Here's three recently completed sheaths:

http://www.planet.eon.net/~matth/k_images/new/sheaths.jpg

All three are wet formed, essentially using the techniques described by Don Cowles ( I think we both learned it the same place). The two on the right were formed over the knife using acetone to soften the leather. The folder pouch was water formed over a wooden dummy. I left the wet leather in the fridge overnight (wrapped in plastic) before forming.

I use the chintzy plastic "bone folder" that Tandy sells, but I like Don's better, I think I gotta make me one of those. All are dipped in a neetsfoot oil and beeswax mixture. I treat the bendy part of the pouch with neetsfoot oil prior to the dip to make it more flexible.

The fixed blade knives "snap" into and out of the sheaths. You can turn the sheath upside down and shake it -pretty hard- and the knife does not fall out. If the sheath doesn't pass that test - I make a new one.

Matt Harildstad
www.planet.eon.net/~matth (http://www.planet.eon.net/~matth)

Looks good and of very clean design! Does the smell of Acetone not bother you?...Are you using it for a faster dryout?

Yes Jens, I can form the piece, and die it, and have it dry in a couple of hours. With water, it's 24 hours or so in our dry climate. The acetone also makes the leather more pliable sooner. The downside is that it pulls a lot of oil to the surface so the leather darkens. In most cases, this does not matter, but if i want to keep it light I use water.

I think that keeping the leather damp for 10 hours in the fridge does give the most pliable leather, but then I'm looking at two or three days between wetting it and letting it dry.

Like Jens said, nice clean designs. Good job.

Very well done. A sheath like those can really set a knife off.


ghostdog

Ohhhhh ... very clean work, indeed!

Alex

They look excellent! nice forming on that snap sheath one as well! What does that sheath contain by the way?
Never mind, looked at your site and found what knife it contained, looks good sir!

;)
G2