leather question

[WNC Goater]

As a necessity I needed to learn to make some sheaths to go with knives. So far I've built a few simple sheaths from some leather I bought off Amazon. I got two, one foot square pieces and it was expensive at around $30 or so. After making what I could from that, I ordered a Tandy "Craftsman Oak Double Shoulder" which was on sale for $65 at the time.

http://www.tandyleather.com/en/produ...er-8-to-9-oz-2

I have not rolled out examined and inspected the whole shoulder, just looked at it briefly and was satisfied with the looks of everything. But when I started from one end and cut just enough to make two sheaths, I realize while the weight/thickness is the same, the stiffness is not. This leather seems very supple compared to what I had used and while it is certainly useable, I'd much prefer a much stiffer and harder finished sheath.

Is this normal and is there some means of hardening/stiffening the finished sheath?


Here is one of the first ones I made from those original foot square pieces I had. It is very hard and stiff.


edit to add: I HAVE read the sticky above, "How to harden leather" and wonder, is this the best way? And still wonder why the initial leather was so stiff and this Tandy shoulder is so supple by comparison.

Also of note, I notice the flesh side is more "grainy" or looser grain (for lack of a better term) almost "fuzzy". I think I may have a sub-prime piece of leather perhaps.