How to Make a Leather Machete Sheath
The machete is an essential piece of camping equipment, and has a long history in both combat and exploration. These blades are typically hardened steel of 18 to 24 inches long, and typically come with a sheath of leather or heavy-duty nylon. A lower-cost machete may come without a sheath, or you may simply lose or wear out the old one. A new, simple leather sheath that fits your blade exactly is fairly easy to make.
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Things You'll Need
- Leather, oil tanned cowhide, 8 to 10 oz. weight
- Craft knife or heavy shears
- Craft cement
- Lacing nipper or punch
- Leather stitching awl
- Thread, cord or sinew, heavy duty
- Vaseline
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
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Lay your machete on the rough leather, perpendicular to the edge of the leather. Trace the blade with a pencil. Flip the blade over so that its back lays exactly on that first line, and trace the blade again. You should now have a large fang-shaped tracing.
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2
Draw another line, adding 1/4 to 3/8 inch to the outside of your tracing. This is where you will stitch the leather.
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3
Cut your sheath with a craft knife or heavy shears.
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4
Cut two belt loops. Cut two 2-inch slits in the leather, to one side of that center line and running parallel to it, and spaced about 1 1/4-inches apart.
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5
Create a hanging belt loop if you prefer. Cut a 5-inch-long, 1 1/4-inch wide leather thong. Fold it over and glue it at its open ends. Glue it in place on one side of your sheath, on the smooth side of the sheath's leather. Allow the glue to dry. Use your leather nippers or punch to create stitching holes that go up and down on the sheath, not side to side. Sew with your stitching awl.
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6
Cut two spacers. Return to the piece from which you cut your sheath, and trace a 1/4-inch line outside of the cuts. Cut these pieces with your craft knife or shears. You will use these to create a spacer, which gives your machete room to slide in and out of the sheath without cutting the stitching.
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7
Glue a spacer to each outside edge of your sheath leather. Cut off any excess.
Fold over the sheath leather, and glue the two spacers together. Allow to dry. -
8
Trace a line on the sheath, 1/8 inch from the edge along the glued edge. Use your leather nippers or punch to create holes for stitching.
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Sew along that edge, using your leather stitching awl and cord. Start at the open end of the sheath. When you come to the pointed end, turn over your sheath, and add a few more stitches, moving away from the point. This creates a very strong point where the sheath will take the most abuse. Cut the threads and glue down the ends, neatly.
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10
Shape the sheath to your machete, if you desire. First, cover your machete blade in Vaseline, then wrap it in plastic wrap. Wet the sheath through, and insert the machete. Allow to dry in the sun; this will create a toughened, form-fitting sheath.
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Tips & Warnings
The specialty tools, including a leather sewing awl, lacing nipper and cord and sinew, are available for any leather retailer, and also from some craft stores.
