Stretching a Leather Sheath

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kootenay joe
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Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by kootenay joe »

I have a puukko style knife that has lost it's sheath. I do have a sheath that 'almost works. The throat of the sheath is a bit tight and prevents the knife from seating down the final 1".
Can the leather be stretched by soaking it in water and then trying to force the handle further down the sheath throat ?
If so, do i leave the knife in place until the leather has dried ? And, if i do this how difficult might it be to extract the knife ? Maybe coat knife with Vaseline before inserting ?
Thanks for any advice about stretching leather with water.
kj
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orvet
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by orvet »

I use that technique myself when fitting a sheath to a knife.
I wrap the handle of the knife in plastic wrap, like Saran Wrap. This prevents damage to the knife and makes it easy to remove.
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orvet
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by orvet »

You probably don't need to soak it in water, just get it wet enough so it will stretch. Wrap the handle of the knife in Saran Wrap and then leave the knife in the sheath until it dries.
It will come out fairly easily.
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kootenay joe
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks Dale. I will do this now and post a picture of the result.]
kj

Edit to add: knife is covered with plastic wrap and seated into wet sheath and sitting on counter with room temp about 60 degrees F.
Do i wait until sheath feels completely dry before extracting the knife ?
kj
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muskrat man
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by muskrat man »

just let it sit overnight and you can remove the next day I usually wait 48 hrs if possible before adding any oil, dye or sealer
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orvet
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by orvet »

Ditto what MM said, 48 hours is great! The leather does need to be good and dry. ::nod::
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kootenay joe
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks Dale & MM. Picture coming soon.
kj
kootenay joe
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by kootenay joe »

I learned something here. The sheath i selected is too short.
I soaked the sheath and the 'throat' stretched easily so i inserted the knife to full depth the pointy tip was almost at the sheath stitching. Then i molded the sheath around the handle, pressing hard, and let it dry.
Now the knife comes out of the sheath too easily. If i had a longer sheath that came higher up on the handle i think it would have held o.k.
kj
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muskrat man
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Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by muskrat man »

smash it a bit, or resoak it and set it in the sun (without the knife in), the heat will shrink it up a tad tightening the grip on the handle. I do prefer a deeper sheath when it comes to a pouch style. At least 2/3 of the way up the handle
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kootenay joe
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Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: Stretching a Leather Sheath

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks MM, i will give it a try, and be on the lookout for a longer sheath.
kj
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