I've made two sheaths in this style, one for a Green River Dadley and another for a Green River Sheath knife. The two I've made are square at the closed end of the sheath, as opposed to following the shape of the blade. The welt is approx. "3/4 wide (though it should be at least "1), for strength and for the purpose of punching holes for use in securing cord and other items, perhaps a ferro rod, for example, or for simply attaching decoration. These sheaths can be attached to just about anything, e.g., a stick, a backpack strap, an arm or a leg!, etc. It can be worn on a waist belt or sash on either side for vertical carry, cross draw or horizontal carry on one's front or backside. One of the best sheath ideas I've ever come across! Awesome! Thanks for posting! I've happily nick-named my new sheath build: the Townsend! Hooray! I think I'll make the next one with a full "1 welt and follow the shape of the blade and see how that works out.
I made a Bowie knife with an antler handle that turned out absolutely beautiful. I was going to have a sheath made for it but after watching this, I think I'll invest in some leathermaking tools and try my hand at making my own. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Worst case scenario if you don't like the one you make you can commission an artisan to craft one for you professionally. *Forgot to mention, if you want to get started, bare minimum leather sewing kit you need a utility knife, an awl with a sharp point for piercing the leather, linen thread or a nylon twist/braid thread (not cotton, should have no stretch), and blunt tipped needles. Saddle stitch is the correct technique for hand stitching this type of leather. There are other tools you can buy for better quality work, but this is bare minimum to make a functional piece. The type of leather can vary but as he said in the video something veg tanned (bark tanned) is best for a knife sheath.
I want to thank your Dad, and you, Jon, for continuing to teach us so many aspects of 18th century history. This leatherworking video was clear, inspiring and also ,as so many of your videos are, a relaxing break from our busy days. A hearty thank you and “Huzzah” to you all.
Sorry for your loss Jon. I'm sure he's proud of what your doing! This even seemed to have opened more doors for people to see beyond cooking! I'd love to have that knife and leather holster!
Condolences to the Townsend family from the Nutmeg State. My Dad passed last year, and this is a lousy club to be a member of. I am living my life as a tribute to him and the values he raised me to honor and it's quite obvious you've been doing that all along.
Sorry for you loss. I pray his memory shines brighter with each passing year. Also, I love these leatherworking videos! I really want to give it a try.
Hey, not sure how far back you go on your comments! I just wanted to say that your videos on leather craft on this channel were one of the things that first got me into the craft! I am not going quite so historical, but still, thank you very much! :)
Small tip on the saddler stitch: leave a loop big enough for a finger in the thread when pulling through your first needle. With this loop you can pull out the first thread while you put through the second needle, which lets you pull your seam tighter since you didn´t stab through your thread. This is especially helpful for sewing stiffer vegetable tanned leather with an untanned core like you use for wet forming.
Oak bark leather was the type used by Tim Severin in The Brendan Project when he recreated a 5th century Irish ocean going curragh and successfully sailed from Ireland to Canada, tracing the steps of St Brendan of Clonfert as narrated in the medieval text "The Navigation of St Brendan". Great stuff.
Great video, thank you. I am about to do the same thing for a couple of knives I made for the wife and I. I never would have thought to grind some spare spade drills in to thread hole punching tools.
I just bought a really cool “Damascus” steel Roman gladius style knife that has an okay sheath. I think I’ll give this a shot and make a sheath for my new display piece.
So, should I put in my leather knife holster order now or…? Epic craftsmanship, Brandon! 😎👏🏽 My condolences to Jon. My dad passed away last year from Covid-related troubles, so I can sympathise. With that said, everyone’s grief is different, so I hope that your heart will heal with time and patience 💖 Thanks to all of you at Townsends for making such an incredible channel 😇
I have need of several sheaths for several types of knives. I do like this sheath design. It looks like it would work well under a modern pants belt just as well as a sash. Quick on and off is a feature that many could make use of. I recently aquired two 19th century Green River pattern knives. One a 6 inch Hunter and the other a 6 inch Skinner. The hunter promises to be a great all purpose knife for daily camp and bushcraft use. The Skinner is pretty much a specialized tool as it's name implies, and would see little if any belt carry, even while hunting deer, but it deserves a proper sheath as well.
