Slide of the month - Leather slide

March 2020

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

Sep. 1977, page 60

 Original design: Glenn Wagner

Leather design: Bill Macfarlane





So when I was building a knife kit I got as a Christmas present, I wanted to design a special knife sheath with tooled leather but I have never tooled in my life. Instead of ruining the sheath, I decided to practice on another piece of leather. It turned out pretty well and I decided to make it a slide.

 I wanted to include both a Celtic knot as well as a Scottish thistle and drew the design combining both elements. Next, I traced the design onto the leather using some leather transfer paper. Using a leather swivel knife, I cut the surface of the leather along the lines of the design. Next using leather stamps to form the background. To finish the leather, I applied a leather conditioner to protect and color the slide.

Finally, I cut holes around the piece and into a leather loop so I could lace it up with 325 paracord that I removed the center core from.

 
 By the way, here is the finished knife.