Rattlesnake Knife Sheath

[JKHelms]

That’s a beautiful piece of hair on hide too!

[Rolandranch]

9 hours ago, garypl said:

Hey Ryan - how did you do the inlaid rattlesnake skin?  Is it sandwiched between two layers of leather?  I think it’s a bit fragile so you wouldn’t want the knife rubbing directly against the snake skin - correct?  What weight and type leather and thread did you use?

Gary

Yep. It's sandwiched between two pieces of 9 oz leather... not to mention the 9 oz back and 5 oz welt... so yeah... it's a bit thick. Thread was size 346.

-Ryan

5 hours ago, JKHelms said:

That’s a beautiful piece of hair on hide too!

Thanks.! I'm thinking of making a pair of Arizona shotgun show chaps with that hide.  

[garypl]

11 minutes ago, Rolandranch said:

Yep. It's sandwiched between two pieces of 9 oz leather... not to mention the 9 oz back and 5 oz welt... so yeah... it's a bit thick. Thread was size 346.

Didn’t realize it was so thick!  Do you have a side view?

Gary

[Rolandranch]

1 minute ago, garypl said:

Didn’t realize it was so thick!  Do you have a side view?

Gary

I'll get some more pics hopefully later today.

Ryan

[Rolandranch]

Thank you all for the kind words. I appreciate it.

Here are some more photos including a photo of the back.

Thanks, again!

-Ryan

[ID45]

great job Ryan did you tan the snake or is it raw?

[Rolandranch]

12 hours ago, ID45 said:

great job Ryan did you tan the snake or is it raw?

I killed and tanned it.  

[KingsCountyLeather]

5 hours ago, Rolandranch said:

I killed and tanned it.  

Just curious... does it take long to tan a skin?

looking at the back stitching ( picture is a bit fuzzy when I zoom in ) I think you need to tighten the screw on your bobbin to pull your stitches tighter?

[Rolandranch]

6 minutes ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

Just curious... does it take long to tan a skin?

looking at the back stitching ( picture is a bit fuzzy when I zoom in ) I think you need to tighten the screw on your bobbin to pull your stitches tighter?

It takes about 2-3 weeks to tan one. Sometimes 1 week if it dries quickly. 

It could have been tighter but most of what you see is the leather that got pushed out a bit when the needle went through. But I would go a little tighter next time. 

[DV8DUG]

Yeah... How did you construct the skin into the leather? I'm very curious about the lining if you did use one. I am also interested in rattler skins and any advice to go with them.

[texback]

One question. Did you remove the scales from the rattler hide and if so what's the best way to do so?

[Rolandranch]

4 hours ago, DV8DUG said:

Yeah... How did you construct the skin into the leather? I'm very curious about the lining if you did use one. I am also interested in rattler skins and any advice to go with them.

I just sandwiched it between two pieces of leather; the top piece just has "windows."

 

2 hours ago, texback said:

One question. Did you remove the scales from the rattler hide and if so what's the best way to do so?

Yes, I removed the shedding scale coves with a knife. Just hold it at a 90 degree angle to the hide and scrape 'em off.  

[texback]

Thanks that's what I thought was the way to remove them but just wanted to be sure before I messed up a skin. You gave me inspiration with your sheath so I am making one for a Bowie type knife I have.

[Rolandranch]

16 hours ago, texback said:

Thanks that's what I thought was the way to remove them but just wanted to be sure before I messed up a skin. You gave me inspiration with your sheath so I am making one for a Bowie type knife I have.

Have fun with the next sheath! Send me pics!