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As always, Be Prepared To Survive! One of the most critical steps after cutting out your template is to mark the paper template which is inside and outside. Usually, you start with the actual sheath in which the blade will be placed. You can always touch up areas with dye when completed, especially areas that you bevel after it is sewn.At this point, you will want to dampen the outside of the leather and start fitting the leather around the knife, to make sure it is going to fit. The template has been cut and folded to draw the other side. Place your template, with the inside on the leather, and cut out the design. Continue in this manner until you are all the way around. 4725 Adams Rd Hixson, TN 37343 PH 423.525.9477. Stonestreet Leather has the highest quality knife sheaths. After the glue on the welt is dried, you will now need to dampen the leather again and work it over the knife, whereby the two sides line up where you will do your final stitching. A classic saddle stitch (German version) is probably the best technique for a classic leather sheath, but also one that many have to learn first. The leather immediately changes color and may even bubble a bit; this is normal. support@stonestreetleather.com, 1922 West Woodland St, Springfield, Missouri 65807, Handmade Leather Pocket Knife Sheath, Cross Draw with Belt Slots - Vegetable Tanned Cowhide Leather, Handmade Leather Pocket Knife Sheath, Cross Draw with Belt Slots - Oxford Xcel Chrome Tan Leather, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. The Tooling Leather I buy is the premium double shoulder, trimmed. You can already check some details based on these patterns. Now it is time for our first stitching. If not, hold the glued section tight, until it dries. To make a leather knife sheath, you first need to gather the materials and tools needed. To determine such variables as bending radii and stiffness, it is imperative to have the materials handy. 2005 - 2022 Survival Resources. It is helpful to have a caliper gauge to determine the thickness of materials and clamps to temporarily join materials or parts and measure them. Press down the belt loop and drill the stitch holes, 2016 Paul E. Beebe - All Rights Reserved. Pdf's are great because you can print them off, spray them with a little adhesive, adhere to the leather and just cut directly over the lines of the pattern. 155 E Dorsey Ln., Poughkeepsie, NY, US, 12601. This line represents the fold of your sheath. The first is the Fold-Over Sheath (also called a Pouch Sheath). And if you are more confident of your own skills, feel free to use or modify whatever you find here to suit your own needs. Sew the sheath and fit the knife it will be snug at the beginning but it will loosen over time. After the gluing of the final fold has dried (some people wait overnight and impatient people like me wait an hour or so), we must groove and hand punch the stitch holes for the final fold-over. The cost of a custom leather sheath depends on various factors, such as the knifes size, material used, and the design. 8. It is a strip of leather that is placed between the two outer layers of the sheath, along the seam, and is made from leather at least as heavy as, if not heavier than, the leather used in the sheath itself. Knife sheath projects in particular because most sheaths have some curved lines that can be very tricky to cut out of leather using only paper patterns. The sheath completed, edge coted, and ready for use. Finished leather is much more supple, although buffalo hide is the stiffest of all the finished leathers. Once youve stitched everything up, use some finishing stitches to make sure nothing pulls through and tie them off as close to the leather as possible. Waxed Thread For leather-working, a waxed thread is more durable, slides through leather easily, and is waterproof. )but not finished. Once youve outlined your whole knife, extend a piece about 4 long from the belt loops centerline. Add some cement to the portion of the loop that will be sewed down, as well as to the back of the sheath where it will be sewed. Both of these can be purchased from Tandy Leather Company. The pocket knife pouch does not have a closure, instead it is constructed so that the knife slides in comfortably, but secure enough that it won't fall out. You can find a full assortment of choices when you order wholesale leather online. Draw a line on the paper from one side to the other, which will be the center line of the sheath. Available in a variety of colors and finishes, this sheath is also available for small knives or large pocket knives. The term leather refers to many kinds of hides, from python to ostrich. Groover This tool marks where you should stitch and makes a groove to put your stitches. The features of other knife sheaths can be combined in your designn. Keep in mind, these sheaths are small so there is a limit to the amount of content we can