Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

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Graps
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Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#1 Post by Graps »

I have a tiny antler handle knife that I recently finished and it needs a belt sheath.
This is a right hand sheath that we are going to make.
First make a pattern using cardboard like you can get from a cereal box.
Fold the cardboard and make a nice crease. This will be the center line for the pocket.
Set the knife on the line edge up and carefuly roll the knife to the right.
Trace around one side of theblade about a half inch wider than the blade.
Cut the cardboard just up to the top of the pocket on that side and fold it in half to mark the othse side.
Then cut the other side and with the knife inside, figure out where the belt loop and strap will need to be and cut them out.
Note: Cut the belt loop twice as long as you want the loop to be. So if you want 3" , make it 6".
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#2 Post by Graps »

Now with it all cut out, see how it fits with the knife.
You can make adjustments to it if you need to. Like if the strap is in the wrong place, cut it off and tape it where it needs to be.
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#3 Post by Graps »

Now with a good inc pen, trace around your pattern on the flesh side of the vegetable tanned leather.
Be careful with this step, it's easy to do it backwards.
But if you wanted a left hand sheath, thats the way you would do it.
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#4 Post by Graps »

After it's cut out, check the fit with the knife.
You want it wide because of the spacer and stitching.
And it will be trimmed after stitched up.
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#5 Post by Graps »

Now using the sheath, trace the edge on some more or leather, move it away enough to make the spacer and trace again.
Mark the flesh side of the sheath and the spacer and cut the spacer out.
The mark helps when gluing so you can place them together corectly the first time. That Barge Cement is very stringy and sticks to everything when you pull it back off.
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#6 Post by Graps »

Now you can tool the leather and install the male snap.
Also pace the stitching holes and punch them in one edge.
The leather will be wet on the outside at this point so let it dry before gluing it all together. Thats because the leather will shrink back and curl up. Also the clamps can make dents if its still wet.
Now this knife is so small that there's not much room for tooling or a standard snap, so I just put a small feather on and installed a catch stud.
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Shadowhntr
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#7 Post by Shadowhntr »

Here we go....making it look easy again! I'd hate to know the hours and mistakes you've made to reach this point! With anything worth while that's how it goes though! Looking from the beginning square, that road is intimidating and tetering on if it would be worth going through it all at my age. I mean, I know pretty much nothing of crafting leather. I know the simple concepts, but nothing is ever truly learned that hasn't been put into motion and most often many times. Fishing is easier...lol!
The element of surprise can never be replaced by persistence.

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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#8 Post by Graps »

Well Jason, I still mess things up once in awhile, just dont let it stop you.
Like with shooting a bow, I'm a fairly desent shot, but once in awhile, I go pull an arrow out of the dirt that completely missed the backstop.
Keeps me humble......
"Maybe the truly handicapped people are the ones that don't need God as much." ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#9 Post by Graps »

Now after the leather is dry, we are going to glue the spacer and edges together.
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Graps
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Re: Lets make a sheath for a baby antler handle knife.

#10 Post by Graps »

Put glue along the edge with the mark first and the matching side of the spacer. Line up the marks and edge and squeze with your fingers to set it.
Let it set for a minute so it doesn't slip around and then glue the spacer and other edge.
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