Best place to buy leather & supplies for sheaths?

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
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After 6 years of making nothing but plastic sheaths, it's time to branch out! Some knives just need a leather sheath, IMHO. Where is the best place for me to get the leather (I'd probably buy small and try a few out before investing too much) & supplies I would need? Also, what's a good source for exotic leathers? Thanks!
 
Tandy or The Leather Factory is where I purchase.I'm pretty sure they are the same company,one having been bought out by the other.Very large selection of everything leather related.I'm very suprised you haven't dealt with either yet,or have you and are looking for a different or better place.I noticed you said you have only used "plastic".Kydex?Concealex?Other?Tandy or the other has a large selection of rivets,concho's, and the like that you could I'm sure use with your plastic sheaths too.I'm interested in possibly hearing about other sources thru this thread.
 
Yeah, Kydex for a couple years, then switched to Concealex. I know 8-9oz leather is generally what's used, and veggie tanned, right? I hesitate to move into leather because it's that same one step forward two steps backward problem! :D
 
I get my dyes, glues and hardware from Tandy because there is a store close enough to drive to. My leather comes from http://www.leatherunltd.com I get the oak double shoulders, veg tanned, grade A 8-9 oz. leather. Absolute top notch quaility! It can be form fitted almost as tight as kydex. There's an audible snap when inserting the knife in the sheath.
Scott
 
In my experince there is no "one" best place - I buy from several different vendors:
If you're just starting out in leather I suggest first off check out"
Dan Gray's page of tutorials -
scroll down about half way for the sheath ones:
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html

The sticky's at the top of this forum have much leather info including several suppliers:
http://knifenetwork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16

and yes veg tan should be used for any part that touches the blade

Recommended Suppliers:
Exotic Leather:
I don't use much exotics but when I need that something extra special this is THE place to buy:
Fong Exotic Leather Co. 1610 Hyde St. San Francisco CA 94109 tel: 415-441-3519

Veg Tan Leather and some other types
Wickett & Craig - www.wickett-craig.com
Demers Leather - www.demersleather.com
Colorado Leather - 719-633-8722

Dyes, all types of leather including some exotics, hardware, etc.:
Siegel of Ca - www.siegelofca.com
Leather Factory/Tandy
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/

Tools: Cheap but OK:
Leather Factory/Tandy - the Craftsman brand

Tools: Better: Osborne Tools & Linen Thread
Mid-Continent Leather Sales Company (800) 926-2061 http://www.midcontinentleather.com/
- these are the folks to get linen handsewing thread from as well - Barbour's 5 cord left hand twist is a good all purpose thread)
Leather Factory/Tandy and Siegel also sell Osborne tools

Tools: Best:
Jeremiah Watt - www.ranch2arena.com
Expensive but worth it - made by a master saddle maker and a heck of a nice guy!

I can recommend all of the above having used them for several years (some several decades ;) - There are many other suppliers including Hidecrafters mentioned above and others which folks have recommended elswhere including some suppliers on EBay - as always with any unfamiliar suppliers it's caveat emptor.....
 
Chuck thanks for the source for linen thread, I'm sick of the fake sinew I've been using!

For what it's worth I usually buy my veg tanned from Siegel when it goes on sale; get a couple double shoulders and you'll be good for a while. :)
 
Chuck the link to Midwestern Continent Leather didn't work and a Google search didn't turn them up in the first couple pages - can you check that? I appreciate any help!
 
Thanks Chuck! Nice of you to put all of that together. Jeremiah and I have been friends for some time now, they don't come any better.
 
Chuck's right about "BUYER BEWARE". I think that Hidecrafters.com (located in Ft. Worth, Tx) is pretty close to being a Tandys. Anyway, the stuff I've received from them is good, but not the best, go to Jeremiah for that. Nowdays, a person needs to be cautious when either buying a piece of leather, or a Ford. The best thing of course is to actually go to the store and see things in person. I'm not able to do that because of distance, etc, so I rely on past experience, and I have virtually "none" of that as far as leather goes. What I've bought from them so far has been good, as far as I can tell.
 
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