Here are some questions for your fine folks. I was just gifted a beautiful knife, deer antler handle with eagle head carved in the end, most symetrical hand knapped blade you have ever seen.
I am trying to make a sheath for it and am having problems with forming the rawhide inside sheath. I am soaking the rawhide in warm water until it is flexible. I cut the sheath to shape and form it around the knife (which I wrapped in a plastic bag to keep the rawhide on the knife from getting wet). Then I weighted down the outside edge where the rawhide joins together and let it sit until almost dry. (about 12 hours) I then took off my weights so that the rawhide could continue drying. My problem is that the edges are curling up and if you look along the seamed edge it is all wavy. I am thinking about getting the rawhide wet again and sewing the edges together while it is still wet, then hanging the sheath until it is dry. Also the sheath itself is "lumpy" instead of smooth like the sheaths I see at powwows.
So my question is this, how do you make the rawhide look nice and still fit the knife properly so the knife doesn't fall out. Do you sew your edges of the rawhide or just the outer buckskin covering? Also I heard that a knapped stone blade should have fringe on the sheath, is there any truth to that? My leggings are tabbed and I am not sure if I should mix tabs with fringe. Crow style outfit patterned after some stuff I saw out at Haskell.
Thanks in advance for your input and knowledge.
Jim
I am trying to make a sheath for it and am having problems with forming the rawhide inside sheath. I am soaking the rawhide in warm water until it is flexible. I cut the sheath to shape and form it around the knife (which I wrapped in a plastic bag to keep the rawhide on the knife from getting wet). Then I weighted down the outside edge where the rawhide joins together and let it sit until almost dry. (about 12 hours) I then took off my weights so that the rawhide could continue drying. My problem is that the edges are curling up and if you look along the seamed edge it is all wavy. I am thinking about getting the rawhide wet again and sewing the edges together while it is still wet, then hanging the sheath until it is dry. Also the sheath itself is "lumpy" instead of smooth like the sheaths I see at powwows.
So my question is this, how do you make the rawhide look nice and still fit the knife properly so the knife doesn't fall out. Do you sew your edges of the rawhide or just the outer buckskin covering? Also I heard that a knapped stone blade should have fringe on the sheath, is there any truth to that? My leggings are tabbed and I am not sure if I should mix tabs with fringe. Crow style outfit patterned after some stuff I saw out at Haskell.
Thanks in advance for your input and knowledge.
Jim
Comment