Sheath number 2

Ok, so they are out of chronological order, but all criticism shall be expressly ignored!  This is the story of sheath number 2 that I made for knife number 5 (see previous post on this blog.)

I used a similar approach to sheath number 1, but the design is a little different.  The main body of the sheath and the belt loop are much the same, but the securing clip is different.  The size and shape of the knife guard is such that the clip can fold over it to keep it in place.  The whole sheath is made from a single piece of leather, so did not require pieces to be stitched together.

The first step after cutting out the leather was to cut the recessed groove around the perimeter and then punch the holes for the stitching.  Next I had to attach the press stud.  This was tricky because I was not sure of the exact position for the male side on the body of the sheath and there was no second chance if I got it wrong.  Then I did all the stitching around the edge and to form the belt loop.  The stitching pony came into play again for this part and performed admirably.

The last step was to apply the decorative design on the securing clip.  For this I chose one of the design punches that came with the kit.  For the design to take hold permanently, it is best to soak that area of the leather in water first.  This makes the leather soft and supple, but it also allows it to stretch easily.  Unfortunately the securing clip did stretch a little during this step so it is not quite as tight as I was hoping, but it still works fine.

For only my second attempt at leather working, I think the result is quite satisfactory.

Enjoy the photos!  I also included a video showing how I do the Saddle Stitching with the sheath secured in the pony.