So, back to the sheath.
I have the "real" sheath cutout, cased, the inlay windows cut out and the border tooling stamped in. Now I'm using the original template as a guide for the last bit of tooling.
Drawn in. Now I can stamp the design.
All the tooling is done. I've also cut out the slots for the belt loop and lanyard.
I need to carve out depressions for the stud post/washer.
And do the same for the belt and lanyard loops.
The welt needs to be thicker towards the mouth so I add a piece to split to either side:
The edge is then taken off and smoothed out:
That'll do it:
The welt is test fitted.
The stitching groove for the inlay has been cut and dyed with a touch-up brush. Now I have marked the stitch holes:
The stitch holes have been tapped in the leather on the drill press using a sharpened old needle. Now the inlay is fitted and the holes transferred to the inlay.
I'll just give each a tap and set the mark for drilling:
Drilling the stitch holes:
I use the Dremmel with a small carving ball to cut in a stitching groove on the back side of the inlay. I don't want raised stitches on the inside of the sheath.
The inlay has been trimmed on the grinder to give me a narrow stitching shelf. That is then traced onto the inside of the sheath:
And a seat created for the inlay:
This should work:
The inner edges of the inlay window need to be touched up with dye before the inlay goes in:
Then coated with gum trag, burnished and polished:
The same is done to the belt loop slots:
The lining is cut out. I'm using brain tanned deer hide.
And dyed:
The belt loop and lanyard loop are stitched in:
The transitions are touched up to make them smooth:
A stitching groove is cut for the inlay:
The inlay is given a final sanding to 1000 grit then polished on the buffer.
Till we get this:
The contact surfaces are glued:
The inlay is stitched in place:
All stitched:
I cut out a piece of split that will smooth out the inner face:
First, the stud needs to be installed. I used JB Quick and clamped it tightly till cured:
I have glued on the half-liner. It only extends to just under the lining stitch groove. I have also trimmed/smoothed the cut edges:
I also cut out a small hole where the stud post was creating a lump. it is now smooth and ready for the lining.
A thin strip is roughed up with 180 grit so the glue will stick better:
The lining has been glued and stitched along the top edge only:
The inside:
I need to round off the inside edge of the mouth before the lining goes in:
Here I am gluing one of the sides for the lining:
All trimmed and ready for the welt:
The welt is marked on the inside then glued in place. I then drilled the stitch holes through the top half of the sheath. Once the sheath was folded over and glued it completely, I ran the stitch holes through the bottom layer.
Getting the sides and welt to stay lined up for drilling was a pain:
All stitched up.
Now, I need a couple of beads and two lanyards. Here's one bead started:
And the lanyard cut:
The lanyard is dyed, then stretched till taut. I also work in a good amount of mink oil and work the piece with my hands pulling and stretching until it is smooth and about twice the original length.I'll then let it sit, stretched taut over night.:
So, the sheath is done. The knife handle has been polished and buffed and the blade has been polished one last time. This will be posted in Customs tomorrow night after I take some photos.
Thanks for watching along folks. If you have any questions, please ask.
-Peter
Here are some sneak peeks of the finished piece: