Benjamin david Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Hey, Im looking to get some 8-9 oz veg tan leather for sheath making. What are you guys/girls preferred suppliers? there is a pinned topic about this but since its from 2011 some opinions might have changed thanks, Benjamin "Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" J.R.R Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N. Runals Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) I've recently switched from Tandy to weaver, they sell lots of different leather from different US tanneries. I use Herman Oak, they make great veg tan, and it's sold through weaver. http://www.weaverleathersupply.com/ It is much more expensive than the stuff you get at tandy, but the consistant quality makes it worh while . Espically when you are doing stuff that uses such a small amount of leather as a knife sheath. The flesh side is never scraggly, like the tandy stuff, and it's never soft and porous like the tandy veg tan. Edited to add: I just realized you're in Thailand, I bet shipping would be awful. There may be a better option given your location. Edited January 7, 2014 by N. Runals http://www.etsy.com/shop/NateRunalsBlacksmith?ref=pr_shop_more&view_type=gallerynaterunals.com My Instagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon clary Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I would personally not use anything over a 6 or 7 oz. Leather for a knife sheath, unless you want that kind of look. I prefer 6-7oz for medium length and 4-5oz for smaller knives. Most people put a welt on the sheath, and if you use the same weight for the welt (even if you are using a 6-7oz that's three layers or more depending on design) that can be very tough to sew. I skive the edges where the seam is, taking a 6-7 to 4 ish on both sides makes it around 8oz, add in the welt makes it 14 oz thick. As for where to source leather, I would try to find a local shoe repair shop. Usually those guys know where to find stock leather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I've only ever bought at Tandy. Having a store within driving range is ideal so I can hand select leather. I don't know how to buy what I want online or from the catalogue. I can see the inconsistency of what I find at the store would be a real problem if buying sight-unseen. Not sure what is available locally in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Rose Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 RJF Leather is what I have been using now for the last 5+ years and it is great leather http://rjfleather.com/content/index.php/products/#vegtan - I use the natural full-grain shoulders or backs IMO some of the best leather I've used in the last 50+ years crafting leather.. Chuck Burrows Wild Rose Trading Co chuck@wrtcleather.com www.wrtcleather.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin david Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 thanks guys! I am currently in the states so its all good on that front. I would personally not use anything over a 6 or 7 oz. Leather for a knife sheath, unless you want that kind of look. I prefer 6-7oz for medium length and 4-5oz for smaller knives. Most people put a welt on the sheath, and if you use the same weight for the welt (even if you are using a 6-7oz that's three layers or more depending on design) that can be very tough to sew. I skive the edges where the seam is, taking a 6-7 to 4 ish on both sides makes it around 8oz, add in the welt makes it 14 oz thick. I was going to wet mold this first sheath for a knife with about 4.5 inch blade with a 5 inch handle. will thinner leather be able to hold shape as well? "Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" J.R.R Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thinner leather wet-molds better than thick. For that size blade I'd go with the 4-5oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin david Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks Alan. I would have just ordered a bunch of 8-9 oz and used it for everything like the gungho moron I am "Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" J.R.R Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Nice to have a better source. I am fed up with the stuff that Tandy's is selling, the flesh side is too inconsistent and "punky" for me to put up with any longer. I pretty much use 8-9 ounce leather for everything having fallen prey to the "gungho moron trap!" Maybe sheaths will be a little bit easier with a lighter weight leather. ~Bruce~ “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEzell Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I used to use 8-9 ounce myself, but about a year and a half ago got a really good deal on a large quantity of 6-7 ounce and decided to try it. I really like using the thinner stuff, as Alan says it is much easier to wet-mold. Just how much easier really came to light when I ran out and tried using some 8-9 ounce I still had stashed away... it is a world of difference in how they work. The 6-7 ounce takes about 10 seconds to wet case under the tap, while I had to soak the thicker stuff 30 minutes and it was still a pain to work.... some of that difficulty was because it had been stored for 2 years or more and had stiffened up a bit, but not all of it. I need to sell a knife so I can afford more leather.... Thanks for the links guys, I'm looking into them. George Ezell, bladesmith" How much useful knowledge is lost by the scattered forms in which it is ushered to the world! How many solitary students spend half their lives in making discoveries which had been perfected a century before their time, for want of a condensed exhibition of what is known."Buffonview some of my work RelicForge on facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I need to sell a knife so I can afford more leather.... You and me both! Of course, that means I have to build a knife... ~Bruce~ “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewBerry Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I just switched from Tandy to using http://www.wickett-craig.com/. The leather is much nicer than Tandy and the price is about the same, but they sell it by the hide so you're buying 20-something square feet at a time. www.hopkinsforge.com hopkinsforge.blogspot.com heisenblade.deviantart.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary LT Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I've bought smaller lots from Distant Drums in 5-6 ounce and have been pleased. Website same name... GT "I Never Met A Knife I Didn't Like", (Will Rogers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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