Sheep Shear Knife and Hatchet Holster Combo

Church & Son

Well-Known Member
This set started when I saw a man at a local Renaissance with his hatchet in a pistol holster. Didn’t fit very well and he had cut off the bottom for the handle but it stuck in my mind. So one night I started stitching up a "Hatchet Holster". Then I thought of adding a blade but making the sheath removable from the hatchet in case you just needed it.

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This Knife is half of a set of Burgon & Ball sheep shears acquired in a trade. B & B has been in business since 1730 in Sheffeild England. This pair was cracked in the center so I finished cutting them apart, added a handle from another broken knife and a little pewter and rawhide wrap holds it all together. The patent # stamped on the blade dates back to 1830 and they are still working on the same pat. If it works, leave it alone. Sheath is leather from an old leather traveling bag, the hang up kind. Stitched in linen with a twisted fringe welt. I hardened the leather by using an medieval technique called “cuirboilli” or water hardening.

The hatchet is a Stanley, 3 bucks from the flea market and was only the head. I found the haft in the barn, fit it, scorched it, scraped it, waxed it and added the rawhide wrap. No stain. The head was in good shape, all that was done was steel wooling with bluing and oil and cleaning up the bevels. Leather is same as Sheep Shear Knife, no dye on either. The water hardening turned it this color. Both were treated with Beeswax.

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Could not find a model today, old smoothbore works

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It's been a long winter but these "Wintertime Blues" projects have been fun.....Randy
 
Hey Randy,
Your imagination works again. Great looking package. I have always had a fear of those sheep shears in the horror movies and the single blade is every bit as intimidating. Wade
 
Thanks Wade, I carried this combo around Sunday while piddling at the forge, chopped some charcoal, cut a hide out of a frame and trimmed some vines. It was very useful and surprisingly not heavy or awkward to wear......Randy

and the sheep shears are scary and sharp. That Sheffield steel is amazing
 
Nicely done Randy. You guys that come up with the period work and make it look really period really amaze me. I wouldn't even know where to start.

I wish you much success,
Carey
 
VERY nice Randy and the hawk sheath is in fact close to several originals in concept albeit not as long in the handle but still....
here's a couple of originals:
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Thanks for the kind word and the pics Chuck. The guy at the show with his hatchet in the holster had butchered a Cavalry holster for his hatchet to fit in, I almost cried. But, those ghosts from the past said he used what he had for what he needed. The sheep shear knife followed along with the same mindset, he had broken shears and needed a knife. AND I shamelessly had one of your 1870 Frontier Gunrigs in mind as I cut the fringe. Second time I have tried the "cuirboilli" hardening, first time was on a "Mackenzie" 'hawk sheath, it shrunk so tight I had to cut it off. I would love to do some fingerweave sashes like those, I need another lifetime to learn.
Not done with this one yet, I'm stitching on a belt for it.....Randy
 
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Randy thats some beautiful work your showing. I wouldnt mind having works like that in my collection. Thanks for showing. KT
 
WOW! Randy, that set is cool as a polar bear's backside. Exemplary use of "found" materials with an old timey look.

I have a couple Cold Steel hawks that need pants, maybe I will sit down with my office manager/girlfriend/sheath maker and try to come up with something similar :)
 
Thanks James, ToniMang and KT, appreciate the kind words. And KT it is available, well soon as I get thru stitching a belt for a forged buckle I beat out and a belt pouch for a fire steel. Thanks again......Randy
 
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A lesson that is not real obvious "that Sheffield steel is awesome". At one time there was a lot of competition for sheep shearing blades, those that cut had a market for their product made up of experienced users. Those who made sheep blades that did not last long had only one time customers.

Not all Sheffield tools of cut knew the same performance qualities. I have never used poor quality Sheffield sheep shearing blades, like you said they are great!
 
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