RAT 5 Sheath Project
Before we get started, its best to say that this isn't the definitive way to make a sheath for this or any knife, this how-to is really just how this project came together for this specific knife, i would probably change some things and I certainly learned a whole lot while I was making it! My hope is that you're inspired to do the same and just have a go and see what you can create! Anyway, with that out of the way here we go:
First I drew up a rough plan of what I wanted it to look like onto plain paper...nothing really technical here, just a trace around the blade and hanld eparts I wanted to cover and then a play with the lines to get the right shape:
Once I was happy with the basic shape, I transferred the design onto the leather I would be using, in this case 2.5mm Veg Tanned leather, locally sourced here in Australia from Birdsall Leather and Craft.
After marking it all up, I cut it out and transferred it to a waiting pot of warmish water to soften the leather up and prepare it for wet-forming it around the knife itself...
Next its over to the knife for a good layer or two of cling-wrap...its a good tip, rust is a big no-no. Once its wrapped its just a case of forming the leather around the knife.
Note the specialist tool! Donated to the cause from the kitchen drawer. Its actually a perfect tool with all the right edges and curves for a smooth form. Its a good idea to use some clamps or clips as its drying, or you'll be holding it for hours. I used some bull-dog clips, but even a heavy book will work.
After drying it up slightly, it was apparent that it wasn't going to allow free movement of the knife in and out of sheath... a slight design flaw. Back to the drawing board and after some fiddling, some surgery was performed...crisis averted!
Don't forget to cut and shape a welt to protect the stitching to come. It basically runs all the way down the length of the blade...you could make this from wood or even plastic or kydex... leather was an easy choice for me. I traced around the blade onto paper and then transferred the shape to the leather... make sure its a snug fit as it will help to keep the blade tight in the sheath...
We had decided to make a black sheath for this knife, so I needed a dye for the leather. There are heaps of leather dyes to choose from and in a massive array of colours, but an old home-made recipe is by far the most effective. Mix up a handful of fine steel wool in a jam jar half full of white vinegar. let it sit for about three days with the lid lightly on. A chemical reaction between the steel and acid in the vinegar will erode the wool until a brown murky liquid is left. What you're left with is Vinegaroon. I dip the leather in for around twenty seconds or until tiny bubbles stop appearing and then let it dry. It will dry darker than it appears first off, so give it a second.
Technically Vinegaroon is not a dye, it actually changes the composition of the leather, so it wont ever run or rub off... solid stuff. You can see in the previous picture I had stitched it up....
I am ashamed of the stitching... so a cunning plan to cover the bad stitching section and create a loop for the fire-steel I wanted to attach:
I mocked up the design on paper and got all the right shapes and contours of the existing sheath and then repeated the process of marking, cutting and dying. I left the Fire-steel in so I could form around it. Again, the clips help in the drying process. Once its drying nicely, I took the handle of a thin paintbrush and added the decorative lines around the edges...
That is basically it! The design could be adjusted for a different type of knife, but any knife with a larger guard or bolster could prove problematic with this friction fit design. The leather has since shrunk further and grips the knife even more effectively, so no need for a separate clip over the handle. All in all, I'm satisfied with the design and execution of the sheath...
