Blade Leather

opaul

opaul

KNIFE MAKER
Finished up the sheaths for five knives this weekend. I'm finding that leather work takes up several hours and although I enjoy making the sheaths, I've got a long way to go to get a professional looking sheath.
Do most of you make your own sheaths? Jantz has pre-made sheaths for around $17. They have to be wet molded but this seems like it would be a reasonable approach. Comments?
 
Personally, making sheaths is my least favorite part of knifemaking, however, after having tried several different sources to produce sheaths for me, I continue to produce them myself. The reason? I've a number of source to have sheaths built for me, but it just never worked...... the sheaths simple were not "right"....the work was great, but the sheaths were either made of overly light leather, or simply did not "match" the knives. I'm also a bit on the anal side.... and believe that it's better for me to do it with the gauge of leather I feel is appropriate for the knife, and in a "style" that matches the knife it's intended for.

I would certainly NOT buy ready made sheaths.... for $17 I can't image getting much in the way of quality leather, and suspect the leather would not be the correct type for knives..... cheap leather is always chrome tanned...... which is a leather that is tanned with chomatic acid. This chemical can never be fully rinsed out of the leather.....and if you've ever seen an older knife, with "green goop" present on the hardware, then you've seen the results of using chrome tanned leather for the sheath.
 
EdCaffreyMS said:
Personally, making sheaths is my least favorite part of knifemaking, however, after having tried several different sources to produce sheaths for me, I continue to produce them myself. The reason? I've a number of source to have sheaths built for me, but it just never worked...... the sheaths simple were not "right"....the work was great, but the sheaths were either made of overly light leather, or simply did not "match" the knives. I'm also a bit on the anal side.... and believe that it's better for me to do it with the gauge of leather I feel is appropriate for the knife, and in a "style" that matches the knife it's intended for.

I would certainly NOT buy ready made sheaths.... for $17 I can't image getting much in the way of quality leather, and suspect the leather would not be the correct type for knives..... cheap leather is always chrome tanned...... which is a leather that is tanned with chomatic acid. This chemical can never be fully rinsed out of the leather.....and if you've ever seen an older knife, with "green goop" present on the hardware, then you've seen the results of using chrome tanned leather for the sheath.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments, Ed. I've read about the chrome leather enough to stay away from that.
I do have a question that maybe you can answer. I'm getting my sheath leather right now from Tandy Leather because there is a store just up the road and I've been getting the undyed vegetable tanned leather. They have dyed leather as well, but the store couldn't tell me if it was vegetable tanned prior to being dyed. Does anyone buy pre dyed leather for their sheaths?
 
I've tried using the pre-dyed leather in that past, and never had good results. My suspicion is that all the dyed leather is chrome tanned, but have never been able to verify that.

I used to buy leather from both Tandy and Leather Facotry (now one in the same)...... but there was always some aspect about the leather that I simply didn't like. For several years now, I've only purchased leather from smaller tanneries, or "Mom-n-Pop" outfits that I've come to trust. I've also come to realize that there is a major difference in leathers..... I hate to say it this way, but "cheap" leather is just that, cheap and hard to work with. The more expensive leathers are well worth the money to me.... very consistent quality, and much nicer to work versus the cheap leathers.
 
opaul - I have purchased leather from Tandy. Positives are you get to touch the leather and see it before you decide to buy. If you wait for the sales, you can get so me pretty good stuff and at a decent price. Negatives - the store I went to was two-three hours from my home and had limited supplies.

I order my leather on line now from Wickett and Craig. http://wickett-craig.com/

About the same price as Tandy, maybe a bit more with shipping. But, I like their leather better and don't waste a whole day travelling there and back.

I have used their drummed dyed leather and have had zero problems.

Take a look at the website, it will answer several of your questions. Better yet, call them. You get to talk to a real person, every time. Very helpful.
 
Thanks Dennis, I'm thinking if I get the dyed leather that will save another step in making the sheaths. I'll definitely check them out.
 
I buy my leather from Tandy, but I have two within 45 minutes of me. I like to look at them, touch and feel them. I've never had any issues with their leather. You get what you pay for. I buy 7-8 oz and with a welt, it makes a pretty solid sheath, holster and belt.
 
