How To Strengthen Leather

[dadam38]

I recently got into leather work and I got a knife with a sheath as a gift but the sheath is very weak so when you pull the knife out of the sheath it bend and makes it hard to take out. I like the design so i was going to make something similar but add my own flavor to it, but at the same time i dont want to make the same mistake. Is there a way to strengthen or reinforce the part right above the main sheath? Ive attached a picture to give an idea.

BTW This site is awesome and i am learning a ton from the forums already.

If there is a post that already covers this that would be fine too.

Thanks, Adam

[Andrew Chee]

If you want to maintain the same look, you can either use a thicker leather for more stiffness (but it will make your entire sheath much thicker) or you can use two pieces of thinner leather glued together with a stiffener inside (like kydex). There isn't some kind of chemical you can use that will stiffen the leather to any degree that would be useful for your purposes.

Another thing you can do is to get a much thicker piece of leather and stitch it along the opening where it bends and this second piece of leather will add stiffness. It would be visible but you could probably design something that would look nice.

Andrew

[Matt S]

Soaking leather in melted wax certainly stiffens it...

[Tree Reaper]

It just looks like a bad design, you can design your own and put a smaller keeper on it.

8-10 oz. leather will work.

Here's a few images...

https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+knife+sheaths&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zwg&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=AaY3UbOvA8S42gWhpoCoBw&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=792&bih=432

[dadam38]

From some other images ive seen I think im going to bend it back over itself to make the belt loop and that should be strong enough. I was thinking about making slits for the belt, thats why i was thinking id have the same problem. If anyone is interested i can post a picture when its finished.

[Tree Reaper]

I recently got into leather work

You don't want to make a new one?

[dadam38]

^{Sorry, yes i am going to make a new one, but i still have a design flaw that im trying to figure out. The knife gaurd comes off the blade over a 1/4" so its pushing the belt loop away from the sheath, im thinking about adding a thick piece of leather to the back of the sheath and adding the belt loop to that. If that make any sense.}

[Tree Reaper]

You can wet form the leather at the guard, 1/4" is negligible.

[dadam38]

I havent done any wet forming but ill look into it. Im assuming it must hold its shape pretty well. If thats the case maybe i can still make it out of one piece of leather. Should i wet form, then carve, stain and finish?

[Tree Reaper]

Make your sheath, case it and carve it,dye it, sew it then wet the unfinished side and mold it around the guard.

Are you looping the back for a belt or using slots cut into the leather?

[dadam38]

I am going to loop it. Thanks for all your help.

[Tree Reaper]

I like to use neatsfoot oil 24 hrs. prior to dying on anything I'm bending, when you make your bends dampen the leather at the bend prior to bending.

When wet forming, dampen the leather at the guard then make the bend.

You should try and secure the leather against the knife just below the guard and above the guard against the handle and allow the leather to dry over night while it's secured to the knife.

[dadam38]

Ended up just doing something basic, I'm happy with how it looks but its I know it's not great