Custom sheathmaker needs your advice!

Rawhide Leather

Rawhide Leather

Joined
Jul 18, 2006
Messages
44
Hello to all! This is my first post so I may not even be in the correct forum. I'm a perfectionist that makes high-end custom leather knife sheaths for mostly fixed-blade production knives. I sell mostly on Feebay and I take a lot of pride in my work. I have been selling sheaths for just a few different knives and would like to expand. My problem is that not really being a knife afficionado, I don't know which knives would be my best choice to design a new sheath for. :confused: Of course the more popular the knife, the better. ;) If I could get feedback from some of you guys on which half-dozen or so, preferably fixed-blade, high-quality production knives would be a good choice, I truly would appreciate it! Thank you very much to anyone who takes the time to reply! :)
 
I'll be the first to chime in. I think it would be a waste of your time to just focus on a half dozen or so knives. There are just too many different types of quality fixed blades out there. Combine this with the fact that each owner would want different features for the same knife and you would loose the flexability of being a custom maker. My suggestion would be to get an assortment of sizes of knives and design a different sheath for each of them- with each one showcasing your talents in a new way. For example you could do the following:
1) 3" blade Puukko with a full length friction fit sheath and embellished with stamps (not a leatherworker- forgive my lack of technical terms)

2) 5" tactical with kydex/plastic liners in a matte black finish and a horizontal sheath

3) 7" bowie with throat snaps, embellished with choice of exotic skin inlay and fringed edges

4) 10" camp chopper with accessory neck knife sheath integral with the main sheath complete with pocket for sharpener, flashlight ect. This way the knives could be a combo and one could also choose to carry the neck knife alone.

Now these are only my opinions but I hope they help and allow you a bit of success in your endevors!! Good luck!
 
it would be nice to see some leather for strider knives (striderknives.com). they only make kydex for their blades.

also, you should consider busse knives and swamp rat knives, as they don't come with sheaths from the factory. the ELU is on their own to get their own sheaths made, as far as i know.

in either of these cases, they'll all be custom sheaths made-to-order, as the owner will have to send you their knife. unless you want to drop tons of money on your own personal collection of fixed blades, which is ok too. ;)
 
Hey man, welcome to the forums.

How it usually works for the custom knifemaker who doesn't make his/her own sheaths is to have the knife sent out to you, so you can basically build the sheath around the knife, making it truly custom and one of a kind.

Paul Long and Sandy Morrissey over in the sheathmaking forum do this work for knifemakers and make very fine sheaths. People just send them their knives and they shape the sheath around the custom blade. Doing it this way would be your best bet. Post some pictures of your work over here, and I'm sure people will notice and maybe contact you. Good luck man, and again, welcome.
 
Hey Rawhide...

Welcome to BF.com

I'm also a custom sheath maker, however in Concealex, not leather...

This is in fact one of the hardest things to do.. Predict what people are going to want....

It can be Anything and Everything as far as knives go. The list is ever growing and nearly endless.. You simply can't do it all..

My advice to you, is start talking to custom makers and get a few under your belt,, just working at it,,and promote your work via the Internet forums...

I would first start out by buying a membership here.. If you sheaths are as good as you say they are,,people will find you...

I've been sheath making now for about 7 years and have gathered up a tidy sum in knives..Let me be the first to say : It can become quite expensive...!!!

Here is a good chunk of the knives I make sheaths for

A.G. Russell
AG-Russell Sting (circa 1977)
AG-Russell Woods Walker
AG-Russell CKRT ver Sting

Bark River Knife and Tool
Evolution 1
Mini Canadian
Mikro BRKT
Boot Knife
Becker Knife and Tool

Becker Patrol Machete
Becker BK -9
Becker BK -7
Becker Crewman
Becker Companion

Benchmade
Benchmade Nimravus (Mod 140 1st Generation ONLY)
Benchmade Nimravus Cub (Mod 145 1st Generation ONLY)
Benchmade OutBounder
Benchmade Snody 220 Resistor
Benchmade Tether

BlackJack
Grunt
Warrior
Blackmoor Dirk

Browning
Browning model 815 Drop Point Hunter

Buck
Buck Mini Mentor
Buck Nighthawk
Buck/Strider Solution

Buckingham Knife Company
Lineman's Skinning Knife Short Blade
Lineman's Skinning Knife Long Blade

