Learning a new skill, with special thanks to Don (DSchlagan)

[Manky bandage]

A fair few years ago, I had a conversation with Don DSchlagan about the construction of some of his knuckle duster knives that he built and scabbard building, with the intention of picking up the skill myself and he encouraged me to do so. As with many of us, life got in the way and collecting in general fell by the side but the bug never really vanishes does it. 

 

Flash forward a fair few years, I started collecting again due to being infected by a random stray marine canteen whilst on my travels. I promptly returned home and dug out a few pieces I held onto along with a few knives I kept. And the thought crossed my mind that I never really got round to giving knife and sheath building a go. So do I have a goal? sure, and I have evolved the goal somewhat as I have gone along. Firstly learn something new, I have an interest in leather work. Secondly, make some sheaths for blades that I am either missing a home for or want to preserve the originals to the best of my ability for future custodians. I'm interested in living history as well, so reproducing some leather items along the way would be useful for sure, as what is currently available on the market is utter junk in most cases. 

 

Sadly during my hiatus from both collecting and being apart of the forum, Don had sadly passed and I never really had a chance to thank him for the encouragement from across the pond. So if hes reading from another realm, thank you for spurring me on into eventually learning something new that is developing much bigger. Maybe the post will encourage someone else in time, who knows. 

 

My first offerings, rather crude. Armed with some improvised tools and some 7-8oz leather gifted by a friend of mine and without a care for to much neatness for a perfect copy, I just gunned it and this is what I came up with. I have screwed up a few things, adjusted a little here and there and came up with something usable.

 

The first is one of the variants that I can only assume the Navy MK1 came with, and positioned the tab slightly higher. Ill have a go at doing the original version that I have a got, but I am pretty pleased with the result. The second knife, my favorite 225Q that I recently added was my second attempt. I botched it just a little, and inadvertently made the loop a tad shorter. I had increased the amount of material that is skived down and sewn into the pocket. It actually increases the strength of the sheath and gives a little bit more protection from the accidental nipping of the corner with the blade, my original and many other surviving examples exhibit this damage in this area. 

 

 

I decided to invest in some affordable tools that I can upgrade as I go along, and try and hunt down the correct hardware commonly used. Sourcing the correct hardware is becoming rather tricky in itself. The split rivets on these (I really don't like them), bifurcated rivets? No one makes them, or maybe I am looking in the wrong places. All I can find have a flat point, I found some relatively similar in size and carefully ground the prongs down into a point, its very easy to do but laboriously time consuming. I think what I came up with works, but Ill avoid them for now until I find (or learn) the correct type used. However, they do visually look right to me. The press studs at least are not far off, plenty of places stock them and a large variety seem to of existed so it gives me a bit of movement for acceptable modern equivalents. 

 

I have also started to hunt down a few of M.H Coles publications after many recommendations, rather expensive and really hard to obtain in the UK but a worthy investment that will be on my shelf of reference material. They will certainly will help on my journey of edged weapons collecting.

 

Yes my hand stitching is sloppy but ill improve in time, its held up well when doing a few good pull tests. 

 

 

You are welcome to post any pointers, utterly bash the creations, part some knowledge. Even better, share something you've made. 

 

 

[opseccc]

Great work.  With a few hand tools, the stitching can get more uniform and inline.  Also, having a custom leather stamp made for you to put on your work, not only gives you credit when you can not.  It will also help to let others know that they are not original.  They do not cost very much.  Again, great job on the leather work. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Beautiful work. Thanks for posting!

[Manky bandage]

On 9/4/2025 at 1:22 PM, opseccc said:

Great work.  With a few hand tools, the stitching can get more uniform and inline.  Also, having a custom leather stamp made for you to put on your work, not only gives you credit when you can not.  It will also help to let others know that they are not original.  They do not cost very much.  Again, great job on the leather work. 

 

This I have actually considered, I have discreetly stamped my initials on the inside of the throat and the date made. Ill look into creating a period looking logo to use should I decide to make these for others.

 

As for the stitching, ill get better in time. Any recommendations for the correct waxed thread? I'm leaning towards a straw yellow would make for some visual improvements. 

