What types of sheet metals do you use for making chapes?

I've used 20 gauge brass and bronze - Should be using something thicker?

How about silver chapes? I can't see using stainless steel or aluminum for this. Nickel alloy sheet?

Nickel alloy sheet like this?

https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=875&step=2&top_cat=1352

I've made a couple of small chapes for various Bowies, daggers and knives from copper tubing over the course of many years. Looks like the nickel plate would do well. I just used the copper because it was cheap and readily available. They looked pretty good when polished up. :) ....McM

I kept forgetting about this thread until I had a chance to go to the hardware store and confirm some things. I think that for most uses, 20ga. is okay, 18ga. might be better, 16ga. would be good if the chape is pretty large, and 14ga. or thicker would be overkill unless you expect the sheath or scabbard to see very hard use..

I'd stick with 20-ga or even 22. I've used 18 gauge for a couple chapes, and it can be a surprisingly tough fight to get it into those small shapes and tight curves. I remember beating the hell out of one, and never did get it perfectly symmetrical! On a small object, slight irregularities are more visible.

Matthew

Admittedly I've only worked with 22-20ga. myself, but I'm assuming the OP has better metalworking skills than me and the 22-20 range always seemed a little thin. To amend: IMO, 18ga. would be better if you can do it.

Harry, what sort of chapes are you making?