Thanks Helen! We are heading to spring soon, so I’m looking forward to some warmer weather. I can only imagine how green Ireland will be in a few months 😃 🇮🇪 Best wishes Michael 🇨🇦
A welt is a must for stitch protection. I'm also a fan of cutting a stitch groove to inlay the stitches for abrasion protection and saddle stitching with a waxed nylon thread, it sort of negates the need of the rivets. Contact cement for a good bond before stitching. Gum Tragacanth is the product for edge burnishing. In design phase I determine which side of the hip it will ride if I'm going to have it on the belt and at that time decide whether I want it to ride blade forward or rearward, and put any design used on the outward facing side of the sheath/mask. For lanyards I prefer not having a loop to catch on things and pull. So I learned how to knot to the handle to keep it from moving. I then use long enough tails of paracord to facilitate the finished loop to wrap around the back of the hand and over the thumb, held snug in the meat of the thumb. It becomes a very stable grip for single hand use. To address the matter of "tails" (rather than loop) but needing a loop, I tie a Chinese Button Knot at the end of each tail to become a "stop" at the end of each tail. I then use another length of paracord and tie Boy Scout's Kerchief Knot (also called a Diamond Knot) over the two tails. When the Diamond Knot is slid up to the butt of the handle you have two tails dangling and won't be a loop to catch/pull on things. When you need the lanyard to become a loop you just slide the Diamond Knot down to the stops (Chinese Button Knots) at the end of each tail. I do this for my machetes as well as my tomahawk. Having a custom fitted lanyard going across the back of the hand and held snug with the meat of the thumb allows for a slightly more relaxed grip needed on the tool, less fatiguing that way. Another thing I've done for a sheath I made for a young man in Texas was to include a loop stitched integrally with the welt (similar to how you did the flap for the snap). In this loop is where a ferro rod resides. But instead of the snap, the edge is stitched to create a loop. The lanyard loop for the ferro rod is light bungee cord, so that when you push the rod into the loop you can keep pulling the loop down and over the other end of the ferro rod so it's locked into the loop and must be worked to release it (no lost ferro rods). Now, time to make Lizzy a collar and give us the formal introduction. Always a pleasure Michael. Keep warm my friend.
You know your stuff about leather making that's clear 😄 I'd love to see some picture of your work! For prototyping I cut a few ( a lot of) corners, especially the hand stitching as the machine is so much faster. I'll research the lanyard options you mentioned as I'm not familiar with that way of timing them but it sounds crazy good! Thanks for all the information!! This will keep me busy for hours 😆
Much as the women folks say to me: “Trim that beard!” … I’d argue applies to the axe too 😂 Side note: husqvarna made some decent axes for under $100 CND or for $50 during outdoor promo/shows. It is my “truck axe” and I always keep one in there. Not too costly (in case of theft), but suitable for all type of work.
Hahahah - So true 😄 I get the same comments! The Husqvarna axes are a good value prospect and I have heard nothing but good things. However, the fit and finish "can" be, but not always, a little sub par - but with some tidying up they make excellent axes 👍 Thanks for the recommendation Richard!
Very nice work, looks great. I have a couple new fiskars I pack in my atv box. I have an old Walter axe I want to restore. The handle is in terrible shape. Found it at a farm estate sale.
Can't go wrong with a Fiskars axe!!!! 👍 Ohhh Walter axes are old school Canadian axes as I recall!! That would be great to get back into service!! Nice find!
What is the purpose of the longer beard on an ax? Are those axes made for splitting? I was told a good splitting ax would be the second one that you have with the wider back end for opening up the wood. I know absolutely nothing about axs but I carry a fiskars with me and I’ve used it twice and I love it. Also, your leather work is amazing MICHAEL. You are so talented. Cheers my friend. When do we get a new puppy video? I can’t wait to see more of Lizzie.
The longer beard entrants the cutting surface and is better for slashing blows. Not that useful for general axe work 😄. A splitting axe head is usually heavier and has a definite wedge shape to help split the wood. The Fiskar axes are work horses and do a fine job!! You can't beat them for performance and price!!! Good choice 👍 Best wishes Michael!
I use a small hatchet for car camping. Does the job for me. Very good leather work on the mask. I like the paw print. Didn't know that you could get a nice polished edge using water on the leather. Was that wolf fur you had the axes laying on? Thanks Micheal. Best Regards
