My first leather scabbard

[MadL]

Well, being sick did have an upside, it gave me some time t' crawl around in pain and finally get me first leather project done!

Me first shaped leather scabbard fer me stage sword - thanks for th' leather Sage Lion!

Full sheath

Close up o' th' throat

Close up o' th' tip, business end

Now I am not sure how Barbossa Leather does his exactly but I used it as me inspiration and researched some leather working ideas online.

After cutting th' leather t' size (actually 'over sized' as th' final cut be after all is sewn up) I soaked th' leather in Very Hot tap water for roughly 15min. (NOT boiling, that is another technique but I did not want t' chance it first time around).

While th' leather was soaked and workable I stretched it over th' blade and used flat wooden slats and several clamps t' clamp it down (along where ye see me sew work at).

Now mind ye, this be an Aluminum sword; for fine steel be sure ye oil it WELL before wrapping in wet leather!!! I would recommend a good thick fish oil if possible, like what steel from th' steel mill comes covered in - really messy stuff (aye, I was once a wrought iron worker, came home covered in th' stuff!)

I left it stand for a good 24 hours t' dry; times will vary but at th' time it twas about 88~96 degrees out.

After several hours I began pulling th' sword in and out and working it around, just so it don't tighten up too much as th' leather drys out.

After a day I took out th' sword and removed th' clamps, th' shape was made and holding well so I let it dry out another couple days so the inside fully dried.

(sorry I did not think t' take photos of these steps - remember, I was sicker then a dog!)

Once dried I died th' two pieces (main body and throat collar) with Fiebing's oil dye (had t' ship from Canada as California has some law against it) - mind ye; this dye dries a LOT lighter then th' swatches!! It turned out much lighter then I had wanted, even after a second coat; I will remedy that once I can get me hands on some darker dye.

The dye dries fast, I could have started sewing within several minutes, but I was sick, so I started a day or two latter.

First I fixed th' collar t' th' body with a Button Stud from Eleather Supply and anvil (aye, they have a special li'l anvil fer them studs), then I placed th' sword in and began t' sew it up with Sinew.

Now this is me first attempt at such a project so ye may notice me slight mistake; th' sword only goes in so far and about a 1/4 o' blade be exposed. This happened as I squeezed too much when I reached th' tip and was forming th' leather over, I did not notice and th' force squeezed th' blade out a tad, by th' time I notice it twas too late, th' holes had been punched and stitches in place...oh well, I be a fighter not a tailor!

Well, there ye have it; a Shaped Leather sword scabbard.

I know there were many who were aghast when I spoke of soaking th' leather, but it is actually a whole art in leather craft and much info available on th' net about it: Google up 'Leather Armor' and 'Cuir Bouilli'

As fer Barbossa Leather's concerns about keeping a razor sharp blade in an all leather scabbard, I think I have now turned he'm as well; both me Windlass POTC replica as well as me Windlass Dutch Cutlass (aye, I purchased their last one; they make them no more) are now housed in one o' he's scabbards (a bit thicker leather then what I got from Sage Lion of course, but mine just be fer a stage blade)

[j8ksdad]

Well done sir!

[captscurvy_nc]

what weight leather did you use? was it tooling leather? it looks great

[MadL]

I think it is around 6oz, I did not purchase it me self but it was given t' me...fer favor not yet declared

Yes, it be 'tooling' leather (Vegetable tanned)

I also just found out, quite by accident, that leather looks quite fine when tarred with Stolkholm tar!!! Really, it soaks in fast, dries very well, and has a Sweet smell! It darkens the leather a tad, makes it stiffer, oh and did I mention the Sweet smell?!!