Author Topic: Leather Source?  (Read 10883 times)

C. Cash

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Leather Source?
« on: January 12, 2015, 09:30:28 PM »
Where do you all get leather suitable for your leather projects?  Looking to make my first knife sheath.  Thanks!

Offline KentSmith

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2015, 10:03:30 PM »
Curt Lyles.

C. Cash

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2015, 10:09:06 PM »
That you Sir!

Offline iloco

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2015, 10:22:00 PM »
Tandy leather is a good source.  You can buy sides of different weight.  For knife sheaths I use 7-8 oz weight.
iloco

Offline Shovelbuck

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2015, 12:21:09 AM »
I get mine here...........http://leatherunltd.com/
I don't hunt the hard way, I hunt a simpler way.

Offline FDR

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2015, 02:56:02 AM »
What you want is vegetable tanned leather. One of the best sources is Wicket and Craig.
http://www.wickett-craig.com/Construction%20Page.html
7-8 oz drum dyed in chestnut color is a good place to start.

Their web site seems to have some  issues at the moment so just call the number displayed.  You will be glad you did.  In 23 years as a knifemakers guild member I  made over 400 fixed blade knives/sheaths and wish I had found them sooner.

Offline dave gross

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2015, 03:01:03 AM »
Google Brettun's Village Leather........they have a large selection on leathers....small pieces to full hides and they pay all shipping to US addresses.....give 'em a try.

Dave G

Offline draken

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2015, 05:10:55 AM »
I have used Zack White Leather Company for a number of years.  Quality goods at reasonable prices, and nice people to deal with.
Dick 

Times have sure changed. Gun control used to mean keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction

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C. Cash

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2015, 05:28:20 PM »
Thank you all!  It is good to have a variety of sources/ choices.  This will be for a TOW Cumberland Rifleman's Knife.  My son really wants to make a pair of Mocs as well.  Very much appreciate the responses.

Offline crowbarforge

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2015, 03:13:25 AM »
I get my leather supplies from:

Landwerlen Leather Company
365 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225 · Concord
(317) 636-8300

They have vegetable tan in all the weights you need for bags, sheaths, belts, moccasins....

Micah2

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2015, 04:23:31 AM »
I would recommend a goodwill or thrift store.  Good old leather boots are perfect for making pouches and sheathes and cost maybe 7 dollars.

Micah2

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2015, 04:24:24 AM »
Patina is usually included.

Offline B.Habermehl

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2015, 12:23:37 AM »
Chris, the leather factory in Harrisburg about one half block down Cameron st from the farm show buildings. Easy to overlook, sorta next to Popeyes chicken. West side of the street. They have more leather and leather working stuff than you can shake a stick at. BJH
BJH

Offline Curt Lyles

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2015, 03:01:36 AM »
All I have is bark tanned deer and goat hides
    .Curt

Offline winemaker

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2015, 04:24:13 AM »
I will be leaving for the farm show in a few hours, I never knew that the place exisited. I will be stopping tomorrow for sure.

Offline Mark Elliott

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2015, 06:50:03 AM »
Natural veg tanned cow sides from Tandy is good enough for my work given that it is going to be distressed anyway.   However,  I did buy a couple of sides of goat from Tandy on sale that I recently used for Christmas presents.   It was/is about perfect.   I guess I just got lucky on that one. 

Offline KentSmith

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2015, 06:24:32 PM »
Curt - what else would a guy need?

Offline Curt Lyles

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #17 on: January 16, 2015, 04:28:58 AM »
Curt - what else would a guy need?
  Kent     All i can think of is thread, neaddles and time.  Curt

Offline FDR

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #18 on: January 16, 2015, 05:37:07 AM »
you need an awl to punch holes for sewing.  Get the largest straight needlle they have and when you get home put it in your drill press and use it (press running) to make your holes in the leather. Use a wooden block underneath the leather and you still need the awl for the places the drill cannot reach.  Get the guy in the leather shop to show you how to saddle stitch. Saddle stitch is the basic stitch needed for making sheaths.

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2015, 12:47:16 AM »
I have bought leather from a variety of sources over the years, including Wickett and Craig, and though their stuff is very nice quality, I find Tandy supplies all I need much faster and cheaper.

TC Albert has a wonderful book for sale on making shooting pouches, and it tells you a lot of what you need t know about sewing leather.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline David R. Pennington

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Re: Leather Source?
« Reply #20 on: January 18, 2015, 05:03:54 PM »
Whitetail buck and lots of elbow grease.
VITA BREVIS- ARS LONGA