Pards, I have a leather/knife project that is still partially in the planning stages and I am in need of some help/suggestions.
A little explination is in order, so that everyone can understand the situation and sentiment of what I want to do.
Last year, I had a friend named Mike who passed away very unexpectedly. Mike was an avid hunter and shooter. We had a close friend in common that we both hunt and shoot with name John. Mike and John were about as close as two people could be that were not related by blood. When Mike passed away, it hurt John deeply. Just prior to Mike's passing, he and John had planned an elk hunting trip together. This was a very special occasion, as neither had ever been drawn for Elk together and they both ended up with a trophy bull tag in a great unit. They had planned this hunt for a considerable time and were so very much excited to be going. About 3 weeks before the hunt, Mike ended up in the hospital and passed away from a complication resulting from an unexpected surgery. John was devistated. He planned on cancelling his potential "hunt of a lifetime" as a result, due to no longer having a hunting companion. Several of John/Mikes friends, to include me, came together and made arrangements to do what was needed to ensure John went on the hunt and did what ever they could to make it a success.
As a result of this hunt John killed a nice bull elk. It wasn't the trophy that he had hoped for, but it was a successfull hunt that Mike would have been proud of. John had no intention of mounting the elk's antlers due to the cost associated and the fact that it wasn't the size of an animal that would justify it. I asked John if he had any plans for the antlers and he told me he didn't and I could have them if I wanted them. I told him that I had a project in mind and would let him know about it when it was completed.
I took the antlers and used them to make handles of three custom knives. One for John, one for Mike's Father, and one for Mike's 20 year old son, (his pride and joy), who is an active duty Marine serving as an embassy guard over seas. The knives turned out better than expected (I obsessed over them for some time). I had Mike's name and years of birth and death engraved on the blades. I intend to present these knives to them when I have them sheathed, as a token to remember Mike by, as well as a "trophy" of a hunt that Mike was meant to be there for.
I am now at the point where I want to make the sheaths for the knives (this is the part where you'all come in). I have made general purpose knife sheaths before, as well as a couple for my CAS rigs. I want to make these ones a little more "custom" and am looking for some ideas/suggestions.
I have seen several sheaths that I like the style of, but do not have any patterns. All three knives are of a clip point "bowie" style with a hilt/finger guard that only extends on the bottom portion. I have seen knife sheaths that were made in the style of a "mexican loop" holster, where the body of the knife is laced through slots in the flap of the sheath to create the belt loop, but I have never actually made one of this style before. I thought that this style of sheath would compliment these knives well. I do not do any carving, but can do stamping, basket weave patterns and border stamping, as well as add concho's, etc. If any of you out there have a photo of a knife sheath like I have described, I would very much appreciate it if you could post a photo of it.... (Or a pattern)
I have included a couple of picures of the knives, so you have some idea of what they look like and their size. The sheaths in the photos are ones I just tossed together to have something to put them in, and are not the ones I am wanting to present the knives in. The photography of the knives does not do them justice, but you will get the point of what they look like.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j296/Tac56/100_0773.jpghttp://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j296/Tac56/100_0775.jpghttp://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j296/Tac56/100_0772.jpgAny assistance/guidence that any of you fantastic leathersmiths can provide would be appreciated.
-Tac