A simple and easy to make heavy-duty axe sheath, it is made from leather shoe soles and has multiple uses.
Get a pair of replacement leather soles from a shoe repair shop or buy online.
There are three main sizes/types:
Gents full through sole. (biggest)
Gents three-quarter sole. (medium)
Gents standard half-sole. (shortest)
I used a “gents three quarter leather sole”, which is used to repair up to size UK13 men’s shoe. The thickness of the leather is ~5mm. A through sole will better suit larger axe heads.
Note: Don’t buy ladies sizes or the thin leather insoles.
Notice the leather sole has two sides: a smooth polished side and a rougher side for glueing as initially intended.
Depending on your intentions, decide which surface you want on the outside.
The rougher side for use as a strop. Or the smooth side for decorative leather carving if you so wish.
For my axe (2lb head on a16" handle), I used a three-quarter leather sole with the smooth leather on the outside of the sheath.
Lay the axe down on the sole. This will indicate where the fold will be made.
Place your non-dominant hand firmly on the axe to stop it moving.
Pinch the leather sole with your other and bend it over at the fold line. You'll have to coax it into place, so flex it back and forth.
If stiff score some lines with a knife on the inside to help assist the bend.
Or soak in water to soften it up.
Think and plan how you will fasten it together, later on, as this will vary depending on the size of your axe head and the sole used.
Then mark where the holes will go to fasten it together to stop opening up.
Don't drill through both pieces of the sole at the toe area.
There are endless ways you could fasten the sheath/secure the axe.
I choose to lace my axe sheath closed using a "cord stopper lock" to keep the sheath in place.
If you have leatherworking tools/skills, you've got a bunch of other options available. The material is well suited to welt stitching.
With an awl and a permanent marker pen, I named my axe "Jerry Hatchet". By crudely scribing into the leather and colouring it in.
But there are better ways of carving leather with far more beautiful results.
As long as you're not a hipster with "pretty axe" you might consider this;
Utilising the sheath more practically as an improvised strop. This is best achieved by using the rough side of the sole on the outside of the sheath.
Impregnate the leather with honing compounds by rubbing into the rough surface.
If you require a smoother surface on the rougher side use an electric belt sander, orbital sander, multi-tool etc. Or ask the shop to do it.
