Works in Progress

[Curtis Makamson]

That is indeed impressive--very impressive.

[jcmcclure]

Working on a knife for myself.

[Brokennock]

Lyman pouch just started. Testing pattern and new stitching clamp.

[RoaringBull]

Working on a knife for myself.

Thats awesome!

[Greg Pennell]

Nice looking projects, guys!  I made a pattern for a Lyman pouch today, then couldn’t find a big enough leather piece in my scrap bag to cut it out.  Time for a re-supply, I reckon. I don’t have the forging skills for knife making, yet...but I’m thinking about making up a couple more on Green River blades.

Greg

[Oil Derek]

I like that blade JC!

[Mike from OK]

Lyman pouch just started. Testing pattern and new stitching clamp.

How are you liking the clamp so far?

Mike

[Brokennock]

Lyman pouch just started. Testing pattern and new stitching clamp.

How are you liking the clamp so far?

Mike

Well, not having worked with one before, I have no way to compare it to others. I did glue some cheap soft leather, rough side out to the jaws to keep from marring the leather being held. I definitely see the advantages of working with one. It is nice not having to juggle everything in my hands. Having the edges of the clamp as a straight edge and a defined position makes pushing the awl through straight a lot easier.
Over all I'd say I'm happy with it. Is it the best one can do? Don't know. For $18 I doubt it, but, for $18 it is a useful tool if one can't make a better one themselves.

The only thing I really would like to improve is clamping power. I'd definitely like to be able to grip my project tighter. But, this project is using very thin leather, I'm sure a thicker project will be clamped harder.

[J. Talbert]

Brokennock,
Is that a homemade stitching clamp?
Can you show the clamp locking system?

Thanks
Jeff

[RoaringBull]

Brokennock, on the piece opposite to what you show, there is a machine screw going through. Loosen the little nut and tighten that screw up, and it will tighten up the tension some. I'm still experimenting with trying to get it tight enough for me.

[Mike from OK]

Brokennock,
Is that a homemade stitching clamp?
Can you show the clamp locking system?

Thanks
Jeff

Jeff, it's a commercial model... I think he got it from Weaver Leather Supply if I'm not mistaken... Which I can be often.

There's a thread down the list here talking about them. Edit: Here's a link...

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=59469.0

Mike

[Tim Crosby]

Working on a knife for myself.

  Good luck with that 

    Tim

[Brokennock]

Brokennock,
Is that a homemade stitching clamp?
Can you show the clamp locking system?

Thanks
Jeff

Mike from OK is correct, it is from weaver leather.

[Brokennock]

Brokennock, on the piece opposite to what you show, there is a machine screw going through. Loosen the little nut and tighten that screw up, and it will tighten up the tension some. I'm still experimenting with trying to get it tight enough for me.

Ya, I've played with that a bit. I think with thicker leather it will be fine. I need to come up with a little shim for this thinner leather.

[J. Talbert]

Thanks for the info.

Jeff

[Brokennock]

Brokennock,
Is that a homemade stitching clamp?
Can you show the clamp locking system?

Thanks
Jeff

Not the best pics,

[J. Talbert]

Thanks,
Much appreciated.
Jeff

[Kevin]

Greetings All,

Here's a couple photos of my work in progress.  The base plug is inspired by a horn in Madison Grant's "The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch" book - "The pine butt plug has facets left by the strokes of the knife and the pierced knob is an integral part of it."

A while back:





Now its a more mature horn with its braces off, a defined spout with shoulder, but still with some scrapping to be done:



I'm still debating if I make my first attempt at aging a horn or just go with some green milk paint on the base and stopper and call it done.  After all, every horn was brand new at one time.

Thoughts and comments welcome,

Kevin

[Mike from OK]

Kevin, I like that.

Mike

[Tim Crosby]

 Man Kevin I must have missed that one, I like the look and the "Outside the Box" design. Let's paint the one, "Sea Green" or "Butter Milk" Milk Paint and some Brown shoe polish sounds right to me.

   Tim

[Mick C]

Very unique, Kevin.   I love it.

[Kevin]

Mick, Mike, & Tim,

Thank you for the kind words about the horn.

Further location details about the original horn plug that got this all started:  page #153, horn i'd as PH-7 in the small horn section of Madison Grant's Hunting Pouch book.

Tim, a special thank you for the finish suggestion.  I'm still letting the horn speak to me about that.  In the mean time, I used the search feature here to find mentions of "shoe polish" and came across some good looking horns that you have used it on.  There one or two with shoe polish over a horn colored up with AF that really look sharp.

Thanks Again,
Kevin

[Marcruger]

BriWax is also a great choice, but it is fussier and stickier to use than shoe polish.  Tough stuff though. 

[Kevin]

Greetings All,

Well, I think I'm done now. I did go ahead and attempted some light aging (my thought was a hand-me-down horn - grandfather to grandson).  The stopper is a "replacement" quickly whittled from a scrap of poplar.

The butt got a coat of Lexington Green milk paint from the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company which was rubbed back until a touch of paint loss was achieved.

I gathered up a pinch or three of gritty dirt and rubbed the horn to give it some small scratches.  Next the whole thing was hit with some vinegar & iron solution followed by some heat.  That was followed by a very light coat of light brown Briwax.

Thoughts and observations welcome.  Take Care & Stay Safe,
Kevin

[Greg Pennell]

Kevin, I think it came out very nice!  I like the distressed look you got on the plug...my daughter does something similar with vintage furniture.  So, what’s next?

Greg