knives

How to Make Leather Knife Sheaths

Posted by Don Gonzales

This project video is one that I should have made a long time ago.  One of the best selling items we have ever made in the saddle shop has been our fold over knife sheaths.  In this video, I show you how to make these from start to finish.

If you are looking for a project that doesn’t use a lot of leather and goes together quickly then this is it.  This is also a great way to use up the scrap leather that may be accumulating in the corners of your workshop.  Floral tooled, geometric tooled, dyed, painted and even plain leather, these items will become one of your most popular selling items.

I have developed a set of patterns to use when making these that will cut out all the fitting issues for most knives.  My pattern uses the tooling window to size the finished sheath to fit a particular knife.  If you would like to purchase the digital companion pattern pack for this video, then CLICK HERE and you can purchase that from us.  This is a digital PDF file that you will download and print the patterns out on your own printer.  Along with the cut pattern for the shealth and the three different size tooling windows that I use in my shop, you will also get 6 different floral tooling patterns for each of the three different windows.  That is 18 different patterns to choose from.

Looking for a good source for Herman Oak leather?  Visit our friends at Maker’s Leather Supply as they are a Herman Oak dealer and can help you get the leather and any other supplies that you may need.

The Best Xacto Knife and a New Awesome Purse Zipper

Posted by Don Gonzales

Are you looking for the best Xacto Knife to use on your leather craft projects?  I have used a large barreled Xacto knife handle for years.  I get a ton of questions and emails about where I get them and what blades I use in them.  I found a new place to get them and while I was there, I also found some really great purse zippers to use in our shop.  These zippers are really classy looking and in my opinion they look much better than just the normal YKK zippers that we all use.

 

 

Continue reading →

Make a Pancake Knife Scabbard

Posted by Don Gonzales

In this video I show how to make a pancake knife scabbard.  These scabbards are very popular and easy to make.  They are a great project whether you are new to leatherwork or a seasoned maker.

The scabbards that I am making in this video are patterned for a double blade trapper knife set at a forward tilt for a more comfortable fit and ease of taking the knife out.  Here is a link to the Case Trapper knives that are most common for this style (this is an amazon affiliate link and we get a few pennies if you buy using this link).  In the video I walk you through my entire process from cutting them out to finishing the edges.

If you are wanting to make a few simple items that sell well to your customers, or want to make some gifts for christmas this is the item I suggest.

If you enjoy the video and would like to purchase the companion pattern pack for the video you can purchase it HERE.  The pattern pack is an INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF that includes the cut patterns for both the front and back including stitch lines as well as 8 different tooling patterns to get you started.

The versatility of these scabbards are endless.  You can buckstitch them instead of sewing them, you can make them rough out for a more rugged look, you can make them simple by using scrap latigo, or make them as ornate as you would like with tooling, painting, and maybe bling (if your into that).

Thanks so much and I hope you find the video helpful.