engrave for space reasons. Once youve reached the top, turn around and go back the way you came, using the same thread. If you are going to dye the leather, this is the point at which I do it. Draw around the blade leaving about " for the welt to be inserted, and draw the welt. You do this by stitching back over your last two stitches in the opposite direction. Let the cement dry a short while and then stick the loop to the back of the sheath and secure with clips, if you can get them in that position. Now comes the fun part, folding over the sheath, gluing the welt in place, and then completing the stitching for a finished sheath. Our first type is the pocket knife pouch. The most common is bovine or cowhide. Now, after making sheaths for myself and friends, I thought I would provide a short tutorial so you also could make your own sheaths. There are three essential aspects of leather-working, an intriguing pastime that results in useful tools: materials, tools and process. This shows the belt loop stitching completed. You cant stamp or tool finished leather in the same way you would veg-tan leather. You do this in the same manner in which the belt loop was glued. Edge Beveller Used to remove sharp corners on leather crafts, resulting in rounded edges. It is used to hold a knife, handgun, or any other tool around your body. Much like a shellac or wood finish, the finishing process seals the hide, making it waterproof. Note that the belt loop should only appear on one side of the sheath. There are a slew of reasons and uses for a leather sheath. We give you tips on how to develop your knife sheath from scratch and what you should bear in mind when building the prototype. This shows the gluing and clamping the welt in place. Does the knife look like it fits right, especially in conjunction to where the welt will be glued?At this point, being there is a keeper strap; the male line 24 snap must be positioned on the side of the sheath before it is folded and sewed. Another favorite tool of leather crafters are laser cut acrylic templates. Place your knifes spine on this centerline with the sharp edge facing away. Functional test whether local/session storage entries can be written. Smaller leather sheaths will cost less than the bigger leather sheaths, but it will definitely cost a lot if its made out of an expensive leather and a unique design. All rights reserved. This is also an excellent opportunity to start molding your knife. For tools, you will need a Groover (I prefer an adjustable Groover which allows you to adjust the width of the groove from the edge), a Spacing-Overstitch Marking Wheel (Also called a Pricking Wheel - you can get one to do 5, 6 or 7 holes per inch, or one that has one handle and three removable wheels offering all 3), a Stitching Awl, A Rawhide Mallet, An Edge Beveller, a Sewing Palm, Harness Needles, and Thread (I use Waxed Nylex Thread). Some use leather shears, a hole puncher, or an excellent knife to cut out the template. In addition, knife sheaths made of Kydex are usually only riveted and screwed. It is often seen attached with a belt, titled, which makes pulling out the tool, Have questions? Others use an Exacto-knife or a rotary cutter. The belt loop is the leather piece that wraps around to the other side of the sheath so the belt can pass through the created loop. Adjust where you want the belt loop to lay, and then mark it. What do you like, what functions do the different designs offer, and what could be improved? Then, using the needle on the other side, push that needle through the same hole that the front needle just came through. Stitching Palm This is great for your comfort while youre sewing. It is incredibly satisfying to make something you can use time and again. Acrylic templates for all kind of leather projects are a vital part of any leather crafters arsenal. Acrylic patterns/templates are placed on top of the leather and held down as the crafter cuts around the borders. When you are done, just remove the paper and you have a perfectly cut out piece of the project. With these improvements, you make another prototype or, if there are only minor changes, the final sheath. If you want to make a simple fold-over sheath, you only need a piece of leather and some other tools to help you make a good leather knife sheath. I wish I could be more precise, but I still make templates that on occasion are too small or large upon completion. Now comes the part that will come only with practice. There are many different types, shapes and sizes of leather knife sheaths and knife pouches. At the beginning of the pattern development, draw the contours of the knife on the sheet of paper. The female snap on the keeper strap can be installed at this time (I often wait until the sheath is completed to ensure a tight fit). Most fixed blade knives with sheaths have welts to prevent injury. It is up to you as I usually start stitching in about a half hour. This article won't make you