Victorinox Pruning Knife sheath

   I have been promising myself to practise wet forming leather and a sheath for my pruning knife. The two promises came together as made a sheath for my knife. Wet forming sounds simple and a suppose it is however a number of things have to be just right. The leather has to be wet enough to succumb to the tight shaping it is to undergo. The manipulating of the leather must not but so rough as to damage the leather's surface. Most folk mold the leather directly onto the item that is to be encased in leather. In some cases, where the item is fragile or not waterproof for instance, it might necessary to make a timber of plastic pattern of the item that you are going to encase. In my case the pruning knife is a robust item.

    The first job is always to design the finished item. It is at this point the order of build is decided. If the sheath was to be lined  or have pockets, loops or straps accommodated this would be the time to decide how the sheath is built. In this case the belt loop needed to be made and fitted to the sheath's back first.   Next the leather is selected. Sometimes the leather dictates the design and not at other times. It is important to give allowance for the flap which is made from the same piece of leather as the back. The front need plenty of allowance because the leather is going to forced around a pattern. Insufficient allowance on the wet formed leather and you make not have enough margin for some or all of the stitching.

  One can use hot or cold water to soak the leather. Hot water penetrates quicker but it tempers the finished leather like a very stiff cardboard. This can be an advantage in certain circumstances. Leave the leather in the water [hot or cold] for too long and you may have a jelly like substance that will take and age to dry before it can worked further. Very wet leather will take an impression of anything that comes into contact with the leathers surface with the slightest of pressure e.g finger prints, the weave of cloth or tools used it shaping the leather. To short a soaking and the leather will not be sufficiently supple. Forcing the leather when it is too dry is where damages to surface finish occur. When the leather is just so drape the leather over object or pattern and start to work the leather into take the shape. Be careful not to rub or press so hard as to rub off the surface layer of the leather. The time it takes to form the leather depends on the leather's characteristics. A re-soaking might be needed however patience will be needed at all times. When the leather is formed to the desired shape it has to be held in position whilst it dries. When dry the leather will hold the shape. Some folks make A and B patterns. The A pattern may be the inner shape if the piece to be contained in the pouch. The B element is often the outer shape. The B element holds the piece in shape whilst it dries. I usually leave mine overnight however a couple of hours is usually enough to fix the shape.   

 

The back section remains dry. I marked up where the belt loop was to fit. The decided what width the belt loop billet would be remembering that the had to be rolled over at the top. The trouser belt would ride against to inside of the rollover rather than against the stitching if the belt loop was sewn on flat. I made the belt loop wide enough to fit over my work belts which are 2inches [50mm] width. The edges of the belt loop needed the usual prep, bevel, dry and burnish. I stitched the belt loop to the sheath back. I also put a rivet in the top anchor of the loop just as an insurance policy. The bottom of the belt loop is to have a snap so the belt loop can be undone allowing the sheath to be detached from the trouser belt without unlooping the trouser belt.

   Back prepared and front piece molded it is a case of joining the two elements together. Cleverer folks than me cut the pieces to size then do the sewing. I leave the excess of both the back and front pieces, sew the elements together, making sure there is no distortion, then oh so carefully trim of the excess to reveal the piece. My pruning knife is curved so I left the flap over size. The last cutting job was to bring the flap down to the desired size. All the edges need the usual finishing of bevelling, dying and burnishing. The final job was to mark up and fit the Sam Brown that secures the flap. The sheath is a friction fit so the knife will not drop out, even when the sheath is shaken up side down. The flap is just for other folks sensibilities. It might be the law too!

   I can make a sheath for your knife. Please use the contact page to drop me a line.

The Midlands Game Fair

   The weekend of the Midland Game Fair was a long, long weekend. It took a lot of preparation. The Midland Game Fair is treated as one of the last major game event of calendar. The Great Wall Motor World Series Clay Shooting Final and the Great Wall Motor World Series Gundog Championship Final with Chudleys, the European Field Target Championship and the Countryman’s Weekly Champion of Champions in the Terrier and Lurcher events were all held despite the weather on Sunday. As usual is missed the Falconery, working dogs and the heavy horse. I spent all my time in the Knife tent.

