Stretching a Leather Sheath?

[Gravitas]

Hope someone can help. I am looking to purchase an F1 custom handled by bark river, but the sheath I want to use (horizontal carry by JRE) is made for the thermorun handled F1 and is thinner in size. Does anyone have a suggestion for stretching out the leather of the sheath gradually so it can accommodate a larger handle?

Thanks in advance

JR

 

[rayban]

Hold the sheath under hot running water for a minute....then insert knife for a couple minutes. If you are able to get the knife into the sheath while it is wet, it's gonna work.
Take the knife out and leave the sheath alone for over night or so....that should do it. You'll want to apply some conditioner to it.

 

[silver_pilate]

Yeah, what Ray said. If it's a nicely finished sheath, try to get the whole sheath uniformly wet so it doesn't leave water marks. It doesn't have to be completely dripping wet soaked, but wet enough to become good and flexible. It will stretch a good bit when wet. Also, while it's drying, put the knife in and out several times every couple of hours so that it doesn't shrink up too tight. You can insert the knife and twist it a bit to custom taylor your fit.

--nathan

 

[Gravitas]

Thanks for the advice, I'll give that a try.

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

You can also wrap the knife in plastic wrap and leave the knife in the sheath longer while it dries.
It's also a good way to store knives so the moisture the leather might attract or chemicals used to tan it don't blemish the knife.

 

[Mike Krall]

JR,

Leather workers call it casing. Warm water in a sink or bowl. Submerge the entire piece for about 5 seconds. Take it out and wrap it up in a plastic bag. Leave it for 6-12 hours.

What you are trying to do is add only as much water as you have to and let the water dispurse equally through all the cells. If there is too much water, when you stretch it, it won't hold the shape. Too little and it won't stretch easily and/or as much as it can.

If the casing is right, once the leather stretches, it will stay stretched so leaving the knife in won't be necessary.

If you have access to the plastic used to make overhead projector slides, folding and trimming a piece to sandwich the knife and pushing it into the sheath with the knife after most of the stretching has been done will move the leather a little bit more and make it fit better, with less rubbing, after it dries. That's a thing holster makers often do.

Mike

PS ~ Some folks say hold the leather in water until the bubbles quit coming out. My experience is that is too long a lot of times, but the bubbles will sort of tell you something.

 

[Gravitas]

Thanks guys, I am trying it right now. Soaked the sheath for a few seconds got the knife to fit in snug and put a belt through it to stretch out the straps as well.... Do you recommend putting a conditioner on once it dries or when it's still wet?

 

[silver_pilate]

It would be a good idea to condition it afterwords. Neatsfoot oil will work. A couple of light coats, and buff off the excess with a soft cloth.

--nathan

 

[Gravitas]

Well so far so good. I'm giving it the night to dry completely, then a couple coats of neatsfoot in the morning should do it. Thanks for all your input!

 

[rayban]

Well??? Show the folks at home how it turned out.

 

[Gravitas]

Here you go! Thanks again to everyone that helped me out.

 

[Gravitas]

FYI, I soaked the sheath in warm water for about 5 seconds.... then left the knife in the sheath overnight as it dried, (knife wrapped in 3 layers of plastic wrap and a heavy coating of renaissance wax). Thanks to Dan at JRE for his advice as well.