Jackdawe Report post Posted August 9, 2015 We run a leather business in the sunny south of England - specialising in carved leather. My other half has a large number of years in the business and has been teaching me how to do it since the beginning of last year. I have posted a couple of his pieces in the "Show off" forum but he asked me to post a picture of the box I have made. So here goes.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmace99 Report post Posted August 9, 2015 nice case .looks like a lot of time went into it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jackdawe Report post Posted August 10, 2015 Thank you - I learned alot from this single project alone. The leather is saddle skirt so there was no fear of going too deep. Pete often tells me I don't carve deep enough. I was abit nervous of going too deep after nearly going straight through on another project. I also learned how to deal with lines that need defining but you cannot bevel both sides. Celtic knotwork is a good primer for that - I know from repeated experience. ;-) Corner stitching or miter joints was another exercise and a steep learning curve. Trying to corner stitch on saddle skirt is both finger and wrist adverse. Omg - my whole hands hurt! I antiqued with mid brown and on top used saddle tan high lite. Initially I was going to pop the box on my stall to sell but fell in love with it as I was making it - I now use it to store the medieval chess pieces my dad made years ago and at some point will make a chess board to go with it. Eventually they will make an heirloom gift for my grandchildren - after I teach them how to play. :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HENDREFORGAN Report post Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) Do I still remember hand stitching the mitred corners on reproduction Napoleonic cartridge boxes . . more than 20 years since I made the last one and my thumbs still ache at the thought! Front, base and back - and that extends to form the large flap - is one piece of approximately 5mm veg tanned with the sides from the same, cut with a 45 degree mitre to fit neatly . . however as they needed to be as weatherproof as possible the corner seams were externally overlain with 2mm calf . . all leather was stained black prior to assembly. This meant that when making your holes with a really sharp awl you needed to push through - and then saddle stitch - four layers of good quality hide. They would have used an adapted post bed sewing machine if only they knew how to invent one! BTW the mitre stitching on the bayonet scabbards in the photo below are a walk in the park compared to the corners of a cartridge box. Edited September 6, 2016 by HENDREFORGAN added extra text Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
