How they mount up

[rancid badger]

I was sorting out some bits and pieces yesterday and, while the sun was out, decided to take a few pictures of some of my tools and their "jackets"

These are some of my knives, amazingly, to me at least,they all get used!

then naked:The photo is a bit bizarre, it makes the clipper look huge while the BG Bushcrafter looks tiny:bluThinki

From left to right;
My Bernie Garland Bushcrafter,( now my everyday user) complete with left and right hand sheaths
Then dropping down a bit; my trusty old chip carving knife, about 6 years old now,used for all my mini totems, small carving and occasional leather work, the sheath is made from birch bark.
A close up of the bark sheath:

Then up again; My first home made knife, made from a putty hacking knife, found in my father in laws greenhouse! it's ugly and rough but makes a really good general blade, as well as a whittler.
Then a home made, ash handled whittler/carver, again regularly employed for detail as well as general work, the sheath was knocked together very rapidly, with little design thinking. It was just something to keep the blade safe but I now rather like it, so haven't bothered making another
And finally for this little lot; a recently acquired Frost's Clipper, in stainless, I bought this for general use when canoeing/camping, the sheath is the "birdwing" one I had up for sale but no one wanted

Oh and the possibles pouch for firelighting, sharpening, small first aid kit and bits of this and bits of that
It's made from Colombo leather, and goes everywhere when I'm "out & about"

best wishes
R.B.

 

[Barn Owl]

Lovely stuff RB.

Was the poss' pouch from your own hand?

 

[Bernie Garland]

Your certainly a dab hand with the leather work Steve, looks great

Bernie

 

[Eric_Methven]

Excellent Steve. You know what really impresses me about Steve's work is the simplicity of the tools he uses to get some brilliant designs on his leather. Just nails, pointy sticks, and stuff he finds lying around. He wanted some small circles - he used a propelling pencil with the lead retracted. Larger circle, used .22 empty bullet case. Small x shape - small philips screwdriver.

Eric

 

[rancid badger]

Excellent Steve. You know what really impresses me about Steve's work is the simplicity of the tools he uses to get some brilliant designs on his leather. Just nails, pointy sticks, and stuff he finds lying around. He wanted some small circles - he used a propelling pencil with the lead retracted. Larger circle, used .22 empty bullet case. Small x shape - small philips screwdriver.

Eric

Thanks Eric, I bought a few proper tools but i find I usually fall to the makey do ones, they are in fact,often more comfortable to use.

Cheers to Bernie too

and for Barn Owl; yes the possibles pouch or "man bag" is indeed home made by yours truly It was the first of a small handful I made in 2007, it was made with colombo, rather than cowhide and its a bit thinner than the ones I later sold but I actually use it all the time now.

It was the prototype for this one:

made from 4mm cowhide and solid as rock! it was sold to a member a while back now.
anyway must dash


Thanks again fella's
best wishes
Steve.

 

[edispilff]

Wow, your leather toolong is immaculate. Do you use a graphite pencil to lay down the design first or just freehand it? I've tooled leather before, but have been wary to attempt it on customers projects.

Absolutely beautiful work.

 

[rancid badger]

Wow, your leather toolong is immaculate. Do you use a graphite pencil to lay down the design first or just freehand it? I've tooled leather before, but have been wary to attempt it on customers projects.

Absolutely beautiful work.

Thanks Edi

No, just about everything I do is freehand and in most cases, made up as I go along
It backfires sometimes and then I end up with something else sitting in a box, gathering dust
The sheath on my homemade utility knife was literally just "drawn on" with a stitch groover, while the one with the all over wiggly line was a full on doodle, I just set to and waited to see what came out.
thanks again
R.B.

 

[SOAR]

once again sir I doth my cap to you on your stunning leather work, love the Bernie Garland knife by the way its a cracker.

 

[brancho]

I love your work :You_Rock_

I Like that birch bark sheath what did you finish it with?

 

[edispilff]

Excellent, will give it a shot and see what happens. Going to try to come up with a design on the computer first before going all out though!

Thanks for the tips.

 

[rancid badger]

I love your work :You_Rock_

I Like that birch bark sheath what did you finish it with?

Thanks Brancho, it's not really finished with anything as such:bluThinki it's had a light brush with the "putting on" brush from my shoe polishing kit-can't think why now
It gave it an interesting sheen anyway, the thing is; I love to experiment with this sort of thing, sometimes it turns out ok sometimes not so good, as long as the ok's out weigh the n,s,g,'s rancid's a happy badger
cheers
R.B.

 

[rancid badger]

Excellent, will give it a shot and see what happens. Going to try to come up with a design on the computer first before going all out though!

Thanks for the tips.

Your welcome.
I'd just have a bit of a doodle on a sketch pad with a pencil first, then you could lightly trace the design on to your leather.
the thing with "doodling" with a stitch groover, is that sometimes it goes it's own way! if you have a set design to follow and it goes wrong, it might not be so easy to blend in a mistake

Whatever you go with, very good luck and don't forget to let us see the results
cheers
R.B.

 

[Bimble]

I know it's rough in Newcastle, but geeesh your tooled up man!:yikes::AR15firin

Better not tell the goverment or they'll take your toys away......

 

[rancid badger]

I know it's rough in Newcastle, but geeesh your tooled up man!:yikes::AR15firin

Better not tell the goverment or they'll take your toys away......

No toy's there, every single one is a tool that is used regularly
R.B.