   I got to the show ground at Weston Park at 7am on Saturday and managed to park right outside the tent that was to be my home for the next 48 hours without any drama. I was at the event supporting Jackie and Sarah from The Identity Store [click HERE for their website]. Sarah set up their stall along one wall of the tent. I had a table at the end of the run of stall. We had arranged that I would do a series of demonstrations and from that we would sell kits to make the things I had demonstrated. As soon as you do anything on a stall you get an audience. We hoped to gain from that draw. One kit was for a leather tooling set and the other was for a sheath for a knife.


  I started off by do a "Blue Peter" and making parts of the sheath kit to show the various steps. The kits contain a generous piece of leather, a pair of needles, thread, an awl, a pattern and instructions all for £15. The kits are available from the Identity Store. As Saturday progressed I had worked through the Blue Peter parts and was starting to end up a series of sheaths. Part of the demonstration was saddle stitch. However once I started a saddle stitch I had to complete the piece even if it was after the folks had dispersed. By Sunday I was finding different ways to finish the sheaths.

   The tooling kits were a bit different. For a start they are fairly expensive at nearly £50 and that is without any leather to tool. I really only had five to ten minutes to show the skills before folks wandered off. I set upon a tactic. If some poor beggar that would be standing near the bench, when the allotted time came round, I would have a chat with them then ask them their name and set about tooling a piece of leather with their initial letter. That would keep a couple of people at the bench. I would manage to demonstrate the techniques and as I said before as soon as you started doing something a crowd would appear. We also had some people that bought the kits because they had come that purpose in mind then I would show them a few basic techniques. It seemed to work well. I was encouraged when folks asked when the next demo would be and actually turned up at the agreed time.  

    We sold quite a few sheath kits and several tooling kits. I was able to press Diamond Awl. I did a few on the spot jobs, a hole in a belt and stitch or two in gun case. The jobs covered my lunch. I picked up a small bespoke job along the way. I was surprised how many of my business cards disappeared from my bench. I hope those folks are reading this post and drop me a line with a job.

   The time passed quite quickly. As I mentioned we were in the Knife tent. There were six stall holders selling knives of one sort or another. They covered the breath of the market. A couple of chaps from London were selling Indian made Damascus steel blade in a bowie or Indian style. Another chaps sold skinning knives. Another sold all kinds of blades from lock knives to collector bowie knives and a chap from Preston was selling fixed blade knives he had made. They were beautiful. He started with a steel bar, cut it to shape, ground it, polished it and made a handle. If I have more than £140 spare I am having one. The only trouble with him was that he makes his own sheaths for relaxation. He make really nice sheaths.....bugger.

   The weather on Sunday was a bit iffy. I had a lie in but was at the event by 7.15am. The gates for exhibitors closed at 7.30 as the event opened at 8am. 8am came and a flush of people came through. The early bird and all that. I had a nice chat with a young farmer and his girl. 8am really was a lie-in for him. I did not get his name but I wish him well. It was steady all day but quieter than Saturday. Rain was forecast and at 4pm will got a hours worth of downpour. The game was declared and will all started to pack up.

   I managed to do some market researc on my tack. In essence folks really liked it and most of them understood the cost but the reality was that the stuff from the Middle and Far East made in webbing was easy to look after, just chuck it inthe washer, and was cheap. The same old story really. My only let down was not getting to the chap that was selling Pith helmets in time. He was rained off early....doh!  
 
        

Ashby Show

   Ashby Show [Click HERE for website] was a big deal for me. It was the first full scale agricultural show I had attended as a trade exhibitor. I had been on the other side of the counter many times. I had been fretting about the weather. For a week before the show the weather had been amazing, hot and sunny, just as a summer should be. I was concerned the weather might break on or before the show. I was at the show ground at 7am. It was grey and we, my fellow traders, felt a couple of spots of rain. We set up, optimistic that the weather gods would be kind to us. As the morning gave way to the afternoon the sun came on in full effect. It was glorious summer's day in England.

   The horse riding event were held early in the morning so they were pleased with the relative cool weather. It took me ages to get set up. As they say work expands into the time available. I usually get set up in 45 minutes at the market. It took me over an hour. My pitch was on the main avenue running between the public car park and the show ring. My stall neighbours was Lester who made horse inspired jewellery on one side and on the other side a pair of brothers, Geoff and Ben, who sold knives. All very complimentary trades. I like to think that was arranged by the show organisers. I was set up before the gates opened although there were some very early starters.

