FAQs

Here are some common questions I get asked:

Is it a good price?
The products I make are high quality that will last a lifetime, if looked after, so you only pay once! This isn’t plastic, it’s real!

What if it breaks?
I have such confidence in the durability of my leather products that I offer a free repair service. If it breaks (after sensible use and care) then just post it back and I’ll fix it for free.

Who else has bought from you?
I usually get great feedback. Read some of my Testimonials , my Etsy reviews, and Google reviews.

How do I pay?
If you buy through Etsy then you’ll be asked to pay using your credit card. If you contact me directly to place your order then my preferred method of payment is via bank transfer. I can also take payments through PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to do this – just a credit/debit card). If you don’t want to do this then please let me know as I can offer other methods of payment, such as cheques and cash!

Can I get this cheaper elsewhere?
Absolutely, but the options for cheaper aren’t great. A cheaper bag may have been made on the other side of the world and so will have a larger carbon footprint. Or it will have been stitched on a machine, which is fundamentally much weaker and more susceptible to breaking than hand stitching. You’re paying for quality and durability and will receive something that is unique and, in some cases, custom-made just for you.

How do I know my tool (for example, my axe or billhook) will fit the leather sheath?
All I need is a photograph and some simple measurements and I’ll be able to make a sheath to fit. I’ve been doing this for years now and have only had one item that was a little too tight (which was easily rectified). I make sheaths slightly on the tight side because the leather naturally softens and molds to the shape of your tool for a perfect made-to-measure result.

How long will it take you to make me my leather item?
This depends on what you want me to make and how many orders I currently have on, but I can usually make your item and post it to you within two or three weeks. If you need it quicker then please contact me and I’ll let you know what I can do.

How do I look after my leather?
Leather needs feeding from time to time with oil, otherwise it dries out too much and can become brittle. Once fed it then needs protecting with wax. I use my own mixture of linseed oil, neatsfoot oil, coconut butter and beeswax which both feeds and protects. This mixture is similar to wax dubbin used on walking boots, which you can also use on my leather products. Once you’ve rubbed the wax in with a cloth or your fingers, allow it to soak in and then wipe off the excess and buff it up with a clean cloth. You’ll find that each time you apply oil the leather will darken slightly (and then go lighter once dried out). Lots of oil will soften the leather and buffing it will darken it and give it a deep and rich finish.

What does bM stand for? Who is Bodger Morgan?
When I was young I started working with wood, specifically green wood. I harvested this from the local woodlands (sustainably and legally) and I would use a pole lathe to turn this wood into goblets, martial arts sticks, spinning tops, baby rattles, candle holders, and so on. The old traditional term for a pole lathe turner is a “bodger”. So “bodger Morgan” stuck. Then over the years I began to make leather sheaths for my tools. I started using the leather from my old shoes and quickly developed a passion for working with leather (strange, as I was a vegetarian at the time!). I gradually built up my skills over the years, firstly with books, then, as the internet grew, I started watching instructional videos on You Tube and my knowledge and experience grew to where I am now. I make tool sheaths and other leather accessories for indoors and out. I love the rugged nature of the material and how it looks beautiful after a little persuasion, some oil and some wax! In 2016 I decided to make the leap from being “bodger Morgan – wood, willow and leather man” to become “Morgan Leather”. Hopefully this change fits more with the feel of what Morgan Leather is. What do you think?