 

 

 

[Gear Fanatic]

Manky saddlery Co. should be the stamp 😆

 

in all seriousness great work. They look great and I’m sure your work will get better the more you do it. It is definetly difficult to find nice reproduction sheaths and even if you do find one they usually aren’t the best and stick out on your kit. Especially for uncommon knives and the ability to have custom “theater made” sheaths it is impossible as there is barely anyone making them. I know I would pay to have you make me one! Good luck on your endeavors and excited to see your work!

 

P.S. work any more on the jungle liner?

[sactroop]

Manky, nice scabbards.  Are you familiar with Moore Leather?  I believe they're in Scotland.  https://www.mooreleather.co.uk is a link I have for him.  He maybe able to give you some insight into possible sources for various hardware.  I've found him helpful in the past and his scabbards are first rate.

Good luck and happy hunting.

[Duffswpa]

Very nice.

   I have been procrastinating about attempting some leather work. Stopped at a leather supply place  8 or 9 months ago and spent a half hour asking questions. 

   I have made 2 sheaths when I was a teenager. A local knife maker, Albert Dale gave me one of his knives and no sheath. Used one of my Granpap's WWI sheaths till I destroyed it. So I made one from a squirrel hide, nose to tail. Worked well but eventually lost the knife fellout of squirrel butt climbing a tree to deer hunt. My Mom made me toss it when it gathered bugs and half the fur fell out in my sock drawer.  My second attempt was for a MK 2 I got from an Uncle, still have it and retired it last year and bought a brand new one from KaBar.

All that said, not only that you may have encourage me to learn something new you took me to visit some old old friends and relatives. Which is what I get most out of the old old knives.

Thanks!

[Manky bandage]

A little update with a new addition to the growing collection (thanks Kim)and a few sheaths made. 
 

First attempt at making one that’s double stitched, needs a bit more refinement obviously but for an evenings worth of tinkering I got one into a usable state alongside a 2nd go at one for the MK1. I’ll probably make a fold over pancake design for the Western at some point. 
 

I’m literally winging it with these, minimal basic tools and pretty much eyeballing it. They are not meant to fool anyone but are working usable pieces for display and living history use. As I get better I’ll refine them much more to be as close to the original patterns as is possible. And yes I have even made my own little logo stamp. Seems ok, not really noticeable but does the job. 

[doyler]

Looks great. Very nice work.

[Manky bandage]

On 10/1/2025 at 7:31 AM, Duffswpa said:

Very nice.

   I have been procrastinating about attempting some leather work. Stopped at a leather supply place  8 or 9 months ago and spent a half hour asking questions. 

   I have made 2 sheaths when I was a teenager. A local knife maker, Albert Dale gave me one of his knives and no sheath. Used one of my Granpap's WWI sheaths till I destroyed it. So I made one from a squirrel hide, nose to tail. Worked well but eventually lost the knife fellout of squirrel butt climbing a tree to deer hunt. My Mom made me toss it when it gathered bugs and half the fur fell out in my sock drawer.  My second attempt was for a MK 2 I got from an Uncle, still have it and retired it last year and bought a brand new one from KaBar.

All that said, not only that you may have encourage me to learn something new you took me to visit some old old friends and relatives. Which is what I get most out of the old old knives.

Thanks!

Just go for it, you can get some cheap workable tools on Amazon and just go from there, have a look in thrift stores and places that sell old tools, yard sales too. I recently picked up a selection of very nice punches for next to nothing,  pretty much an entire set that would have cost me around $20-50 a piece. You may find yourself restoring the tools, re sharpening and so on but you’ve given perfectly good high quality tooling a new life that will keep you going. 

[BryanJ]

Manky.  I forwarded this to my brother who also makes sheaths and holsters and he wanted to know what type of rivets you use and where do you source them?  Great leather work!

[Manky bandage]

Evening Bryan

 

It took me a while to figure out what they are exactly, then discovered an old tin of the things at a bootsale (yard sale). They are called bifurcated rivets, they come in different sizes and finishes. I managed to find a bunch on ebay and purchased a bunch of different sizes, Ideally you'd want ones that have a blackened finish rather than painted black. Whilst setting them the paint rubs off, sadly I only have the painted type in the right sort of size at the moment. I did find some in brass though so im sure they will be of use at some point. The only down side to these is that the original rivets have pointed prongs, making it easier to drive them into the leather. These have a flat edge, they work but you just have to be careful when setting them. 

 

I can recommend practicing with them on some scrap leather first, I hold a rivet with some tweezers and tap it lightly a few times to start it off. This way it wont tilt and become problematic removing it, once your happy just drive it down hard. The back end of a vice provides a good hard stable surface to work on. 