 

   I nipped off and got the bacon butty and a brew. I sat in my fold-up chair and ate them in peace for a few minutes. Just as I wiped the flour off my face the fun began. I was on my feet all day. There was a steady stream of browsers, questions, folks reminiscing about bygone skills, stories of lost loves and working in leather. One chap asked if I was mending things today. Yes was the answer. He whipped off his belt because it needed a rivet resetting. His missus was a bit put out at his actions but this happens to me all the time at the market. He was an interesting chap. I had a chat with the knife brothers. They asked about a sheath for a 14" butchers knife. So just for something to do I made them one. I knew if I started making something it would draw a crowd. The brothers were chuffed with the result. I let them have the sheath. Their knives need sheaths they are wickedly sharp.

  One chap was very interested in the stitching leather together. After a minute or two of disconnected questions I stopped him. I got two small pieces of leather and showed him the process; edge, mark, prick, stitch and burnish. He was fascinated. I gave him the piece and he went any way delighted with his "gift". I like an enthusiast.

   The Denna piece, on the dummy on the left of the stall, drew comments and enquiries all day. I even got one of the girls to try the gorget on. She was a LARPer [Live Action Role Player] so she liked dressing up. The table was arranged from left to right as re-enactors/costumes, tack, bags/cases, belts and the Cedar blocks on the end. At the back I had a couple of hides and on the left I had a belt lengths of hide. I don't make belts a spec. I like folks to pick the leather for the belt from the strips of hide. I think it adds something to buying a bespoke belt.

   Hazel came along to help me with the day. Hazel had sense to turn up a a civilised time. Hazel kept me going but did manage to see all of the show. I managed to see the car stand directly opposite me across the avenue and the quick scan over the vintage cars as I quickly walked to the loo and back.

   A number of familiar faces popped up on the other side of the counter. So a big thanks to them for the support. You know who you are. 

   Plenty of cards where taken and given out with a bit of luck commissions will arise from them. One chap, Ian, said he would see me the next afternoon, Monday. OK I though. 4pm Monday my phone goes off and it is Ian. He give me a commission, exactly as discussed. [Update the commission is completed]. I also went over to see the stunt rides but I just missed there show. I met them at their tent/stable/truck and had a good chat with them about tack and horses. I did just happen to have a few pieces of tack over my shoulder...as you do. It was a very full day. Hazel had brought some lunch but I did not get a break until 2pm and then had to eat on the run as folks were still coming by. I also met a very interesting fellow from the Hedgelayer's Society. 6pm came and a flurry of activity saw the camp disappear into its respective vehicles. It went away quicker than it came out.

   So that was Ashby show done. I got a few ideas, some of which I have already put into action, and met a bunch of decent folk. I even picked up a few quid.

Locking the thread

   The iconic stitch for joining two pieces of leather together is Saddle stitch. The key to this stitch is that a knot is formed within the leather being joined. The knot locks every stitch and should the exposed thread of the stitch be broken the seam with not open as the locking knots either side of the broken stitch keep the seam together.

   To get started you need a length of thread. I use waxed linen thread. Sometimes I buy the factory waxed thread and sometimes the raw Linen thread and rub the wax on before stitching. The factory waxed thread is extremely well impregnated with wax. If you keep the awl holes small you can have a waterproof bag since the waxed thread is such a tight fit in the holes and the wax fills the minuscule voids. Saddle stitching starts with a length of thread with a needle on each end. If you were to sew with the thread simply through the eye the needle you would be frustrated quite quickly. One has to create some tension in the stitch and with the thread simply threaded it is going to pull out of the needle as soon as the tension comes on. Threading a needle once is enough bother never mind re-treading every few minutes. The answer is to lock the thread onto the needles.

The needle on the right is what we will end up with. The needle on the left is where we start.

Pass the thread through the eye of the needle.

Turn the needle to the tail end of the thread and pass the point through the thread strands a short distance from the end of the thread.

Pull the loop down the needle and onto the thread. Pull the standing part of the thread though the loop until the thread lies flat like the needle on the right. I usually put my thumb and forefinger on the point where the loop and eye meeting then spin the needle to twist the thread together. I find the wax helps the loop to be more secure and smooths the joint so it slips easily through the awl holes in the leather.

Once you have the thread locked onto the needles all that is needed is to prepare the leather.