I really like this series of leatherworking. My family has a hobby farm but we rid of all the animals a few years back, now we're repurposing the 1st floor of the barn for woodworking (multiple lathes/drill presses/etc), but as I already have a pottery kiln (which will go in the cement silo so no accident barn fires) we're expanding the idea to glasswork, ceramics, and also leatherwork. These videos are very helpful in inspiring some approaches to various leatherworking. Keep up the good work.
thank you! i was unaware of this method for attaching a sheath to a belt or sash. until the final demonstration i did not know what you were going to do. a very handsome method.
What a fantastic video, the quality of the content on this channel is some of the best on the platform. I really feel like I've sat down for a private masterclass when watching. Great work to everyone at Townsends. P.s. I'm sorry for the loss of your Father Jon, he seemed like an amazing person, I think the outpouring of comments just shows how many people he touched. Best wishes to you and your family.
God's comfort.. God's peace and God's healing grace to you and your family Jon and to the Townsend work family. James Townsend's memory will be honored as long as there are people willing to take up the living history banner.
What a great video. Easy to understand, although it won't be as easy to do. The thong method of attaching the sheath to the sash was especially neat. Thank you for yet another excellent video.
Thank you Brandon. I enjoy you are leather making videos. I have also worked leather in my early years. I find your videos very informative for the new people looking to start leatherworking. Myself had to read books to learn this trade and found it somewhat awkward. Thank you so much for your easy-to-follow instructions for the new person weather Tradesmen or hobbyist. I have forgotten how relaxing and rewarding it was to make my own leather projects. I hope to see more of this segment in the future for all to see. Thank you
A wonderful piece of work and lovely presentation. Thank you for stepping up and filing your father's shoes. I'm amazed you are putting content out without delay. I know it must be hard, but keep up the good work. As Alexander took what philip had built and made it his own masterpiece, im sure you will do the same.
Great project, Brandon. You may have just pushed me down another slippery slope. Perhaps Townsends will one day offer a combo trade knife and sheath kit?
The way that sheath ties on a sash or belt is elegant in how simply it’s done. Way simpler than the constant threading of beltloops with modern sheaths
As a student of history I love this platform. Have you ever done a segment on entertainment of the period? Example music folk, and other types. Typical games played during the seasons. Thanks again for a great look into America's historical lifestyle.
Fun fact, a girl did a high school science fair project several years back, regarding which style of stitch (blanket, saddle, zigzag, etc) would be the strongest at holding two pieces of fabric together. She wrote up a paper on it, and did such an incredibly good job, her work was mentioned in Science News Magazine. For the record, a regular straight saddle stitch turned out to be the strongest at holding two pieces of fabric together!
I wonder, if next you'd be willing to do a video on a DIY gun holster? Idk if you guys have a 19th century replica revolver, but it'd be an epic video for the current times and understanding the leatherworking approach for making something that has to hold some weight (as a pistol can weigh a couple lbs, and the holster will receive wear over time.)
it is so nice to meet you sir! i have been a fan of this channel for about 5 years now- but have been away for a bit- so the newer segments and subjects are stil foreign to me- which is kinda cool because its all freshy fresh stuff ;) and not oh ive already seen this, but i love it so i;ll watch it again- which is totally my m.o. . haha! anyhoo, now thatve rambled ye ears off, i must say that the sheath is just beautiful and i hope you sellem in a gift shop er somethin down there in Townsendville, cause tho id love ta recreate your stunning craftsmanship- i think tha recipes are more my speed and skillset lol! BUT i am also a skilled shopper- so if your wares are for sale- online, catalog or otherwise- id be keen on more info about that...maybe i shoulda poked around y'all's sites a bit more too b4 i posed this query, as tha answer maybe bout ta bite me like a snake as mamma'd say...in any case, y'all have a wonderful day- its rainy and really warm here in north carolina so it feels a bit weird ta be honest w/ya- but i hope alls well in y'all's neck o tha woods...May the peace that surpasses all understanding be with you always- proceeding ahead of you, surrounding you, and left behind by you, my friends. Keep up the good and most important work that you have been blessed to be taxed with, for you are the stewards of something great and unique unto yourselves- it is destiny and legacy intertwined at Townsend, not just a little youtube sensation in my opinion, and i know that sentiment is felt by all fans of your cause...so again, big thanks to all involved and blessings to you many times over...
