Well, I’ve put the wood carving project away for a while. I’m going to have to wait until I get some more wood before I attempt to improve on my diabolical efforts of carving wood spirits.
I did get a kind message from Dave from Woodwosecarving . He offered assistance and I think I’m going to need it!
Over the last few weeks I’ve been collecting a few leather working bits and bobs. My first attempt at leather working was to try and make a sheath for the EKA Nordic W11.
I generally copied the design of the sheath that came with the knife, but I wanted to add a firesteel holder and dangler belt loop. So I duly cut out the bits. I nearly forgot the welt but luckily remembered before I started sewing it all together.
I used the edge beveller to er… bevel the edges. Perhaps I should have done this later.
I then made a groove with this adjustable groove making thingy. This enabled me to use a smart-looking wheel whatsit. This makes an indent in the leather to assist in making holes for the stitching.
After wetting the leather, I used some embossing stamps and tools to make a pattern.
I then folded over the sheath, added the welt and the firesteel holder. It was difficult to hold it all together and perhaps I should have made the holes first or used glue to hold it together. In the end I used a couple of bulldog clips to clamp the edges while I made the holes.
I then stitched it together using pre-waxed thread and two needles. Apparently this is called double-stitch or saddle stitch. I’m not showing you the back of the sheath because I made a mistake and missed a hole. It looks crap but it’s doing it’s job.
I trimmed up the edges (perhaps now was the time to use the edge beveller) and after wetting the edges again, I used a metal spoon to smooth them out.
I made a dangler belt loop and fixed it to the sheath with leather thong. I used a cool but expensive multi-punch hole maker to punch out the holes.
I’ve decided that the stuff I will wear myself (if it’s good enough of course) will be dyed a tan colour to keep it all consistent. I thought it would be an idea to bring out the embossing with antique finish paste. I read this in a book. The idea is to give the leatherwork an old, distressed look (like its owner).
I re-wet the leather and shaped the sheath around the knife . This is called wet-forming and should make the knife fit snugly in the sheath. This should perhaps be done before the dyeing. I’m going to have to get a list from someone to tell me what order is best to do things.
After leaving it over night to dry naturally, I rubbed it gently with some sandpaper and polished and waxed the sheath to give it a little waterproofing . I will buy some natural polish later to shine it up a touch.
I’m quite pleased with the result and had great fun doing it. I made lots of mistakes and certainly I could have done a few things differently but not bad for a first attempt. Better than the wood spirits anyway!
Welcome.
This is the home of Woodlife. You will find links to Pablos Woodlife (blog) the Woodlife Social Network (forum) and Woodlife Trails (courses) all on this page.
Really nice Pablo. I must do a bit more leather working as it is great fun (when you stop stressing it will look pants!)
Like the embossing was it easy to do?
May just have to buy some stamps to have a go…
Dave
Lovely work there Pablo
I think you may have inspired me to try my hand at this also. Everyone says you need a good a good craft skill and I would say this would be a fun one.
How much did the tools and material cost to build this sheath?
Good work fella! Every bit as god as sheaths made by the pros. You sir, have a gift for this work.
SBW
Nice work Pablo,
glad the leather worked put ok.
where did you get the stamps from?
There is no end to this mans talents Im very impressed Pablo are you taking orders I wouldnt mind one of them
More skills you’ve been hiding eh…? Nice one..
That is impressive work Pablo. A man of many talents.
Fantastic work, You really have a talent there, well done pablo
I like the leafs they really make it nice
That looks really good. It’s a first attempt?
Thats very neat Mr P! You make it look do-able.
The embossed oakleaves look nice to, was heat involved?
That is gorgeous Pablo! I made my other half take a look too and he was really impressed – which is saying something!
It’s a skill I would love to learn. Do you know if you can make leather from deer? Daft question I’m sure!
hen
x
PABLO — AKA The Jack Hargreives of bushcraft
Thanks for the comments. I’m really enjoying this at the moment.
I get the stuff from Le Prevo. You can make do with some tools, but you have to have certain stuff to get started and it’s not that cheap if you add it together.
Hen – I understand that deer skin is good for leather work but not for tooling and embossing.
Very nice indeed; as many have noted I’ve been inspired to add this (leather working/sheath making) to a list of potential spring projects.
Excellent piece of work! I think you’re being too modest here – it looks great. And it must be so much more satisfying to use knowing that it’s your own work.
Beautiful! Well done Pablo, seriously impressed! Wish I could do leatherwork! One day.
When I Recieved my knife through Mailorder it came with a sheath that it did’nt even fit in and when i called to request a new one they wouldnt give it to me because the model of knife that i have has been discontinued. so i was consitering making one myself because my leather working skills are suprisingly good. your article gave me alot of great ideas. thanx