Leather is one of the most popular and versatile materials for creating handmade items. To work with it efficiently and effectively, a craftsman needs special tools. Regardless of experience, every ...

Very hard, he says. Consider the task of "skiving" leather (shown above). The leather worker uses an extremely sharp knife to slice thin layers off a piece of hide so it becomes softer and suppler.

Making leather skiving knives involves a skilled and precise process that has been perfected over many years. Starting with selecting high-quality steel, artisans in a years-old factory carefully ...

Yes, I wear many hats, none of which are leather but I’m sure Betty can make me one if she finds the right skiver for a reasonable price. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Recently ...