That was interesting for me as I have never seen that kind of sheath before looks like I have another project... please keep up these leather vids they are very interesting...
A question about this process: I generally think of cloth as something fairly valuable prior to automation really taking over the textile industry. Would someone from the 1700's use cloth in that manner to make a pattern that was likely to be discarded after the project was done, or was there some sort of alternative material that might be used instead to create the pattern, e.g. a sheet of birch bark or something like that?
Remember, paper wasn't something that everyone had laying around as we do today. It was expensive and more than likely only kept by who could write. Old cloth however, was something that people would keep for patching or as rags for cleaning. So it is quite possible that it would've made more sense to use cloth as a pattern instead of other materials.
Helpful hint: Wanting to preserve the integrity of your sharp tools, take a piece of belly (scrap) leather and glue (or nail) to piece of wood. When you cut holes or use head knife, the blade hopefully does not make contact with the wood, but instead the leather buffer. Perhaps in the future Townsends can make a saddler's clam or leather vise so stitching is easier and faster.
Not historically accurate, but I use a shallow baking dish full of wax to cut my holes on. Once it gets too beat up, I pop it in an oven for a few minutes to melt the wax again. This doesn't work for large holes, though, as the wax is too soft, but it's great for making sewing holes.
if I may, pound your tools into the end grain of a piece of firewood rather than along the grain of a board. Your tool edge bevels will stay sharp 10 times longer.
If you have a really sharp awl and a steady hand, you can get away with just marking your stitch line on one side. Another thing to do is,if you want to get serious about leatherworking, looking into getting a stitching horse. Also, did you thin the turnover in anyway? (Edit to ask question)
Our condolences to you and your family, Jon. Your family is helping to preserve such a wonderful legacy.
Wait what happened? Other comments seem to say Jon's father passed away.
My condolences to Jon and his family.
@@nextlifeonearth Check the community page friend, he has a beautiful post for his dad there.
I've made two sheaths in this style, one for a Green River Dadley and another for a Green River Sheath knife. The two I've made are square at the closed end of the sheath, as opposed to following the shape of the blade. The welt is approx. "3/4 wide (though it should be at least "1), for strength and for the purpose of punching holes for use in securing cord and other items, perhaps a ferro rod, for example, or for simply attaching decoration.
These sheaths can be attached to just about anything, e.g., a stick, a backpack strap, an arm or a leg!, etc. It can be worn on a waist belt or sash on either side for vertical carry, cross draw or horizontal carry on one's front or backside.
One of the best sheath ideas I've ever come across! Awesome! Thanks for posting! I've happily nick-named my new sheath build: the Townsend! Hooray!
I think I'll make the next one with a full "1 welt and follow the shape of the blade and see how that works out.
I'm sorry your Dad has gone, he was a great man. Tell Jon we love him and his family and his wonderful legacy as well!
I made a Bowie knife with an antler handle that turned out absolutely beautiful. I was going to have a sheath made for it but after watching this, I think I'll invest in some leathermaking tools and try my hand at making my own. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Good luck, that sounds cool!
You probably already have all the tools you need 👍
Worst case scenario if you don't like the one you make you can commission an artisan to craft one for you professionally.
*Forgot to mention, if you want to get started, bare minimum leather sewing kit you need a utility knife, an awl with a sharp point for piercing the leather, linen thread or a nylon twist/braid thread (not cotton, should have no stretch), and blunt tipped needles. Saddle stitch is the correct technique for hand stitching this type of leather. There are other tools you can buy for better quality work, but this is bare minimum to make a functional piece. The type of leather can vary but as he said in the video something veg tanned (bark tanned) is best for a knife sheath.
I want to thank your Dad, and you, Jon, for continuing to teach us so many aspects of 18th century history. This leatherworking video was clear, inspiring and also ,as so many of your videos are, a relaxing break from our busy days. A hearty thank you and “Huzzah” to you all.
