Fancy Scabbard

[chuck123wapati]

WOW  that's awesome and yes you could quit your day job with stuff like that. 

[Double Daddy]

As is usual for your work, Josh...exceptional heirloom quality, sir! I'm with dikman...that's about too purdy to do anything with, work or sport-wise!

Edited January 10, 2020 by Double Daddy

[Josh Ashman]

Thanks for the kind words folks!  Much appreciated :).

As for the finish questions, no dye of any kind was used. Just NF oil (I get the 100% pure by the gallon from Weaver, but in my opinion it doesn't matter what brand or whether it's pure or the compound) and Aussie Wax. I do give it some saddle soap once I get the color I like. I apply 2 or 3 coats of oil to the grain side with a scrap of shearling, so a healthy dose then put it in the sun for anywhere from a few hours to all day. If I want it darker I'll oil more and put it back in the sun. Each hide darkens different amounts so there isn't anything real consistent, I just keep at it until I get it looking how I want. The Aussie Wax is the same, liberal coat and put it in the sun. It will darken the leather quite a bit so if you're using it you'll want to stop with the oil before you get it as dark as you want. As for whether it's the sun or heat, my best guess is that it's the sun for the darkening but you want the heat as well, especially to get the Aussie Wax to "melt" into the leather. I will also add that having the sun filtered through a vehicle windshield doesn't seem to lessen the darkening, although If I'm not worried about rain or a dog running off with it I usually put the item in direct sunlight. In my opinion this finish only works if you're ok with supple leather. I don't use it for any sort of "carry" holsters as I like them to be rigid and with this much oil and "greese" (aka Aussie Wax) the leather won't be rigid. As a word of caution, you can certainly overdo the oil, you don't want to saturate anything and applying it to the flesh side can do that in a hurry. 

I don't think this scabbard will get much use. I made it as a Christmas gift for my dad. He loved it :). It might carry a rifle on his truck seat from time to time but it might just get hung on a wall. 

Hope you all have a great Friday and weekend!

All the best, Josh

[TargetRockLeather]

Josh, thank you very much for the detailed explanation. I can't wait to try this! Have a great weekend.

[Josh Ashman]

You're certainly welcome! Good luck with it!

[Samalan]

Josh thats beautiful great detail thanks for showing 

[huttonbruce]

That's a fine piece of work right there!!!! Nice!!!!

[noobleather]

I hope the rifle looks as good as that scabbard. How long is the scabbard?

Great use of different carving techniques.

Edited January 28, 2020 by noobleather

[Josh Ashman]

Thanks again everybody! 

Noob, Sorry I'm not at my bench now or I'd get you a measurement on that. Here are some pics of another similar scabbard I built earlier in the fall with a 20" barrel length Model 94 Winchester in in. Seeing it may give you an idea of the length. FYI, the cutting pattern for both scabbards was the same. 

All the best, Josh

[noobleather]

More great work. No need for a measurement. Just wasn't sure what type of rifle it was for. Both are really nice for a lever action