Recurve Bowie Sheath

[Scootch]

My dad asked me to make this for his friend.  I learned a lot and had fun.  Other than a few pocket knife sheaths and a small fixed blade EDC sheath this is it.  I had to drill the holes  on the top long edge because I couldn't get an awl through it and the stitch line was wiggly until I figured out how to get through the the thick leather leather in a reasonably straight manner.  Any comments are welcome, constructive or otherwise.

Scootch

[Leescustomleather]

That little wobble on the back is exactly what happened to me when first drilling through three layers of eight oz veg tan, I found that if I made sure that the sheath was at a ninety degree angle to the drill bit it would work just fine.

     There are some that will say use an awl don't drill, that if the stitching gets cut or abraded it will come unraveled. I always use a stitching groover and hammer or use a stitch marking wheel to sink the stitches and then use a needle with a tiny amount of super thin super glue and touch the stitches on the back of the sheath, because the glue is so low viscosity it just wicks up the thread and locks everything into place. 

 Nice work!

[TexasJack]

You did a nice job on a very solid and practical sheath. 

[toxo]

I like that a lot. Does what it says on the tin.

[jcuk]

It may help where you have prick marked your work to pre prick those marks,  you will have less to go through over all once you come to stitch your work.

Nice work too.

Hope this helps

JCUK

[PastorBob]

very nice work.  I love how you curved the basket weave to the contour of the blade.

[kiwican]

Punish him mightily for he hath broken the law of the knife and the sheath!

[Scootch]

Thanks for the input and compliments. Be blessed.

Scootch

[Dwight]

Just one simple comment Scootch . . . rather than drill the holes . . . replace the drill bit with a machine sewing needle of the appropriate size to the thread . . . and the holes can be punched straight down . . . no problem at all . . . AND . . . you do not mess up your holes.

Actually . . . if you own one of those little cheap drill presses . . . https://www.lowes.com/pl/Drill-presses-Presses-lathes-Power-tools-Tools/4294607825?refinement=2104441257 from Lowes or similar . . . you can use either a needle or an awl blade . . . and ALL OF YOUR HOLES ARE PERFECTLY 100% STRAIGHT UP  AND DOWN.

I sometimes take the thread out of my Tippmann Boss . . . use it to punch the holes . . . and then saddle stitch the item.  

It takes a lot of practice to learn to use an awl correctly . . . and become good at it.  This little trick eliminates the wait and the practice . . . for less than a hundred bucks.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Hardrada]

FWIW, I just use my chisels. If they don't punch all the way through, I don't force them or get frustrated: I finish punching the (half) holes and then place the project on a cork board and finish making the holes with my diamond awl, just being careful the awl is perpendicular to the board and slanted the right way. This method's never failed me. Tedious, yes, but doable, practical, and with good results.