Hello Dorothy how are you doing?
Sorry for your loss Jon. I'm sure he's proud of what your doing! This even seemed to have opened more doors for people to see beyond cooking! I'd love to have that knife and leather holster!
Blessings and love to the Townsends.
As the saying goes: you are standing on the shoulders of a giant.
That's a great video; I love it.
Condolences to the Townsend family from the Nutmeg State. My Dad passed last year, and this is a lousy club to be a member of. I am living my life as a tribute to him and the values he raised me to honor and it's quite obvious you've been doing that all along.
It is important that we have people like you.
I like the little tab thingy to hold the knife+sheath.
Sorry for you loss. I pray his memory shines brighter with each passing year.
Also, I love these leatherworking videos! I really want to give it a try.
Brandon !!!! AWESOME!!! You have such a cool, relaxed and informative way to explain your craft. Well done! Thank you.
He's the type of guy to lick his fingers to turn a page while reading on his iPad
Hey, not sure how far back you go on your comments! I just wanted to say that your videos on leather craft on this channel were one of the things that first got me into the craft! I am not going quite so historical, but still, thank you very much! :)
Beautiful work from a very talented fella. Many thanks Sir! 👍
just got into leather working, and this video really helped, thanks and God bless.
All our prayers to you and family.
Man this channel is pure Soul Food ✨
Another master class by Brandon.
Thanks for making this process look easy. I'll give it a try! 🙂
Small tip on the saddler stitch: leave a loop big enough for a finger in the thread when pulling through your first needle. With this loop you can pull out the first thread while you put through the second needle, which lets you pull your seam tighter since you didn´t stab through your thread. This is especially helpful for sewing stiffer vegetable tanned leather with an untanned core like you use for wet forming.
Love these new leather working videos, suits the channel well.
I'm so sorry to hear of your father's passing Jon, may his memory be eternal.
You guys are doing something great
Very glad I found this channel
Nutmeg 4 life !!!!
Oak bark leather was the type used by Tim Severin in The Brendan Project when he recreated a 5th century Irish ocean going curragh and successfully sailed from Ireland to Canada, tracing the steps of St Brendan of Clonfert as narrated in the medieval text "The Navigation of St Brendan". Great stuff.
using spade bits nice idea.
Great video, thank you. I am about to do the same thing for a couple of knives I made for the wife and I. I never would have thought to grind some spare spade drills in to thread hole punching tools.
Beautiful work.
I just bought a really cool “Damascus” steel Roman gladius style knife that has an okay sheath. I think I’ll give this a shot and make a sheath for my new display piece.
Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.
I really like leather work. I’d like to make a similar sheath.
So, should I put in my leather knife holster order now or…?
Epic craftsmanship, Brandon! 😎👏🏽
My condolences to Jon. My dad passed away last year from Covid-related troubles, so I can sympathise. With that said, everyone’s grief is different, so I hope that your heart will heal with time and patience 💖
Thanks to all of you at Townsends for making such an incredible channel 😇
The website needs to get more of those tradesman knives in! I want one!
I have a knife I made that has been sitting on my bench for months waiting for me to make something like this. Thanks!
You’re design is really cool, great work 😁👍💪🏻
Amazing how leather tools haven't changed in hundres of years
I have need of several sheaths for several types of knives. I do like this sheath design. It looks like it would work well under a modern pants belt just as well as a sash. Quick on and off is a feature that many could make use of. I recently aquired two 19th century Green River pattern knives. One a 6 inch Hunter and the other a 6 inch Skinner. The hunter promises to be a great all purpose knife for daily camp and bushcraft use. The Skinner is pretty much a specialized tool as it's name implies, and would see little if any belt carry, even while hunting deer, but it deserves a proper sheath as well.
I got a set of hunting knives for my birthday with out sheaths and this is the best tutorial I found so far! I'm totally gonna make this!!
I really like this series of leatherworking.
