Leather question!:)

[Yorkshire wanderer]

Hi chaps,
Just a quick one, I was given some leather by a friend at the weekend.

His gramps used to be a shoe maker and he has loads of the stuff stashed away ( I'll try get a pic one day:)

Anyway the leather is tanned but I'm wondering if it will be too thin for a knife sheath? It's maybe 3mm (?) thick.

Would I better using it for a pouch instead?

Any tips are welcome:)

Thanks a lot

Yorkshire wanderer

[Adam Savage]

3mm should be fine for a knife sheath. It's what most makers use. Don't forget to glue and sew a welt into the edge side (which should be done with all sheaths, no matter what thickness the leather).

Here's an example of 3mm sheaths...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/DSC_0129_zps5d622288.jpg[/URL]

[Tony1948]

That is just about right for sheath makeing (3mm)you'v stumbled on a gold mine there.I use anything from 2-8mmto 3-8mm for mine11378113791138011381

[Yorkshire wanderer]

Thanks for the replies chaps, I shall scour the interweb for some instructions.

Any advice on tools I can find lying around the house/worshop that would make life easier?

Any thing I should be wary of as a beginner to this sort of thing, or any old timer tricks to make life easier?

Both these sheaths look amazing. Not sure I'll be able to compete;)

Ta

Yorkshire wanderer

[Adam Savage]

Here's a couple videos I made a while back, using some thin leather (only about 2mm) and some basic tools (no fancy leatherworking tools). It might help you with some ideas :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga5lcle-ziY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QUE0QfmOE4

[Bernie]

Two links I was given a while back that you might find useful:

http://www.knives.com/sheath.html

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23049

Hope that helps! :)

[Yorkshire wanderer]

Thanks chaps for your help I'll have a look at those tonight. Hopefully I'll stick some pics of the finished article up:)

Ta

Yorkshire wanderer

[mountainm]

If its shoe leather (soft and pliable) chances are its chrome tanned not veg tanned. In which case it'll corrode steel over time.