For going on a year now I’ve been carrying this old Schrade LB7 because even though I prefer a fixed-blade I don’t have one of reasonable size that takes or holds as good an edge.
But the thing about old stuff is that it’s old. And sometimes old stuff falls apart. Half the stitching on the Schrade’s holster fell apart as soon as I started using it. So I fixed it…
…with this gadget here. I’m not sure what it’s called, and I wasn’t sure how to use it. But it was time to learn, and wasn’t hard to figure out.
This morning during chores, the other half fell apart. Me fix!
That’s only the second time in all the years I’ve had it that I’ve found a use for that gadget. But nothing else would do, so it’s good to have around.
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They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
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I used to do a lot of leatherwork, and have two of those stitcher gadgets, slightly different. I would suggest that you pull off ALL the older thread and restitch the whole thing. It will last a lot longer that way. Oh, and work some neatsfoot oil into the leather – then let it dry before you stitch it up again. I suspect you’d get a few more years use out of it that way. That leather looks pretty awful dry and may start to crumble otherwise.
It’s a leather sewing awl. Very handy gadget.
Yeah, I had a feeling I’d regret not doing that the first time. But I was being cautious. All the old thread is gone now. And the leather’s actually in pretty good shape, considering – though I was eyeing my bottle of neatsfood oil just before. I may go ahead and do that this evening while sitting around.
Just occurred to me to ask what you are using for thread. I’ve got nylon for most things, but I use a waxed hemp on leather that will be exposed to the elements or sweat. The hemp is a little harder to use in the stitcher thing, since it tends to be a little coarse, but the paraffin wax helps a lot. Your knife case may be too old to bother with that, but you might consider it for other projects.
I’m using the thread that came with it, which appears to be waxed nylon.
That’ll do ya for most things. Just don’t draw it up too tight. It will actually cut through the leather if there is too much tension on it. 🙂
A good, inexpensive sheath knife is the old Green River Hunter sold by Crazy Crow or other mountain man outfitters – – the price is right, around $22 (don’t buy their sheaths, the knife will cut right out of it). If you don’t want one with a sharp point, the Green River 4.5″ sheath knife is good. These knives sharpen up easily to a scary edge, and hold it reasonably well. You’ll need to make a sheath for these, or have one made.
Another choice is the Mora Bushcraft, available at Amazon. I have one of these in my bugout bag. Comes in either black or hi-visibility orange, with a stainless steel blade (the Green River knives are carbon steel, by contrast). Again, less than $50.
Yet another choice is a Marttini Lynx, a Finnish puuko-pattern knife. These are available in either stainless or carbon steel in various lengths and wooden handles, again less than $50.
Meyer’s stitching awl. I have several of them. Tandy sells replacement spools , or you can buy a large reel of thread and rewind the spool yourself.
Yes sir, that old U.S. manufactured Schrade carbon steel takes quite an edge. You have good taste in knives. The more recent Chinese manufactured Schrade products – meh.
I’ve used G.I. trip wire (that yellow and green wooden spooled material) for stitching leather, it last a very long time. Made a ‘sheath’ out of a leather luggage tag for a small multi-tool and its at least 10 years old with no signs of falling apart. No tools needed (but needle nose pliers are highly recommended for tightening), it works great.
http://www.wrcase.com/index_en.php
Leather is cow hide. You have lotsa unwanted cows around. Just sayin’…