I'd like an idea as to how the mountain men carried there knifes...I've been told that they just stuck there sheathed knifes through there belts. Okay, but what held them in? Why didn't they just slip on through? I want to make a sheath for my throwing knife which is large and heavy...and don't want to have to have my belt so tight that I cant breath! Any ideas?
Ned
Ned: The best I've been able to discover is that they used plain old whang leather strips, ( similar to saddle strings), they just secured to make sure they didn't lose the knife.
Halfstock
Were the strips of leather attached to the sheath, or just tied around it ans the belt?
Ned
Here's one that is a fairly common and accepted pattern for the Mountain Man period. It works real well.
(http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss42/pathfinder_01/006.jpg)
Thanks! Thats also a good idea.
Ned
Ned: As far as the strap goes they would attach it to the sheath either using a couple of small slits or by sewing then just loop over the waistbelt and tie under the sheath, almost like the modern day belt loop on today's sheaths.
Halfstock
U could make your sheath where there are slots in the back so you can run your belt through them.
I think if I were going to make a sheath for a Mountain Man Throwing knife I would make one similar to this one sold by Dixie Gun Works.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/Ironwood/For%20BB%20Posting/DixieGunWorksSheath.jpg)
I think I just might agree Gene.
Ned
You can do a sheath like this one
\(http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/19554/2824293060063404498S600x600Q85.jpg)
This is one type that I use. run the belt threw the hole and over the sheath
to hold the knife