First stab at it!

[fredk]

38 minutes ago, Chris623 said:

Some good news...........................just got an email saying my makers mark has shipped.  So I'll be able to use it on this sheath..................................that is if I'm proud enough of it to mark it!

And why would you not be proud of your first sheath, made all by yourself?

Now, this is where ye need to think ahead - where are you going to put that 'makers' stamping? On the HLS or on the sheath back? cos the front is all nicely tooled. On the HLS or sheath back, its best to do the stamping afore ye sew it all up closed

[Chris623]

Makers mark is destined for the back of the sheath.  And, yes, I know to do any stamping before I sew'er up.   I'm already wondering how I'll finish it.  The Buck handles are Black.  The original sheath was black.  Hmmm.  I like browns and antiquing on sheaths.  Oh well, that's way down the line.

Makin' mistakes, correcting them and moving on is the best way to learn.  So I tend to learn well!

[Chris623]

Update:

Maker's mark is traveling within the Postal System and should be here Monday.  Very timely for my first sheath, I'd say.

[Chris623]

Well, I'm learning, for sure.  Pulled a stupid beginners blunder.  Marked the back side of my sheath backwards!!! DUH!  Is there any way to get ballpoint pen ink off the "top" side of leather?   I've tried, Acetone and Mineral Spirits so far.  Hate to throw away the leather and make another.  Also, it's obvious (now) that ballpoint pen is the wrong thing to use to mark the leather.  I can't see a lead pencil mark on the leather..............so what's a guy to use to mark with?

Edited October 15, 2020 by Chris623

[fredk]

35 minutes ago, Chris623 said:

. . .  Marked the back side of my sheath backwards!!! DUH!  Is there any way to get ballpoint pen ink off the "top" side of leather?   I've tried, Acetone and Mineral Spirits so far.  . . .

The only stuff I've had success with is lacquer thinners, aka cellulose thinners

36 minutes ago, Chris623 said:

Also, it's obvious (now) that ballpoint pen is the wrong thing to use to mark the leather.  I can't see a lead pencil mark on the leather..............so what's a guy to use to mark with?

I usually use a ball point pen to mark leather, but those marks are either cut away, skived away or they mark gouge lines - see the pattern

The very worst to use is an indelible marker, aka a Sharpie. Even when you remove the ink the mark comes back as a ghost through you dye and finish

[Chris623]

Thanks, Fred, I'll go give Lacquer Thinner a try.  (........................as he walks off grumbling!)

Well, I tried Lacquer Thinner.  Didn't work.  Also tried Zylene............and no luck there.

What I've decided to do is to dye the back of the sheath a dark enough brown to cover up my newbie mistake and the front of the sheath a lighter golden brown.  Guess that'll work.  Not happy, but what's a guy to do???

Edited October 15, 2020 by Chris623

[Retswerb]

Yep, if you can’t remove the ink then use a darker dye and be glad it’s the back side and not the front. I like your fortune cookie signature, very true!

What I use for marking depends on what I’m doing. If I’m using a straightedge for layout I usually use a scratch awl. For tracing I have a blunted awl that does ok, but the lines are sometimes hard to see. I’ve heard of others using a ball point with no ink, haven’t tried it myself.

[Chris623]

I like Fortune Cookie Proverbs.  Sometimes they are really insightful.

For using carbon paper to trace patterns in my wood carving classes, I use a stylus with a point about the same size as a ball-point pen.  But I don't want to use carbon paper on leather, do I?  The stylus most likely would be useless for just the impression it would leave in the leather.  I'll give it a try, but it will probably be ineffective unless the leather is cased.