Since I didn't want to get on Rainwalker's waiting list <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />, I decided to try my hand at making a sheath. First came a bit of planning - I decided to trim down the template to the outside line that you see as the sheath was going to be a bit too big. The dotted lines are where I was planning to stitch. Given that I wanted the sheath to reflect the choil on the SOD, getting welt worked out was a bit interesting. I also had to hope that the tiny skivved welt (since the blade is so thick) that sat near the choil would actually work.

So here's some pics of the templates...







And magically, after much cutting, trimming, glueing, drilling, swearing, and stitching (I forgot to take pictures, once I got into it), we have a (not quite so) finished product...







The dark spot on the bottom of the sheath is where I learned that alcohol pads darken leather <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> The other blemish on the face towards the tip is where I had got some contact cement on the face (grrrrrr...).

Other things I learned...
- I think my stitching holes are too close together - that was what the stitch marker laid out, but now looking at it, I think I can grind off every other point and use a bigger thread. Also, stitching that many holes sucks!

- Needles break at the eye if you try to be too forceful with them (out of spite I think)

- A thread the length of my outstretched arms was just barely enough to go along the bottom of the sheath with so many freaking holes and the thickness of the sheath (the sheath is thicker than the spacing between the stitch holes)

- Stitch holes that aren't exactly in line give a handmade sheath character <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

So now I have a question - are those dark spots going to really show up if I dye it a fairly dark mahogony? Do you recommmend just oiling it to get the whole sheath dark and not dyeing? Any tips would be appreciated.

ill let rainwalker respond

not bad for a first attempt. i hope my first(real, not carboard/ducktape) sheath looks half as good as that.

i think it looks good. alcohol the whole thing.

You should be very proud of that sheath! Great job man! Working with leather takes a lot of talent and lots of practice, and even though guys like Rainwalker make it look easy, it certainly isn't.

Very nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> You don't fully appreciate the work that goes into a sheath until you try to make one yourself.

Very nice.

Dude I think it came out great!

Very nice work p/b - that's a sheath to be proud of! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

No kidding! I'll probably be ordering one from Jeff soon! I did this mainly to see what all it entailed and if I could do it, and also I don't know how to describe what I wanted Jeff to make. I figured this first one would be to get a little working knowledge, then I can try to make next one cleaner, and so on and so on.

That looks really good!It's cool to make your own equipment when you can,you can be proud to wear a sheath that you personally made. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I love it! There is no comparison with the sheaths I make and the finished product of a real maker like Rainwalker, but I get a certain satisfaction from making my own. It looks solid and that's what counts in the field.