All the basic tools needed to make a sheath ~ need help

Bladenoobie1

Bladenoobie1

Joined
Jul 20, 2012
Messages
1,261
Hi,

I wanted to make a simple leather sheath for a custom fixed I have and I was curious as to what where the basic necessities to make one. I doesn't need to look great, rather it just needs to serve the purpose.

Also where is a good place to order leather at an affordable cost for only a little leather?

Thanks,
BN

EDIT:

One other quick question. The black dye from a sheath I have rubs onto the ivory micarta of the knife that it's meant for. If I waxed the inside of the sheath with some melted granulated beeswax would it prevent the dye from rubbing on the micarta?
 
Tools? ---

Basic - you could think like what an Indian would have to make a sheath?
Something to punch a hole, something to sew with (fish bone) Some thing to cut with (knife)

The rest would be material - Leather of some kind? And Thread of some kind? I think they used deer guts?

From that you could start getting tools together.....
A knife, an awl (punch), sewing/stitching needles.

To make a BETTER sheath - ruler, hammer, skiver, hole lay tool (three prong punch or lay out wheel?) edge beveler, stitch groover, dobbers for dye, cutting board, marker, paper for pattern, towles - rags, stitching awl, stitching pony. And any decorating tools if any?

Supplies - Leather - dye - glue - thread - sealer,finish, edge koat. (you would have choices here)


As for the black dye - it is some of the worst for rubbing off.
Wax probably won't help much - would need to be sealed with some thing?

Others may chime in with more help?

Good luck,
 
There's a couple of pretty good walk throughs here, that explain it step by step (I'd do the search for you but I'm feeling lazy).

I think there's one in the stickies...

Leather really isn't my thing, I can't seem to make more than stuff to bind the missus up with... but I didn't just say that in public...
 
For a basic sheath you don't need much. First a good paper pattern. Then decent leather. Elmers glue will work in a pinch. Use a 1/16 drill bit for holes. 2 harness needles and waxed thread. Sew er up. And if you want black, try the alcohol dye over oil dye, and dry it good. When dry, rub a shop towel real good down in it. Then any leather finish. If you don't have a grinder for the edges, hand sand them. And burnish the edges real good. That's it. Hope I helped.
GOD BLESS!
Michael
 
I hope you all realize this post is "tongue in cheek" ;) with regard to basic needs, but these photos show what I use daily for my sheaths.

First the hand tools including round knives, edgers, creasers, miscellaneous, and stamps along with working surface and granite block

The light box tracing station for making the paper patterns for each knife. One of the most important steps.

Then the motorized equipment, stitcher Cobra 4, Flat bed machine, and finally a Cobra 14 14" splitter.

Some of this stuff sees use with each and every sheath. Way too many stamps (over 200) but it is a 50+ year collection.

Paul
 
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Finally the edge finish tools (motorized) plus the hand sanding final finish

Old shoe finish machine with 50 grit and 100 grit wheels

single station 220 grit wheel

and then Hand finish with 320 and 400

Paul
 
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