[Manky bandage]

I'd love to find a supplier for the coffin shaped rivets and the throat staples you find on the M6. 

[VNAMVET70]

2 hours ago, Manky bandage said:

I'd love to find a supplier for the coffin shaped rivets and the throat staples you find on the M6. 

Alibaba.com/product-detail/rivets-studs-craft sells small coffin-shaped rivets  Also try "Etsy" I have purchased leather stuff from them. Good luck and may the force be with you.

[Manky bandage]

Well I got a very nice gift from the parents, short of an original I do feel it’s the next best thing. 
 

I managed to get a bit of down time and started on a new little venture. A long way to go, but it’s getting there slowly. 

[Manky bandage]

I believe Camillus did a short production run of these in the 80s, then a following run without the motif and blade markings in the 90s? Whilst its a reproduction, it will be a nice place holder for now until I find one that Id be happy with in the collection. I do worry about the probable inevitability of zinc rot in an original though, I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles really. 

 

 

[Gear Fanatic]

you must've been good this year! even though a repro, still a nice placeholder. these are tough to find in the US let alone the UK. you will definetly be able to find one later down the road.

[Manky bandage]

Well, I screwed this one up from the get go. Firstly I cut it slightly too wide; even with the belt hanger next to me that I should of measured.  I pressed on and got to sewing…. I managed to shave it down just enough but it’s probably a bit on the wide side still and the end is a little broad in my opinion. The next screw up was slipping with the rivet, accidentally clipping the edge of the sheath with the bounce of a hammer. Funny how a split second can ruin your work but hay ho. I’ll press on and just go with the flow with it. 
 

I have yet to find anyone with the throat staples, so I’ll purposely omit it from my reproduction. I may add a plate towards the end of the sheath as well as an eyelet. I have not seen enough real ones to decide on what sort of size works yet. Ill also add some more rivets in the morning as I have finally got a day off.....hmmm
 

on the plus side, the knife fits very nicely. I’ll decide on the retention strap and its positioning later. 

[Manky bandage]

I have loosely based my sheath on the one that forum member jeremy69 posted, I hope he doesn't mind me reposting the image here. Without any measurements of an original in hand, I don't think I have gone to far off the mark. 

[sactroop]

If your still looking for the stuff to put at the top of the sheath pocket opening, it's called alligator lacing.

Here's a link to a supplier of the stuff.  https://www.flexco.com/EN/Product-Systems/Mechanical-Belt-Fastening-Systems/Alligator-Lacing-Fastening-System.htm

It's been around since at least the 19th century and is still in use, just not so much for sheaths.

[Manky bandage]

Sactroop, I’d of never of worked that one out and it looks like I can actually get the stuff over here so many thanks to you indeed. 
 

well it looks like I have reached the end of this first attempt. The split rivets are still an annoyance, I have found that if I cut the prongs down a little, it leaves a better finish on the back as well as making them a little easier to put in. 

[Manky bandage]

Getting an itch to have another go at one of these. If anyone that has an original that would be happy to take the time and make some measurements, it would be appreciated. Maybe some theatre made sheaths would be fun to do too. 

[DRE66]

Do you have a pic of the back of the sheath after setting the rivets?

[Duffswpa]

Manky you did it. Got me to start learning some leather craft. I too am searching for bifuricated rivets. We used to have them in the barn in the tack cabinet, but the barn was torn done in the late 1970's. I may attempt making my own rivets once it warms up in the garage.Until I find some I decide to make Boyt sheaths with the copper staples. I had 2 PAL 36's that needed sheaths.

   Your sheaths look great. The dark leather with the double stitching is a very nice creation.

Thanks for posts and pictures.

[Manky bandage]

Well done, it’s certainly a fantastic skill to have and it might sound funny but you’ll be finding yourself examining the quality of leather items in general. As for the rivets, I can honestly tell you that i absolutely loath them. Obviously for a recreation of certain sheathes then it is necessary but I’ll be trying to find alternatives that are period correct like the staples. 
 

I understand the purpose of them but I do feel that staples are not only easier to set but less risk of blade edge damage over time. They are also easier to obtain in my opinion, and if you can’t buy them then folding brass wire isn’t exactly complicated with a little jig. Out of interest, what size staples did you use?