Weekend sheath project

[Cottis]

Over the years I have done some leatherwork to fill time or when I need something making or just fancy getting the needle and thread out.

This weekend I decided to turn some buffalo vegetable tanned leather in to a sheath for an el cheapo Mora. I use these knives for deer stalking generally but they are solid cheap functional tools but the plastic sheath they come with are a bit, well plasticy. I prefer leather. So I made this. Sheath making is generally easy if you use leather with a softish handle but the issue with these is they give very quickly which can lead to a loss of form and a growing inability to hold the knife securely. Not ideal when you are crawling through heather, grass, gorse or whatever in the field. This buffalo leather is very very firm. Which makes it a pain in the arse to work with but it does make for a really good hide to make knife sheaths from.

Start with this

then cut some stuff, shape it, glue it, punch it, stitch it, sand, edge bevel and burnish and hey presto you have a sheath.

 

[Colesy]

Hi Cottis, lovely Job that. Nice solid sheath, no silliness, well made, practical and robust. Love it.
Cheers
Chris.

 

[Wobbler45]

Something I has always wanted to try, think I may look out for some thick leather and have a go

 

[Cottis]

Something I has always wanted to try, think I may look out for some thick leather and have a go

Do you work with leather? If not, I would not try something like this first time. If you are experienced though then yeah give it a go. It can be good fun.

If you have not worked with leather before and want some suggestions of other projects you could try that are more straight forward, i can stick up some pictures and offer some advice if it helps. I have made tons of stuff over the years from scope lens protectors, ammunition wallets, card wallets, belts, glasses cases, novelty keyrings, lots of knife sheaths and god knows what else.

 

[Mjd]

Well done nice job.Mjd

 

[Driver]

Great job, I like the sound of the scope lens protectors too.

 

[Cottis]

Great job, I like the sound of the scope lens protectors too.

They are quite fiddly as it requires a lot of box stitching but I have made quite a few. They are functional bespoke items that can be made to fit any scope. Useful for people who want more traditional items to protect the lenses on their optics. They are also silent in use which is good for hunting in the field to avoid spooking your quarry.

 

[eds81]

Lovely craftmanship

 

[Hollowlegs]

Do you work with leather? If not, I would not try something like this first time. If you are experienced though then yeah give it a go. It can be good fun.

If you have not worked with leather before and want some suggestions of other projects you could try that are more straight forward, i can stick up some pictures and offer some advice if it helps. I have made tons of stuff over the years from scope lens protectors, ammunition wallets, card wallets, belts, glasses cases, novelty keyrings, lots of knife sheaths and god knows what else.

They are quite fiddly as it requires a lot of box stitching but I have made quite a few. They are functional bespoke items that can be made to fit any scope. Useful for people who want more traditional items to protect the lenses on their optics. They are also silent in use which is good for hunting in the field to avoid spooking your quarry.

Hi, lovely work, just love leather, do you or can you make an FAC certificate wallet/folder/holder? If so how much please?
(Hopefully I have not infringed any forum rules asking this?)

 

[Cottis]

Hi, lovely work, just love leather, do you or can you make an FAC certificate wallet/folder/holder? If so how much please?
(Hopefully I have not infringed any forum rules asking this?)

Yeah made a few over the years. I think they were all like sleeve type wallets whereby you just slide your tickets in rather than a folding type affair. Just something to stop the certificates getting bent and folded over. I very rarely use mine. The SGC never gets used and I reload, so the FAC only gets used on the odd time I buy rimfire ammo.

Here are some examples but I am afraid I don't really the time right now to make much stuff. It is a hobby rather than a job. If that changes I can let you know as I do sometimes do some commissions but it tends to be more ammunition wallet related stuff on some other forums I use. FAC wallets use a lot of leather and the cost ends up being kinda prohibitive. Good quality veg tan is not cheap and they take a good amount of time to make properly.