Probably just cabin fever, but I going to get into leather work I think.


Went to talk to a friend today and had a look around his harness shop. It was a lot of fun.


Going to start simple with a sewing machine and some stamps type of thing. Make some holsters, scabbards, vests and such.


Anyone into that sort of thing? Got a line on a cylinder bed sewing machine?


Is there a leather forum that folks like?

Good For You Big Jim.

I always thought I'd like to get into knife making but have never taken the time to do it, mostly because of the investment in equipment.

You’ll love it, leather work is fun stuff. I have toyed with the idea of getting a sewing machine but I just keep on hand stitching...

Jim,

I do a little leather work, knife sheaths, holsters mainly. For me it is a fun hobby and good relief from cabin fever. I don't have a sewing machine i stitch by hand.

I learned by watching youtube videos. I make a pattern out of grocery bag. I get my leather from Tandy.

Have to get to the end for the payoff

I buy knife blade blanks and put scales on them for gifts and trading fodder so 'veI tried my hand at making a few knife sheaths.
They're kinda crude but they get the job done.....I prefer tinkering with the knives though.

I made this simple sheath for a KOA Capper that I changed out the rubber scales for Cocobolo.



Another one I made for a Green River Ripper blade that also has Cocobolo scales on.




As you can see...I'm not very good at it so hurry up and get set up so you can make sheaths for me.

I buy from these guys when I need leather.

http://wickett-craig.com/

May have to buy a half hide so initial cost is high ($130+) but still cheaper than buying by the sq. ft from Tandy or hobby stores.

American sourced cow hides veg tanned so no poor quality mexican stuff.

I like good quality leather products belts, wallets ect. I have a few Saddleback Leather products and a couple of Montana Slings that I like.
FieldGrade I have that exact knife pictured in the bottom picture. I bought it from a guy on a bird dog forum that must source the same blanks. It's one of my more handy knives. Mine came in a thin wallet shaped sheath that carrys in the back pocket.

Good hobby.

I appreciate the effort and craftsmanship of the holsters, sheathes and such that I routinely see at Cowboy Action Shoots. Your skills will grow and so will your appreciation of the time when you can work quietly with your hands and watch new things happen.

Best wishes.

I do a little but of leatherwork, mainly holsters. I've made a holster or two for a few members here. Check out my Instagram site at: anderson_custom_leather

Nice work!

I'll say!

Thanks, y'all.

The leather stuff that you can find around here seems to be low quality.

Plus, I cant ever find anything that is EXACTLY what I want.

My friend the harness maker is not ready to get rid of anything, but I did get a good lesson on what works and what a person needs to get started.

He is in his 80's and most of his heavy harness work is behind him. Told me today that even the Amish have switched to nylon harness!

Nylon is gay.

That would be cool Jimbo. I love nice leather work, sheaths, holsters etc. let us know if your progress

I've been making sheaths for close to 16 years for Twin Blades, a custom knife hobby that my brother and I operate. Leather work is a great hobby and requires very little investment to turn out some really nice work. Plenty of people out there that are glad to help too. Just ask them. I'll be glad to help any way I can. I love getting people hooked on knife making and leather work.

Yep.

Jim thankfully the Amish fellers I know in southern IN still use leather tack. One of them has a pretty cool harness shop.

Back when Wolf Point had a saddlery we used to hang out there all the time.

My dad knew the owners quite well.

Go downstairs and bother the saddle maker.

Gene Martin who was just inducted to the MT Cowboy Hall of Fame.

I hear ya. It ain’t easy to find a craftsman who’s tastes line up with your own. Or even hold a standard of quality.

I’m trying to find time to bring a few pictures and a pistol out to the peninsula to get a holster made.

Hope it comes together for ya.

Leather is a novelty today. There is little you can do with it that can't be done better with modern materials. That said...people like novelty. Keep it novel. There is something about leather that turns some people on.

Pat, do you want a plastic belt? A good leather belt goes for big bucks nowadays.

Think leather is just a novel thing? Try saying that the next time you see a short leather skirt.

But in reality Jimmy, leather work is a great hobby. I too make a lot of gun belts, holsters, rifle slings and butt cuffs. Hand stitched leather looks so much better when properly done. Lots and lots of YouTube sites showing how to do everything. Tandy website has a chit load of how to do videos.

W. Bill

Floral patterns are cool.

I guess done better is a subjective thing. I look at it differently in that I can make dang near anything I need out of leather. I could even make the leather if I had too.

No way could I make a batch on Nylon if I needed it!


One of the first projects I have in mind is a scabbard for my new Marlin lever guns.

Something to protect the full length of them while riding in the tractor or pickup and such.

Oh that’ll be a cool project. Are you going to basket stamp it or do any tooling you think? Be sure to post plenty of pics....grin


On the nylon vs leather thing, I am a die hard leather fan/user, but I would really like to play with some kydex at some point, especially to line knife sheaths with.

Yes, I hope to do some tooling. Probably in the corners and along the edges. Reckon I will have to put my brand on there too, someplace.

It will be kind of limited, I am sure. The stamps and such are expensive.

The amazing thing is how just a few tools can be used to make the damnedest things!


I dont know too much about Kydex, but for a sheath liner I guess it would be indestructible.

Fast too.

Let us when you get your Etsy store up Jim.😁

http://springfieldleather.com

Jim the next time you are in Great Falls stop at Grizzly Saddlery They are on 9th st just across the river from the refinery. Jeff does custom saddles but the shop makes chaps, scabbards headstalls and other tack. I am sure you would get some good info on how to start and leather.to use. .

This is a fine thread.

It is. Most winters I try to learn something new. Leatherwork has been on my short list for a while.

Cool hobby to get into

Here are a few holsters I have made. They aren't professional quality, but they function well. Also an advantage to making your own is you can mold the holster to the gun and it literally snaps in place. So easy a monkey can do it........

Certainly is a lot of truth in there.......

Just so happened that I saw this ad tonight while cruising craigslist. A whole leather shop selling out here in Billings.

They might have some things they would separate out.

If not, they mention an upcoming leather working get-together in Sheridan maybe.


https://billings.craigslist.org/grd/d/leather-shop/6552721765.html

I have dealt with Weaver Leather for years. Paul Weaver always treated his customers well. Seems there is new management now and things are not the same. Opened the Springfield Leather link. Lots of good videos and they carry a lot of stuff. Thanks for that DryPowder.

He told me he was not going to separate anything.


Great holsters IrFubar!