Where do you guys buy your leather for making your knife sheaths ? Also what should I get ? I've read that 7-8 oz is the best for sheath making. I'm thinking a bend is what I need. Tandy is the only one that I have heard of. What would you suggest ?
Hi Jackson, I got some from Tandy. 8 to 9 oz. Double Shoulder 9052-41 It goes on sale every once in a while. I also lucked out by putting ads on Kijiji asking for leathercraft tools and leather. Some people's closets are full of this stuff. Dan
Is that referred to as " tooling leather " I know next to nothing about leather working. Have you bought from their online store ? Looking at their website I think a single bend would possibly have less waste and maybe more uniform thickness . Yes/no
I bought 8-9oz shoulder online. Search for their web site for item number 9052. Yes, tooling leather. It says "exceptional carving leather" but tooling and carving seem to be used interchangeably. The "ounces" relate approximately to 64ths of an inch thickness, so 8 oz. = 8/64" = 1/8" thick. Seems to be about right for the piece I got. If you can wait for a sale, then you can get a great deal. I got the double shoulder for $70 on sale. That is normally around $150. It's a massive piece about 13 square feet. So lots of sheaths for $70. This is a good place to start reading...http://www.tandyleather.ca/en-cad/leatherguide.aspx This weekend they are having a special on stamps, 50% off. Dan
I newer bought leather on-line. Quality of surface might be different from piece to piece, so I prefer to see what I'm buying... Just got an e-mail from them that today everything is on sale.
I hope this maybe helpful. I've been working with leather since 1977. The thickness of the leather will depend on the knife. I just completed 2 sheaths. One for a skinner knife which if a light weight knife so I uses a 6-7 oz leather. The other is for a heavy duty bushcraft knife so I use a 9-10 oz leather. The difference in the two thickness can be seen at this link (I hope). https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwqib0f9yh9esjr/2015-04-11 11.26.20.jpg?dl=0 The 6-7oz will typically "dry" form to the knife handle, the 9-10 oz typically needs to be wet formed (you soak the the leather in water then put the knife in and for the leather to the handle. As for the type of leather, the carving/tooling leather is referred to as veg tanned leather. It has no color so is designed to be dyed to the color of your choice and should also be oiled during the making process to ensure it does not get dried out. It can also be stamped and carved with designed. Two other options are chrome tanned and oil tanned leather. These are colored and ready to use. Might be easier for you to start out with if you have not worked with leather before. As for where to get it. Tandy is a good source. The people who run the store are typically leather workers themselves. It great if you have a store handy bit if not just cal them and tell them what you want to do with the leather and they will have no problem making recommendations. Assuming you are in Canada there are a number of regionally suppliers as well. I live in Moncton, NB and there is a leather warehouse here I can select my leather in person, otherwise I will rive the 250 km to Tandy or call them to pick a piece for me. I am going to post picks of my latest sheaths to this blog so check them out. They are made from the veg tanned leather. If you would like to see what a sheath looks like made from the oil/chrome tanned material send me a picture and dimensions of your knife. I pretty sure I have have a scrap piece out in the shop that I can whip one up with and send you a picture. If you a knife maker and are interested in having a sheath supplier, let me know. I may be able to help with that.
Thanks for all that information. Tandy has had a sale on this weekend, but the prices don't seem all that great. The $70 double shoulder Dan mentioned was $100. I signed up for their email fliers so maybe better deals will come. How often do they have Special Sales ? PS. Eric, I'm not a knife maker. Just a novice rooky that likes to mess around. Lol
They have sales every month but a $70 shoulder in heavier leather is pretty rare based on my experience. If you just want to get a feel for it they have some 5-7 oz veg tan 1/2 shoulders (5-6 square feet) on sale now for $50. Item #99605-00. It's a little light for sheaths but you get to try it out. You might also want to look at some of the kits Tandy sell. It will come with almost every thing to need to make something (including basic knife sheaths).
8-9 oz makes for a nice solid sheath, retains its rigity over time and wont become flimsy with leather conditioning if required..........
I got mine from Trapper Gords. About 25 mins from Grande Prairie, AB. He usually has a few shoulders there. 59.99$ for 7-9 Oz. single shoulder. Enough leather for a dozen sheaths I'd say, if not more
Hi Eric, I'm about an hour north of Moncton. Can you tell me where that leather warehouse is and do they have some of that tooling leather? Thanks!
If you you guys are close to Moncton go see the fella at Atlantic Leather, He's in Irishtown on the Cape Breton rd. Great guy and has a good selection of stuff.
