Cheap, Easy Home-made Leather Knife Sheath From Used Leather

I went backpacking in Alaska a couple of years ago, and, of course, bought the obligatory huge Bowie knife. I bought a 14" Winchester. The knife was a great deal: cheap, pretty good steel, nice heft. Unfortunately, it came with a cheap looking nylon sheath. This wasn't a huge problem for me, though, since it was a right-handed sheath and I was left handed. I just packed it away in my pack (where it could be quickly dug out if needed to battle a grizzly !). I survived the trip, but, without a proper sheath, the knife was seldom used again for my forays into the local woods.

One night recently, I came across the knife again and decided to see if I could build myself a proper-looking, left handed sheath. I had no experience with leather work, but figured (rightly so) that it couldn't be that hard. This is the result. Looks great. Works nice. Cost nothing.  

I told my wife about my idea for a sheath and she told me that she had an old leather jacket that had been stained and was destined for the trash can. The jacket was made of fine, soft leather in a buckskin color. It was thin and pliable.

This is what I used, but it is easy to get cheap leather in a number of ways. You can buy a large old purse, suitcase, briefcase, jacket, pair of boots, shaving kit, or leather whatever at a garage sale, junk store, Goodwill, or wherever. Slice the leather from the rest of the lining, case, or whatever and use what you can. 

 I am even keeping my eyes out for a junk leather couch or chair that I can salvage leather from! Check dumpsters behind furniture store for a good chance at a score. Use your imagination! 

I cut off the sleeve and carefully removed the lining. Try to keep the leather in the largest possible single piece. Watch seams, button holes, rivets, etc. I used a heavy pair of scissors to do the dirty work, but you may have to use a knife is your leather is heavier. If it is really heavy, you may have to put the leather on a board and use a utility knife. Be careful, that big, old Bowie isn't the only sharpie that can bring blood and leave your finger laying on the table while your hand follows you down the hall.

As I said, my knife had a sheath made of heavy plastic covered with black nylon. It had a nylon strap with a snap to hold the knife in the sheath, though it didn't seem to be needed with the nice-fitting plastic insert. The belt strap was sewn to the back of the sheath and had a snap of its own.

I unsheathed the knife, pulled the belt loop down and carefully sliced the threads holding the loop to the sheath, separating the two pieces as shown in this picture. I could have continued on to remove the rest of the nylon from the plastic inner section, but elected not to. I thought it might help fill out the shape of the thin leather.

Since I was making a left-handed sheath, the snap left on the old sheath was going to face inside, so I didn't bother removing it. Depending on the thickness of your leather, and where any snap might end up, you may consider slicing it out to keep it from showing through.

I found some wrinkled up wrapping paper from the last thing I bought on ebay, and used it for a pattern. I was pretty good at those old high school Armed Forces Aptitude Test questions that asked you to unroll a weird shaped box into what it would look like if opened up to a flat piece, so I sketched out a shape that would fold in half and make the actual knife sheath.

I used the original sheath and traced around it, flipped it over and completed the main sheath portion of the pattern.  I added a tall top that could be folded down and connected to the sheath part to form a belt loop. Use care to put the loop on the correct side of your pattern for a left or right hand sheath.

If your leather is thin, leave an extra quarter inch or so of material anywhere you will have an exposed edge. Later you will fold and glue them to produce a finished edge. I also added a piece that I could use as a retaining strap if needed, but thus far have not needed it. I leave it tucked under the belt loop. Also leave some extra on the top edge of the outside edge of the sheath so that it can be folded down and glued to leave a finished edge.

If you get the pattern cut out, folded up, and then you realize that you made a mistake, just make another or tape an extra piece or two until you get what you need. When the folded up result looks like what you want, transfer it to your leather (be sure you have the correct side of the leather facing out), and carefully cut it out.

While you are wielding the knife, cut a round piece of the leather a few inches in diameter. Begin cutting around the circumference of the piece about 1/8 to 3/16 from the edge to make a long piece of leather lacing to use to sew up the sheath.  

Get a piece of wood, an old punch (a large nail or piece of 1/8" rod will do), and a hammer to punch the holes. You may find other ways to make the holes, but don't make them too big. You can always make them bigger later, and tight ones make the finished product look better.

Start at the tip of the knife. Fold the leather over and punch both sides at once. Thread the lacing through both holes and make both ends the same length. Punch another set of holes a little less than a quarter of an inch farther up the sheath. Cross the laces and thread them through the holes from opposite sides. Continue punching and lacing until you get a couple of inches from the top.

I used regular Elmers glue and folded all the extra material over to make the finished edges. Don't allow extra glue to stick pieces that shouldn't be glued. I used a heavy glass candle to hold the folds in place for about 30 minutes as the glue dried.

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Once the edges were finished, I folded the belt loop over towards the inside and,after adding an additional scrap of leather as a reinforcing patch, I stapled it vertical several times. This is what keeps the knife attached to your belt, so be sure that the connection is sound. I even added a little glue for extra insurance. By folding the flap to the inside, no edges are exposed in the finished sheath

Finish lacing up the side of the sheath and insert the old knife sheath. Smooth out the leather and carefully tighten up the lacing if needed. I just tied the laces in to a bow for a rustic, "Indian" look. I think it looks great and fits nice for a leftie when carried on either side of the body for a regular draw, or a cross-draw.

I hope you enjoyed my first instructable. I know that some of you that read this are accomplished leather crafters and know easier and  better ways of doing things. I really enjoyed the evening project and intend to make a lot of other neat stuff from the leather I have.... I also bought a book, some tools, stamps, and a big piece of leather on ebay so I may yet learn the "proper" way to work with leather. Good luck with your projects!