wet until is tempered. Then I rolled it by the conners with the hair side inside and I hit it with an especial mallet that we call maceta (see picture). I made this maceta with 2 pieces of 2 x 4. After hiting the rawhide I roll it and I save it on a plastic bag overnight. Next day I take it out for another session and I save it back on the plastic bag. It take about 7 days to soften it. Between sessions I also rub some pork fat or some glyceryn soap.

First off, I don't know much at all about rawhide, but I want to learn and plan to try braiding with it as soon as I can procure some of my own. When you soften rawhide like this, does it stay soft, or if it gets wet in the future will it harden and go out of shape?

Thanks,