My family has a hobby farm but we rid of all the animals a few years back, now we're repurposing the 1st floor of the barn for woodworking (multiple lathes/drill presses/etc), but as I already have a pottery kiln (which will go in the cement silo so no accident barn fires) we're expanding the idea to glasswork, ceramics, and also leatherwork.
These videos are very helpful in inspiring some approaches to various leatherworking. Keep up the good work.
Love these craftsman videos. I would like to see more.
Beautiful. Wish I had seen this years ago when I still had the dexterity to make my own sheath. You do lovely work.
Brandon sure knows how to make a lot of things by now, he's done so many stuff.
A man with a knife can survive. A man with an axe will live like a king.
thank you! i was unaware of this method for attaching a sheath to a belt or sash. until the final demonstration i did not know what you were going to do. a very handsome method.
I have always wanted to learn to make leather items myself as I make knives .
❤️❤️❤️❤️ You Guys
Love This Show. I know you'll make your dad proud so far your doing & excellent job🤗
Hi from Syracuse NY everyone and thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures
What a fantastic video, the quality of the content on this channel is some of the best on the platform. I really feel like I've sat down for a private masterclass when watching. Great work to everyone at Townsends. P.s. I'm sorry for the loss of your Father Jon, he seemed like an amazing person, I think the outpouring of comments just shows how many people he touched. Best wishes to you and your family.
Hi! Thank you for the awesome crafts. I have learned a ton from this channel
Hi Shelly how are you doing?
God's comfort.. God's peace and God's healing grace to you and your family Jon and to the Townsend work family. James Townsend's memory will be honored as long as there are people willing to take up the living history banner.
What a great video. Easy to understand, although it won't be as easy to do. The thong method of attaching the sheath to the sash was especially neat. Thank you for yet another excellent video.
I have a knife sheath made by 18th century-style leather worker Darrel Lang, and the overall style of it is very similar to this. Nice work!
Fine old-world craftsmanship!
Thank you Brandon. I enjoy you are leather making videos. I have also worked leather in my early years. I find your videos very informative for the new people looking to start leatherworking. Myself had to read books to learn this trade and found it somewhat awkward. Thank you so much for your easy-to-follow instructions for the new person weather Tradesmen or hobbyist. I have forgotten how relaxing and rewarding it was to make my own leather projects. I hope to see more of this segment in the future for all to see. Thank you
nice job. I enjoyed that and learned a little more. Thanks.
A wonderful piece of work and lovely presentation. Thank you for stepping up and filing your father's shoes. I'm amazed you are putting content out without delay. I know it must be hard, but keep up the good work. As Alexander took what philip had built and made it his own masterpiece, im sure you will do the same.
Great project, Brandon. You may have just pushed me down another slippery slope. Perhaps Townsends will one day offer a combo trade knife and sheath kit?
Brandon, where did you learn all these skills? I'm always so impressed
The way that sheath ties on a sash or belt is elegant in how simply it’s done. Way simpler than the constant threading of beltloops with modern sheaths
Beautiful scabbard. It sure took on some fine color when it got that wax /oil there at the end. Nicely done.
As a student of history I love this platform. Have you ever done a segment on entertainment of the period? Example music folk, and other types. Typical games played during the seasons. Thanks again for a great look into America's historical lifestyle.
I've been looking and looking for a better leather sheath idea for my Dexter Russel Green River Knives... and I've just found it!
Fun fact, a girl did a high school science fair project several years back, regarding which style of stitch (blanket, saddle, zigzag, etc) would be the strongest at holding two pieces of fabric together. She wrote up a paper on it, and did such an incredibly good job, her work was mentioned in Science News Magazine. For the record, a regular straight saddle stitch turned out to be the strongest at holding two pieces of fabric together!
I wonder, if next you'd be willing to do a video on a DIY gun holster? Idk if you guys have a 19th century replica revolver, but it'd be an epic video for the current times and understanding the leatherworking approach for making something that has to hold some weight (as a pistol can weigh a couple lbs, and the holster will receive wear over time.)
Great looking sheath too!
Oh I'm actually kinda early! Super excited for this video!
Brandon, thank you for yet another excellent leather working video!
