ak47 pics w/ ghetto kydex

Great pics and the sheath doesn't look ghetto at all. Most of the Chen sheaths are layered like that too --
 
Silas said:
I am really interested to see if Jerry makes 6" blade version with the handle cut down to make it around 11"-12" overall. I think that would kick arse :thumbup: .
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if it had fusion handles, it would truly be a thing of bueaty (or rather, a variation of a thing of beauty (as it already is))

the balance point (for micarta hadles) is right at the begining of the blade, about 1/8" past the end of the choil.


how much should a sheath like that sell for? (done better with evenly spaced rivets, and straight clean smoothed out edges)
 
Silas said:
I am really interested to see if Jerry makes 6" blade version with the handle cut down to make it around 11"-12" overall. I think that would kick arse :thumbup: .
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Except for the thumb ramp, the older style Satin Jack in 3/16" thickness is pretty close to what you described.
 
im going to try to make 6 of those sheaths tommorow (maybe :rolleyes:... 6 is a heavy load)

how much do you guys think the should sell for? (they wont have a carry system)
 
SethMurdoc said:
how much do you guys think the should sell for?
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According to an old and rather rough rule of thumb, charge three to four times what the materials cost you. (selling price = materials x 3-4) Figure it with gross material cost (amounts before processing, so you include the waste too). Don't forget to factor in small miscellaneous materials used in making the sheaths -- stuff like the rivets, bolts, glue (if any), sandpaper, etc.

Also, research the prices charged by the other kydex sheathmakers like Okuden, On-Scene Tactical, Buy Brown, Survival Sheath Systems, River City Sheaths, and any others you are aware of. That will give you a basic feel for what the market price is for similar products.

Two other rough rules of thumb on price:
1. "If you're getting buried with orders, you probably aren't charging enough. Raise your price."
2. "If you have no orders at all, rethink your price or your product. You may be trying to sell what noone wants or are pricing your work too far above the market."

HTH.
 
Seth I might be interested in one of those. It looks good. Email me when you get a chance.
 
RokJok said:
According to an old and rather rough rule of thumb, charge three to four times what the materials cost you. (selling price = materials x 3-4) Figure it with gross material cost (amounts before processing, so you include the waste too). Don't forget to factor in small miscellaneous materials used in making the sheaths -- stuff like the rivets, bolts, glue (if any), sandpaper, etc.

Also, research the prices charged by the other kydex sheathmakers like Okuden, On-Scene Tactical, Buy Brown, Survival Sheath Systems, River City Sheaths, and any others you are aware of. That will give you a basic feel for what the market price is for similar products.

Two other rough rules of thumb on price:
1. "If you're getting buried with orders, you probably aren't charging enough. Raise your price."
2. "If you have no orders at all, rethink your price or your product. You may be trying to sell what noone wants or are pricing your work too far above the market."

HTH.
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thats the thing... my material costs for that sheath are around 9$ total. total price at 4x that would be 36$, but a sheath for a NIP from buybrown is 32$, and from okuden its around 45....

i dont want to over charge, but i also dont want to undersell potential buyers from the other sheath makers. i'll only be able to make a limited number (maybe only one run) because i will be moving into a house that wont have the supplies or area to make them in 2 weeks.
 
SethMurdoc said:
thats the thing... my material costs for that sheath are around 9$ total. total price at 4x that would be 36$, but a sheath for a NIP from buybrown is 32$, and from okuden its around 45....

i dont want to over charge, but i also dont want to undersell potential buyers from the other sheath makers.
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Yes but those guys have made a name for themselves on their product, it is well known. You're still a piglet sheath maker.:D

The way I see it, is when the cost on Kydex gets prohibitive, I go to Leather which I like better. Normark is very rerasonable in his prices as well. S you can get good deals on Kydex if you look. It's much easier to do than leather IMO. I do like the Kydex sheaths that are folded along the spine so that there is rivets only on one side. They are slimmer and look really good.
 
SethMurdoc said:
thats the thing... my material costs for that sheath are around 9$ total. total price at 4x that would be 36$, but a sheath for a NIP from buybrown is 32$, and from okuden its around 45.
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Additional info:

I realize that there's something I forgot to cover in my first breakdown on pricing. DOH! :o

There are exceptions where the x3 or x4 (or even x100) rule of thumb based on cost of materials doesn't work. For some commodities, the cost of processing **HUGELY** overshadows and overwhelms the cost of basic materials. On these commodities, you need to calculate based on the cost of processing. Kydex sheathmaking may well be one of those fields of endeavor.

Let me give you an example based, like a sheet of kydex, on a cheap commodity -- 1 pound of steel. (something we all can relate to ;) )

If I make the steel into a pound of nails, I can sell it for only a few bucks. If I make it into steel food cans, I can sell it for tens of dollars. If I make the steel into a forged knife, I can sell it for tens to thousands of dollars depending on who I am (and what the market thinks I know about knifemaking). If I make the steel into mainsprings for Rolex watches, I can sell it for God-only-knows-how-many dollars.

The cost of the steel becomes negligible as more processing (and attendant cost of processing) is invested and the quality or rarity of the finished commodity rises.

Bottom line: We pay premier prices to premier sheathmakers not for their material costs, which is a very small variance, if any, from what run-of-the-mill makers pay for the same materials. Rather we pay them the premium price for their design sense, for their ability to accurately translate and execute those designs into physical product, and especially for the "touch" they've developed for their materials through their experience and experimentation with the material. That "touch" is evidenced in what we usually refer to as "fit and finish" of the end product.

That said, competition from the marketplace is a limiting factor. Hence my comment about "If you have no orders at all, rethink your price or your product. You may be ... pricing your work too far above the market."

My Humble Opinion: From the looks of your sheath, you should be pricing your work on par with the rest of the market. The quality shown is certainly "in the window" with other kydex sheathmakers.

The detail lines pressed into the kydex appear crisp and clean. The fit to the blade and (especially) the handle looks good and snug. The matching of the rivets across the blade appears even. Overall fit 'n finish looks good IMHO. You yourself noted the only things I'd change, and those were attributed to haste in getting any kind of pants on the beast for transport purposes.

If that is your hasty "threw together the night before" sheath, you've got nothing to worry about in terms of your dedication to quality IMHO.
 
Look Bottom line is that here I am trying to work Seth down to 30 bucks and you are trying to ruin it for me sucka. :D
 
larvatus said:
I am interested in buying a copy of your sheath. Please advise.

cordially, - Michael Zeleny@post.harvard.edu 7576 Willow Glen Road, Los Angeles, CA 90046 - 323.363.1860 - http://larvatus.livejournal.com/
All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. - Samuel Beckett
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Swords are illegal in CA. I'll keep yours until you leave CA, ok!!:thumbup:
 
Seth I think your sheath is great and could easily go for $75 or $100. Judging by the pics.
 
larvatus said:
I am interested in buying a copy of your sheath. Please advise.

cordially, - Michael Zeleny@post.harvard.edu 7576 Willow Glen Road, Los Angeles, CA 90046 - 323.363.1860 - http://larvatus.livejournal.com/
All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. - Samuel Beckett
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im afraid that if i take orders i may not be able to fill them do to random circumstance or the sheaths just not functioning, so instead i'll be making them and selling them first come first serve basis.

i have 4 pressed out waiting for rivets and to be ground down.... hopefully monday...
 
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