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Posted

So.. I am a bag maker. I sew leather on machine only, I've never really done hand stitching. I've never made anything for any kind of knife. That said, my sister asked me for a sheath for her machete for christmas. Of course I'm late to the game on this one, but all I have to go by is a tracing I made of it. I guess I don't really understand how inserting and removing the machete would not cut the stitches? Also, she wants to wear it across her back. And she is right handed, so I'm trying to "naturally" grab for my massive machete behind me, and I cant figure out if you would grab it from behind your right shoulder, or cross your face to take it from your left side? 

Is this even possible to make with just a tracing or am I nuts for thinking of giving it a go?

Posted

This could end up being a very challenging project, without the knife and person present, mainly due to figuring out the straps. However, if you are the same size as your sister, you can use yourself as a model.

The sheath itself should probably not be too difficult since you have a tracing. I would imagine that this should be made of a stiff, thick, veg tan leather, nothing soft.

To prevent the machete from cutting the stitching, a welt is used. It is a middle layer between the front and back of the sheath. It would be maybe 1/4" wide, running the length of the blade.

Accessing the machete will likely be from below, rather than over the shoulder, at least, that is what is shown in these two examples that I found.

I just googled "machete back sheath" and got a couple of hits.

https://sunrisecustomknives.com/9-adjustable-shoulder-harness/

On this next one, I did not want to post this video, just the link, but I cannot seem to get rid of it.

Good luck.

nick

 

 

  • CFM
Posted

use a welt so the blade doesn't cut the thread. I think how she were to wear it would decide that, the strap could do either shouldn't be a problem. 

Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms.

“I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!

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Posted

great advice, thank you!!

 

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Posted

Search YouTube for 'Making a sheath for a machete' and 'Making a leather knife sheath'. There are lots of videos, watch a few to get the general methods of construction, then adapt it to suit what you want

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Posted

I think the best part of your post was that your sister asked you to make for a sheath for her machete!

  • Members
Posted
4 hours ago, kimberlyrose said:

So.. I am a bag maker. I sew leather on machine only, I've never really done hand stitching. I've never made anything for any kind of knife. That said, my sister asked me for a sheath for her machete for christmas. Of course I'm late to the game on this one, but all I have to go by is a tracing I made of it. I guess I don't really understand how inserting and removing the machete would not cut the stitches? Also, she wants to wear it across her back. And she is right handed, so I'm trying to "naturally" grab for my massive machete behind me, and I cant figure out if you would grab it from behind your right shoulder, or cross your face to take it from your left side? 

Is this even possible to make with just a tracing or am I nuts for thinking of giving it a go?

For longer blades, like swords, a back sheath is pretty much Hollywood -- you can only draw the sword the length of your arm, which is shorter than the lengths of most swords. (For a quick, fun illustration of this problem, look at this video:  Shadiversity -- Drawing a Sword from the Back)
But for a shorter blade, like a machete, it may just be possible to draw it from a back sheath. Use cardboard and mock it up before devoting leather to the project. 
I don't think you could cross your face and draw it -- that would be a lot less draw length. 
Drawing it up over the right shoulder (if right handed) would be the way. 
Or make a down-draw sheath, as illustrated above. 

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Posted

Ahhh makes perfect sense!! It might not be a machete actually, because it looks longer than the pic posted above. I think it's going to have to be on a belt worn at the waist. In that case, do you wear it on your opposite hip?

  • CFM
Posted
24 minutes ago, kimberlyrose said:

Ahhh makes perfect sense!! It might not be a machete actually, because it looks longer than the pic posted above. I think it's going to have to be on a belt worn at the waist. In that case, do you wear it on your opposite hip?

yes! and why civil war holsters were worn on the right side but made for left handed cross draw, they used their strong arm, right,  for the sabre and the left for the pistol lol, not that it has a darn thing to do with this. lol 

Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms.

“I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!

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