"Leathercraft 101."

[Adam Helmer]

I stopped by a country thrift shop, about the size of my barn, last week and am glad I did.

I got a quart can of leather dressing called "Lexol" for $.50. On the way out I saw a sign that said, "Scrap Leather $1.00 per bag." They meant a 30-gallon garbage bag! I bought my bag and hurried home to see what was inside. I separated the leather into 4 smaller bags: Large pieces, strap leather, thongs and small scraps.

I made a patch knife sheath for the strap on my possibles bag, I made two tomahawk belt sheaths, I laced an extention onto the shoulder strap of another possibles bag and have other projects in the works.

I have lots of fairly thin leather that is just right for wrapping around the flint in the hammer jaws on my flintlocks. I suggest folks visit the thrift shops for ML stuff we can use.

Adam

[roundball]

Got a pile of leather scraps like that at a cloth & upholstery store several years ago...think it was $1 a pound of something...got a grocery bag stuffed for $3-4 bucks.

Had some pieces thick enough to make a few dozen flint leathers, but fould I could only use them for one range session because they were artificial and burned up easily by the end of a session.

However, there was enough real leather to be able to make a few 1" x 15" leather strips to have a shoe shop sew on the underside of some nylon rifle slings where they go over the shoulder so the slings wouldn't slip off...work perfectly.

All the rest of the scraps are still in the grocery bag somewhere
:D

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Used to have a Tandy leather store near my house.....they used to have a bin of leather scraps, as well as some bagged up. I hit that bin pretty regularly...made a bullet bag with some bead work, a holster for the transmitter for my dogs Ecollar, ect.
Found the books of "BUCKSKINNING",; help to get me more into traditional muzzleloading......made a traditional gun case with beadwork, some beaded moccasins that I wear while camping, ect.

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I have made lots of stuff out of my leather grab bag. I made a few bayonet frogs for various WWII military rifles and the last item was a full leather scabbard for my Russian M91/30 rifle's bayonet.

I made a few bullet bags and will try to make a pair of moccasins and lament I do not have smaller feet! (11-1/2 D takes much leather and lacings).

Well, it goes that way sometimes, I suppose....

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I made a few bullet bags and will try to make a pair of moccasins and lament I do not have smaller feet! (11-1/2 D takes much leather and lacings).

Try a 14 A! There is probably now an elk shortage because I had to have a pair of moccasins!;)