an expert in sheath making, but will get you started.There are two basic types of knife sheaths. The saddler's seam is robust and ideal for knife scabbards. Once the final stitching is completed, you can check the side of the sheath where the welt was installed. I also recommend having a good grade leather contact cement or leather weld, as well as some leather dye and edge cote for the final product. On the prototype of the knife sheath, improvements to the knife sheath are easy to see. This rotting potentially locks in the moisture, leading to dulling of the knife. Now push the needle on the front side through the next hole in line. Being you will be back stitching at the end, I normally select an area of stress, in this case the side of the belt loop against the belt. After making some sheaths you will decide what weight is good for you. Leather sheath has the tendency to absorb moisture very quickly which causes it to rot. You can use any pocket knife, but a Microtech fixed blade works best because it is sharp, strong, and reliable. Next comes the upper part of the sheath with the clasp that holds the knife in the sheath and the suspension (e.g., one or two belt loops or an eyelet for a neck strap). Pull the thread on both sides firmly and evenly. A self-made knife needs an individual sheath. Push one needle through the hole and continue to pull until both needles are side by side. This creates an extra-durable seam that does not unravel. I usually draw one side, and then cut just that side out, up to the center line. Using an Edge Beveller to bevel the edges. However, it is also possible to make the complete sheath from a single piece of leather. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. The weight for sheaths should be between 6-10 oz., and I prefer 7-8 oz. If you are going to use a keeper strap, this also has to be added to the template at this point. We do still end up doing a little hand stitching in certain cases). But many people use 5 or 6 holes per inch). A view of the finished template with welt. The prices can range from a few dollars to above $200. The needles should now be reversed, with the original front needle at the rear, and the back needle at the front. Carefully cutting out sheath with leather shears. It gets a little tight here pushing the needles through, but you can do it. Enjoy your new skills.We hope you enjoyed this article and will help support our efforts by checking out our products. I always have thread left over, which in my opinion, is better than running short.Now you need to thread one needle on each end of the thread. The second type of knife sheath is a similar knife pouch that allows you to secure it to a belt but it also features a snap closure making sure that your knife never falls out. The development of the pattern is a complex process that involves all the aspects mentioned above. Now cut the parts of your knife sheath and turn your idea into a first prototype. Enjoy FREE SHIPPING with orders $100 and up! Although I build sheaths in a number of styles, I have deliberately chosen a very simple pouch-type sheath for this tutorial. You can click on any image below to enlarge it and to read more details about that step in the process of building a leather knife sheath. The most straightforward design, and the best for beginners, is the fold-over pouch style. Keep in mind the thickness of the material and the bending radii of the material. What skills do you have, or would you like to learn to put the construction of the knife sheath into practice? When you get to the end of your holes, you need to back stitch a couple of stitches to lock the stitches. Finished leather has a deeper hue and higher gloss. Leave the leather soaking for five minutes, and then take it out and discard the water. To create the welt outline, you should draw another line, away from your first contour lines. It's not difficult, but can take some time and effort. A vegetable tanned leather sheath will not crack or dry out if its moisture dries.This will also protect the knife or any other tool from scratches or getting dull. This is longer than I have seen recommended, but works for me. A fixed Microtech blade in a homemade sheath is a beautiful, personalized gift, and it keeps you safe from accidents. The belt strap can be folded over (The ruff side will be facing out). With the knife inserted into the sheath, use an antler to burnish the sheaths edges, which wears them down to rounded edges. This shows me punching stitch holes with the stitching awl in marks made by the Pricking Wheelin preparation of sewing. A knife I have found very useful for leather work is the CRKT Bear Claw. You can now finish the sheath by rubbing it with a water resistant finish. The welt, although somewhat inconspicuous, is a very important part of a good sheath. This can be, for example, an error in the manufacturing process, if an eyelet cannot be fitted perfectly after sewing. You should continue