Knife Sheath Making

[MIOutdoorsman]

Hello friends-
I have a nice hunting knife (not PC) that came with the crappiest sheath you could imagine. There's nothing mechanically wrong with the sheath, but it's this cheap fake leather crap that I just can't stand to have on my belt.

I have made a couple of leather shooting/accoutrement bags and some other leather items, so I feel like I have the basic stitching techniques down well enough to sew a proper leather sheath. I'm wondering about a good place to find patterns, but more importantly, what weight leather to use for something like this? This will probably be a project for later in the fall/early winter, so I'm just starting to assemble my thoughts.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[kje54]

Hello friends-
I have a nice hunting knife (not PC) that came with the crappiest sheath you could imagine. There's nothing mechanically wrong with the sheath, but it's this cheap fake leather crap that I just can't stand to have on my belt.

I have made a couple of leather shooting/accoutrement bags and some other leather items, so I feel like I have the basic stitching techniques down well enough to sew a proper leather sheath. I'm wondering about a good place to find patterns, but more importantly, what weight leather to use for something like this? This will probably be a project for later in the fall/early winter, so I'm just starting to assemble my thoughts.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I prefer wet molding mine, there are hundreds of You Tube videos out there on how to create your own pattern off of the knife itself, wet mold the leather then sew it.

 

[hawkeye2]

You really don't need a pattern, just look at photos and combine features you like. Make a pattern from heavy paper, fold, staple and trim till you get what you need. The leather needs to be thick enough and tough to protect you if you should fall on it. When you have finished it you can take pride in the fact that it's 100% your design and work.

 

[user 48679]

There's a lot of different possible sheath styles out there to choose from.

You mentioned the knife isn't PC, but IMO the sheath can be anything you like, from a simple blade cover to a fancy parfleche style - or something in between that fits yer fiddle.

http://www.batcountryforge.com/blacksmithsbench/2015/11/4/bushcraft-sheath-making
https://www.primitiveways.com/pt-knifesheath.html
https://www.crazycrow.com/site/parfleche-knife-sheath-kit/

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

Thanks guys. Indeed, there are many different types of sheaths out there, and Google makes it pretty easy to get ideas. I'm intrigued by some of the designs that appear to position the knife horizontal or angled, as opposed to perpendicular to a belt, since a lot of my hunting time is sitting.

 

[tallpine]

5 to 6 oz leather is what you want for a sheath. You need to make your own pattern because the shape of the knife will determine what the sheath will look like. Go to the Dollar store and get you some heavy poster paper and make patterns until you get one you are happy with.
A few tips that might help, glue the sheath up with contact cement and lay out your stitching holes. Polish a 3/32 finishing nail and file a smooth rounded end on it. Take finishing nail and chuck up in drill press and drill the stitching holes and sew it up with waxed string. This method works for me, YMMV.
Your first one is probably not going to be perfect but the more you make, the better they get. I get my leather from Springfield Leather. You can buy small pieces any size you need. Try it, leather work is a very enjoyable. hobby and a handy skill to have. This sheath was made with the above method

 

[user 48679]

.

That's nice work, right there, tallpine ! !

.

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

Indeed it is!

 

[tenngun]

Veggie tan as said 5-6 oz is great. Soft enough to work with easily thick enough not to *** through. Simple fold works great with a welt to protect the sticking.
When done heat in oven to 175 f and paint with melted beeswax. Makes it hard, waterproof and nice color

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

Wow-I didn’t know the heat trick to harden leather! Thanks for that one.

 

[hawkeye2]

Here is a link to hardening leather. If you use an oven allow it to come to temp and stabilize before you put the leather in as ovens often overshoot when coming up to temperature and could harden the leather to the point it comes brittle.

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/hl.html

 

[flashpoint]

5 to 6 oz leather is what you want for a sheath. You need to make your own pattern because the shape of the knife will determine what the sheath will look like. Go to the Dollar store and get you some heavy poster paper and make patterns until you get one you are happy with.
A few tips that might help, glue the sheath up with contact cement and lay out your stitching holes. Polish a 3/32 finishing nail and file a smooth rounded end on it. Take finishing nail and chuck up in drill press and drill the stitching holes and sew it up with waxed string. This method works for me, YMMV.
Your first one is probably not going to be perfect but the more you make, the better they get. I get my leather from Springfield Leather. You can buy small pieces any size you need. Try it, leather work is a very enjoyable. hobby and a handy skill to have. This sheath was made with the above method

Now THAT'S a real beauty.

 

[LRB]

Look up info on hardening from Chuck Burrows, AKA Wild Rose. There should be postings on here in the archives. He had equals in leather working, but I know of none better. He advised to never go as high as 175°F with the heat. Wet the leather about the same as you would to tool it, wet but not dripping, then bake at 140°F to 150°F, until you know it is dry. I've done it with a heat gun, but I have also over cooked a couple using that process. Takes care and a little practice. With a heat gun you heat until you cannot hold it, but no more than that and then let cool. Repeat if you think it is uneven. The leather needs to be wet or very damp when you begin either method. You can also harden leather with just rubbing alcohol. Drench and let dry. I do most of my wet molding with the alcohol because it dries faster. Then oil heavily with neetsfoot or mineral oil when thoroughly dry, and let sit a day or so. Neetsfoot can draw insects. So can vege cooking oils. I prefer mineral oil over any. Easy to find and inexpensive. Draws no bugs and has little to no odor.

 

[kemart17]

5 to 6 oz leather is what you want for a sheath. You need to make your own pattern because the shape of the knife will determine what the sheath will look like. Go to the Dollar store and get you some heavy poster paper and make patterns until you get one you are happy with.
A few tips that might help, glue the sheath up with contact cement and lay out your stitching holes. Polish a 3/32 finishing nail and file a smooth rounded end on it. Take finishing nail and chuck up in drill press and drill the stitching holes and sew it up with waxed string. This method works for me, YMMV.
Your first one is probably not going to be perfect but the more you make, the better they get. I get my leather from Springfield Leather. You can buy small pieces any size you need. Try it, leather work is a very enjoyable. hobby and a handy skill to have. This sheath was made with the above method

nice work, i have a knife i just finished, hammered from leaf spuring. need a sheath for it and this thread has been helpfull!!!

 

[ZUG]

I use 8-9 oz. veggie tan leather with welting. I also glue in two fiber liners to both inner faces of the sheath where the blade is. I do this because of safety so the blade can not cut through the sheath when you insert the blade into the sheath. A sharp knife will cut through leather if not so lined - that's what knives will do when carelessly inserted into a knife sheath