Beautiful piece and loveluy craftsmanship.
it is so nice to meet you sir! i have been a fan of this channel for about 5 years now- but have been away for a bit- so the newer segments and subjects are stil foreign to me- which is kinda cool because its all freshy fresh stuff ;) and not oh ive already seen this, but i love it so i;ll watch it again- which is totally my m.o. . haha! anyhoo, now thatve rambled ye ears off, i must say that the sheath is just beautiful and i hope you sellem in a gift shop er somethin down there in Townsendville, cause tho id love ta recreate your stunning craftsmanship- i think tha recipes are more my speed and skillset lol! BUT i am also a skilled shopper- so if your wares are for sale- online, catalog or otherwise- id be keen on more info about that...maybe i shoulda poked around y'all's sites a bit more too b4 i posed this query, as tha answer maybe bout ta bite me like a snake as mamma'd say...in any case, y'all have a wonderful day- its rainy and really warm here in north carolina so it feels a bit weird ta be honest w/ya- but i hope alls well in y'all's neck o tha woods...May the peace that surpasses all understanding be with you always- proceeding ahead of you, surrounding you, and left behind by you, my friends. Keep up the good and most important work that you have been blessed to be taxed with, for you are the stewards of something great and unique unto yourselves- it is destiny and legacy intertwined at Townsend, not just a little youtube sensation in my opinion, and i know that sentiment is felt by all fans of your cause...so again, big thanks to all involved and blessings to you many times over...
I really enjoyed this one! I love the recipes, but the craft videos are also so interesting to watch.
Great presentation! 👍🏻 Beautiful sheath 😊
Thats a really cool sheath design. Never seen one before.
Can’t wait to make a sheath for my patch knife! Thanks!
That was interesting for me as I have never seen that kind of sheath before looks like I have another project...
please keep up these leather vids they are very interesting...
This is really awesome. Cheers!
A question about this process: I generally think of cloth as something fairly valuable prior to automation really taking over the textile industry. Would someone from the 1700's use cloth in that manner to make a pattern that was likely to be discarded after the project was done, or was there some sort of alternative material that might be used instead to create the pattern, e.g. a sheet of birch bark or something like that?
Remember, paper wasn't something that everyone had laying around as we do today. It was expensive and more than likely only kept by who could write. Old cloth however, was something that people would keep for patching or as rags for cleaning. So it is quite possible that it would've made more sense to use cloth as a pattern instead of other materials.
Very nice I am a historical Shoemaker I make shoes by hand good to see other people making by hand great video
Love that. Good stuff thanks.
Great looking knife sheath
Love all your projects on the show Iggy!
Great design and excellent tutorial!
Awesome job 👍👍
Very nice. I haven't done leather in awhile.
nice reef knot
Very cool! I've always wanted to know how to make a sheath.
Wow great job
Was the sewing pony in use during the 18th century? If so would you please explain and demonstrate the use of a sewing pony on your show?
Helpful hint: Wanting to preserve the integrity of your sharp tools, take a piece of belly (scrap) leather and glue (or nail) to piece of wood. When you cut holes or use head knife, the blade hopefully does not make contact with the wood, but instead the leather buffer. Perhaps in the future Townsends can make a saddler's clam or leather vise so stitching is easier and faster.
Condolences my friend.
Very nice skills as always. Thanks for posting 👍
Thank you..
Wonderful
Not historically accurate, but I use a shallow baking dish full of wax to cut my holes on. Once it gets too beat up, I pop it in an oven for a few minutes to melt the wax again. This doesn't work for large holes, though, as the wax is too soft, but it's great for making sewing holes.
That's nice looking,Well done sir!
That was cool!
I have a Mora carving knife that needs a sheath... I've done basic sheaths for axes, drawknifes, etc but not for a knife yet.
if I may, pound your tools into the end grain of a piece of firewood rather than along the grain of a board. Your tool edge bevels will stay sharp 10 times longer.
Beautiful job..thank you
Great video
Greetings from Finland 🌝
If you have a really sharp awl and a steady hand, you can get away with just marking your stitch line on one side. Another thing to do is,if you want to get serious about leatherworking, looking into getting a stitching horse. Also, did you thin the turnover in anyway?
(Edit to ask question)