to check the fit of the template to the knife before finishing the template. Knife sheaths are usually made of leather. Shop In Store: M-F 10-6 Now dampen the leather and carefully work the knife into the sheath. To ensure the fit of your sheath is precise, place the knife onto the leather and fold the material over the blade. Make sure it goes in and out alright. Fold-over grooved and stitch holes punched. Now lets get started. Patterns can come as pdf's or acrylic templates. Placing cement on both sides of the belt loop before securing in place. A welt is another piece of leather sewn into your sheath to keep the blade from cutting through the sheath. Work the damp leather slowly so it doesn't crack. Once the groove is complete, lightly dampen it and take your Pricking Wheel to mark inside the groove the proper spacing for your stitches (I use 7 stitches per inch, which is used for holsters, as I think it provides a better finished appearance. Browse Our Collection of Microtech Fixed Blade Knives. 300 g/m or thin cardboard. Cutting this time around is demanding because you are now cutting through two layers of leather that have been hardened by the wetting and drying process. Source: FotoCuisinette / Shutterstock.com, Source: Zholobov Vadim / Shutterstock.com, Source: Sergey Filimonov / Shutterstock.com, How to Make a Leather Knife Sheath at Home to Protect Your Blade, Marfione Custom Hawk Automatic Bronze Blade, Ti2 Design Custom Techliner Pens Avail Now, Microtech Exocet Money Clip OTF Knife Cali Legal 1.9" Stonewash 157-10. If youd like to make a leather sheath at home to protect your knife, heres what you need to do. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. First, its essential to get a good understanding of the tenets of leather-working. With the knife in the sheath, dampen the edges, and begin burnishing (rubbing back and forth vigorously) with a smooth antler tip. The fold-over style of sheath only uses one piece of leather which is, as the name implies, folded over itself and sewn along the sides. You can leave your knife like this from one to twelve hours, checking every so often that the leather is molding to your blades exact shape. These should also be gathered while considering what type of leather knife sheath you want to make. Wrap your knife in plastic wrap to protect it from the damp leather. To trace your knife onto your template, find the papers center and draw a straight line through it. The second type is the 2-Seam style, whereby the sheath is made from at least two or three pieces of leather, stacked, and is sewn around both sides. Stitching Awl Use this tool to make holes through which you run your waxed thread when putting it all together. To calculate the length of thread you will need, measure the overall distance you will be stitching, multiply by four, and then double that. Ensure whatever knife you use is very sharp; if you need to know how to sharpen a pocket knife, it is a quick and straightforward process. For example, in our video on Designing and Building your own Knife Sheath (German version), we combined a leather sheath with a safety inlay and a belt clip made of Kydex. Trace the sharpened edge, leaving all around and a little more for the handle. Some of the leather knife sheaths I was getting with new knives left a bit to be desired. Pushing a needle through the holes in the leather made with the stitching awl with a Sewing Palm. A closer view of punching stitch holes in marks made by Pricking Wheel. If you like knives, then you need an awesome sheath! Every time you sheath or unsheath your Microtech knife, youll be reminded that you created the accessory by hand. The top-quality sheath is an accessory that can be used to carry extra magazines, a flashlight or your cell phone. If your dominant hand is your right one, you will probably wear the sheath on that side. With a few specialized tools like an awl and a stitching palm, some time, quality leather, and a sharp knife, you can create a leather sheath for your favorite blade in the comfort of your own home. Perhaps the look of the knife sheath is not what you had in mind. Pulling the thread firmly from both sides. Lay your knife centered on that line, blade facing up. A knife scabbard usually consists of several parts such as the baseplate, the front part, the closure strap and the belt loop. Lay the knife inside and check the fit. Acrylic templates are great for a few reasons: This is great if you have a large number of sheaths to make. Marking Stitch holes with Pricking Wheel. In our video (German version), we show this development process step by step. At this point, some people say you should let the joint dry overnight before sewing. You will also need some leather cement (I use Leather Weld which is water soluble until it dries) and some dye if you want to dye the leather a certain color. Knife sheath patterns are super useful for any leather crafter wanting to make a leather sheath or pouch. To