Johnnyreb338 Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 Whew ( wiping sweat ) finally finished. Been away from the board fer a spell, between fishing, bushoging ,full time job, putting up new fence and building a tractor/boat shed I'm tired. In my spare time I did complete an order. There made from 8670 steel from Alpha Knife Supply, the scales came from Exotic Wood Supplier, some of the pins are brass, nickel silver and carbon fiber. The sheaths were made by a friend who is just starting out leather working and I'm just an amateur knife maker so it works out, I trade knives for sheaths. There were 6 knives I made but only got pics of 5 of them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 nice set! One suggestion for your leatherworking friend; until the stitching is very nice and even I would suggest trying to match the colour of the thread to the sheath. It will help mask any unevenness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyreb338 Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share Posted September 3, 2017 Good afternoon Mr Thomas. Humm yes I will pass that along. I also would like to have rivets at the top of each stich, it's just open stiching and subject to a lot of abuse. And I'm afraid the snap in the middle of the handles is going to create hotspots. But we are both learning and just having fun. How's life in El paso, did you take any hurricane damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 My stitching is bad---why I know that trick; but most of my knife sheaths are just because I had it hammered into me that no knife leaves the shop without a sheath of some sort as they are sent out *SHARP*! As for the Hurricane we didn't get a drop of water out here. Houston is about 746 miles away by road, 674 straight line miles... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyreb338 Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share Posted September 3, 2017 In addition to the series of knives shown above here is another blade I hammered out of a Timken bearing race, it has Bolivian rosewood scales and blue liners with nickel silver pins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 Mr. J. RB., I suggest that you check out a leather working supply store or on-line catalogue for: Rivets, Rivet set tool, (a cheap set is all you need). Sewing supply stores sell these too A "Speedy Stitcher", Nylon thread which comes in various weights and colors Glovers' needles, or flat leather work needles And slit hole punches to make evenly spaced holes for stitching. round hole or slit holes. (I prefer the latter, myself). (they come in 1 to six tines. (they look like a fork). You may also want to check out leather stains, waxes or other finishes, etc. etc. These items are not particularly expensive. Sell a few knives with sheaths and you have paid for the gear. Wood working supply stores often have exotic hard wood off cuts for a fraction the price of purpose bought knife scale wood. Or you can buy a thin thick flitch of exotic wood. Cutting out adequate scale shapes is not a hard task. They often go on sale at specialty wood supply stores. Three eighths thick wood and three inch width wood, usually will work for most smaller knives. The length, you can calculate for each particular knife that you craft. Hope that helps. I worked leather long before I started forging steel. Still do both. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyreb338 Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share Posted September 3, 2017 Just now, ThomasPowers said: My stitching is bad---why I know that trick; but most of my knife sheaths are just because I had it hammered into me that no knife leaves the shop without a sheath of some sort as they are sent out *SHARP*! As for the Hurricane we didn't get a drop of water out here. Houston is about 746 miles away by road, 674 straight line miles... I would love to do my own sheaths but a full time job and other duties prevent me from having enough time to do everything. My wife has stated she might be interested in getting her feet wet in the leather arts but has not committed yet. Right now she has vacation on the brain and we don't have the extra cash to invest in the tooling to get started. So for now I'll heat and beat and outsource the leather. I have 4 butcher knives to make for my boss for Christmas I'm thinking of trying kydex for them being that meat cutting is a semi wet environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 A patch of thin leather glued over the snap and rivit with barge cement cures the "hot spot" issue. Case the leather, use a creaser, stitching wheele and put the awl in the drill press. Stitching and awl work are done wile the leather is still damp. Trying to push an awl threw dry leather is a PITA, I prefer saddle needles and an awl to a stich awl. I acualy don't use the sewing machine as much as I could either, as I like the strength of saddle stich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 J. RB., When the vacation is over, I suggest that you take her to a Tandy leather shop. She can chat with a knowledgeable person and see what leather work is all about. SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 Other things that will help your partner is to make a pouch sheath, and put the snap in the notch behind the blade, it will keep the blade from fooling half out, if you get it upside down. Second, skive the belt loop and turn it in before sewing it up, this gives you smooth leather on both sides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 Charles, Barge cement is wonderful stuff. I and most shoe repair people use it. May I suggest that the leather be moistened/lubricated with an oil instead of water. Neatsfoot oil is excellent for that purpose. (it also rejuvenates dry leather items and garments). Why am I not surprised that you are an experienced leather worker besides all your other skills? Regards, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 3, 2017 Share Posted September 3, 2017 I'm a poor boy, Slag. I can't afford harness and tac repair at the saddle shop! I use water, it allows you to compact the leather fibers as you do in carving, this gets the stiches down below the skin without using a groover. The hair side leather is stronger. I'm old school, but I was taught to oil damp but dry to the touch. The reason glycerin is in saddle sope is its affinity for water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 I found what helps my stitching for sheaths and holsters is to use a stitching pony. Easy to use and simple to make one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyreb338 Posted September 4, 2017 Author Share Posted September 4, 2017 Thanks for all the tips and replies, I'm trying to take mental notes of all information. Anyways were supposed to be going to northern Kentucky to the Ark and creation museum, anything blade smith, leather shop or blacksmith related between mississippi and Kentucky that would be worth going to see. Well have about 6-7 days in that area and unlimited miles on the rental car. Although my back doesn't have unlimited miles, if it would be worth the drive i would suffer through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastaStan Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Nice set of knives Johnny, I particularly like the handle on the third picture. is it zebra wood? Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyreb338 Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 Good afternoon Masta Stan The wood is red palm, wasn't real enthused when I first seen them but after I shaped them and polished, it really made it pop. The picture don't do it justice, my iPhone doesn't take good pics. Thanks for the compliment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.