Those look good! I bought a cheap pack of stamps from amazon, and they really help me cover up some boo boos. I’ll never forget something that Ed said a while back. I’ll paraphrase it as ... a good knife maker is an expert at covering his mistakes. Every “thing” that I have made since then has been the culmination of hidden catastrophes. Turd polishing... it’s what I do.

BIGTEDDY - 20pcs Leather Working Saddle Making Stamps Tools Set for Leathercraft Carving DIY Handmade Art (Silver) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K4UE6C8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_tHoimrrwn4Sy4
 
Opaul...those look great. Don't buy premade. As fast as you learn you'll be happy with your results in no time.

If you look at Ed's knives his sheaths MATCH the design of the knife. (Style/theme/strength) The other top guys too, pretty much.(some have found amazing leather artists) Finding someone close with your same sense of aesthetics and build quality? Good luck.

Ty has his dad build his sheaths and they are beauties. I suppose the guy that raised you had some influence on how you think about beauty and quality...and probably why you love knives in the first place....lol!
 
Thanks Ted!. I guess I should buckle down and get to it. I think one reason I get impatient is that I make knives and not the sheaths and then when I try to catch up I have to make sheaths for a couple of days to catch up.
 
That's why I love making kitchen knives!

As far as sheaths go, for too long I wasn't charging enough (or at all) for the sheath and I found myself resenting the time it took to make sheaths. Make money on the sheath. Bake it into the price, and make it pay well. There's no reason someone should expect a $100 sheath for free. And there's no reason you should be charging $25 for a sheath when that's your cost in materials.

Opaul, look at your sheaths. Does that look like a $20 sheath to you? Well it doesn't to me! Your knife and your sheath are one in the same- both of them are part of the experience the customer is buying. Your leather work is also part of what separates you from Walmart, not just the knife.
 
I've only been making knives a short while compared to most, and I bought into the hype of hating the leather work. I was designing my own style sheath, hand stitching, etc. But one day I decided to make a holster and it all changed. Then I decided to make a belt, and it really changed.

Now I own a leather sewing machine, and constantly work leather. I grew to love it. I find myself making more leather goods than knives now, lol
 
My dad does make my sheaths. He does an amazing job. To be honest if he told tomorrow that he didn't want to make sheaths anymore, I would find someone else who's style fits my designs. I seem to be one of the few who feel that I am better off making knives. It's what I like to do. Some people like making leather goods. I'll do my thing and let them do theirs.
 
Hey I was wondering wat the hold up was on the knifes now I see they look great to me OP keep up the good work!
 
Thanks guys! You have gotten me over the hump!! I just finished two additional leather sheaths for knives that are going to new owners. I do think I'm going to buy some factory died saddle leather (veg. tanned) from Tandy to eliminate the dyeing step.

John Wilson - thanks for your wisdom and compliments.
 
Real nice work opaul!

You know some folks just hate the sheath building side of knife making. Too me it is an extension of the knife. I discovered each sheath is like each knife. They have their own personality. I agree with Ed, I just don't feel right letting someone else build my sheaths!

I tried the dyed leather and while it was OK, I think my next order will be veggie tanned and dye it myself. Once dyed it is harder to get the leather to take dye again and their are some colors it is almost impossible to dye too, on an already dyed piece of leather!
 
Opaul, I'm with Ed on this. when I started I had a couple people making my sheaths and I was never happy with any of them.
The straw that broke the camels back was when one maker brought me something he changed up all on himself.
I said ....this isn't what I wanted, he replied...I thought it would be better this way. I'm sure he did think that but it wasn't what I wanted!
So I thought, maybe this will be fun to try and hit the local Tandy shop. after a couple years I came to realize...no this really isn't kind of fun, and Tandy leather is crap...my opinion only. years later I still don't enjoy leather work but making them myself to perfect fit a particular knife with good quality leather with my stamp on the back makes it worth my while by a long run.
 
I'm surprised y'all think Tandy is crap. I've been really happy with their stuff. But I always visit the local store and choose my exact piece of leather.
 
Wickett and Craig is the only way to go. I do shop Tandy occasionally but when I do I get double shoulders not sides. Their leather does not have the body of W&C.
I have a saddle maker friend that I try to add on an order so he gets discount on volume order and we save on shipping.
 
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