start sewing, pick a hole to start. By producing a prototype, you can easily identify the possibilities for improvement. We are able to laser engrave any logo, initials or b/w photo onto any leather sheath. Place a dish towel over the wet leather and press so the cloth absorbs all the excess water. Using the metal insert, you push the needle through the leather with your palm (covered by the tool) to avoid sore fingers. You may also want masking tape, neatsfoot oil, a dish towel, and some spring clips. Mark where you want to place your stitches on the belt loop and then use your Groover to make a small groove around those marks. The first step to making a leather sheath is to create a template on stiff paper. You will need sturdy paper with approx. Mallet This tool can be used instead of a hammer. Further information on cookies and how DICTUM handles data protection can be found. It should be snug, but the sheath will loosen up with time and wear. Some ideas seem ingenious, but turn out to be impractical in implementation. You will thank yourself for not ruining a good piece of leather. Either type of sheath is fully customizable with personalized laser engraving available. All edges can be beveled to provide a nice rounded appearance, even around the belt loop on the back. That is a wide range of weightswhich refers to the thickness of the material, not the actual physical weightbut, after making a few sheaths, you can figure out what your favorite weight to work with is. Some people also use a belt sander with a very light grit paper. Knife sheaths can also be made from wood, as with some Japanese hunting knives. Besides adding stiffness to the sheath, the welt protects the stitching from being cut by the sharp cutting edge of the knife. After buying some leather, a few leather tools, and a few short lessons, I was on my way. Simply email us before or after you purchase and let us know what you would like engraved and we will take care of the rest. When completed you should see a small impression where each stitch hole must be punched.Now that the groove is marked where your stitches will go, you need to hand punch each stitch hole with a Stitching Awl and Rawhide Mallet. You will also need a good pair of Leather Shears and a sharp knife for cutting leather. Check Out Our Collection of Microtech Knives. There is the fold-over or pouch-style sheath, which only uses one kind of leather, and then theres the two-seam style. Thin leather, for example, wraps around the blade more easily or more tightly than thick leather. You can now stitch the final section in the same manner as we did with the belt loop. This sheath design requires only two pieces of leather. Our knife sheaths and pouches can be customized by use of our laser engraver. Making a leather sheath at home provides you with something usefula sheath to protect your bladeand a new skill. Around this shape, you gradually develop all the components of your knife sheath. It should match the function and appearance of the knife. Using an awl or similar tool, make a series of holesaround four to fivein the belt loop and the sheath. It is also sold by weight, which does not refer to how heavy the leather is but its thickness. A cross draw sheath has a different structure than a normal leather sheath. If, for example, it took you a day to make the first draft of the knife sheath, you know the process exactly and know which work steps have to be done in which order. You also have to determine whether you want to wear your sheath on your bodys right or left side. To mold it, soak the blade part of your sheath, leaving the handle out, in a pan of warm water for a few minutes. Then carefully cut off the remaining thread and you're done with the belt loop. You will need two Harness Stitching needles and the waxed thread. Once you have cut out the shape from the leather, you need to check that the sheath fits around your Microtech fixed blade before you put any more time or effort into it. In addition to drawing tools such as pencil, ruler and set square, you will also need all materials and semi-finished products (leather, wood, rivets, push buttons, safety inlay, etc.). Please enable Javascript on your browser to ensure that you can properly view all of the useful functions on www.dictum.com, Please select and save your cookie settings. If you want to build the knife sheath from a high-quality, expensive leather, it is recommended to build the pattern from an inexpensive leather. Knife-related injuries in the U.S. outnumber any other tool-related damages, so extra precautions are a must. Again you will need to wet the sheath on the outside (not soaked, just dampen it). You can get some metal clips from an office supply store (to hold the leather after gluing) and for a Burnisher (which is used to seal and smooth the grain surface) I use various pieces of deer antler. With Kydex, you can make similar shapes to the wet moulding technique comparatively easily.