Busse Combat
Busse Basic #3
Busse Basic #5
Busse Basic #7
Busse Basic #9
Busse Combat Killer B (DISCO)
Busse Combat - Battle Mistress -E
Busse Combat- Mr.Mojo
Busse Combat - Satin Jack
Busse Combat- Steel Heart -E
Busse Combat - SteelHeart Fusion
Busse Combat Paul's Hatchet
Busse Combat - Badger Attack -E
Busse Combat - Badger Attack III
Busse Combat - Natural Outlaw -E
Busse Combat -Natural Outlaw - F
Busse Combat - Lean Mean Street
Busse Combat Active Duty
Busse Combat SF Natural Outlaw
Busse Combat NARK
Busse Combat Meaner Street
Busse Combat Leaner Street
Busse Combat Force One

Byron Knives
Elishewitz Tactical
Elishewitz Lightening Strike

Camillus Cuda
Camillus Cuda "Talon"
Cuda Arclite

Coldsteel
Cold Steel Bushman
Cold Steel Mini Bushman
Cold Steel Recon Tanto
Cold Steel SRK
Cold Steel Master Hunter
Cold Steel Spike (Tanto)
Cold Steel LTC Light
Cold Steel All Terrain Hunter
Cold Steel Recon Scout
Cold Steel UWK
Cold Steel Kubon

Columbia River Knife & Tool
CRKT Companion
CRKT Stiff Kiss
CKRT Carson F4
CRKT Steve Ryan "Plan B"
CRKT ABC Operator
CRKT Sting

Eriksson of Sweden
Mora 2000 (M2K)
Eriksson model 510

Fallkniven
Fallkniven A2
Fallkniven AI
Fallkniven SI
Fallkniven FI
Fallkniven FII
Fallkniven HI
Fallkniven WM
Fallkniven GI "Garm"

Foster Knives
Fear's Survival Knife

Frigault Rick
Spear Tac
Skeeter Swept Point
Skeeter Drop Point

Frosts of Sweden
Clipper
S.W.A.K
Model 711

Gerber
Gerber MKII
Gerber Pro Guide
Gerber Pro Guide Drop Point

Grohmann
Grohmann RI
Grohmann R2
Grohmann R3
Grohmann R4
Grohmann 100

KaBar
TDI
KBAR U.S.M.C. Knife

Kershaw
Kershaw Echo
Kershaw Outcast
Kershaw Military Boot Knife

Lightfoot Greg
Mini Pitbull

Microtech
HALO II
HALO III

Normark Rapala
Fillet knife
Fillet Knife Small

ONTARIO
R.T.A.K
TAK 1-D2
RAT 7-D2
RAT 3
RAT 5

Ranger Knives
Little Bird
Ranger RD 6
Ranger RD 7
Ranger RD 9

Ridgid Knives
Sharpfinger Style

R.E.K.A.T
Pikuni

Schrade
Schrade Sharpfinger
Schrade Little Finger
Schrade X Timer Drop Point

Simonich Mid-Tech
Bitterroot
Crowsfoot
Urban Raven

Spyderco
Spyderco Moran (Swept)
Spyderco Perrin Bowie
Spyderco Temperance
Spyderco SPOT 2nd Generation
Spyderco SPOT 1st Generation
Spyderco Ronin 2nd Generation

S.O.G.
SOG Seal Pup
SOG X-42 Recondo
SOG Tsunami (Large)
SOG Revolver Hunter
SOG Revolver Seal Pup
SOG SEAL 2000

Swamp Rat Knife Works
Swamp Rat Bandicoot
Swamp Rat Camp Tramp
Swamp Rat Battle Rat
Swamp Rat Howling Rat
Swamp Rat Rat Tail

Timberline
Greg Lightfoot "Mini Pit Bull"

T.O.P.S.
Wolf Pup
Anaconda 9
Ferret
Cheetah

Assorted Knives
German Field Knife
Hibbon Alaskan Hunter Association Skinner
Hibbon Thrower
Marbles Fieldcraft

Folders

Benchmade
Benchmade Eclipse
Benchmade CQC-7 Specwar (Left Handed)
Benchmade 875 Sentinel
Benchmade 730 Ares
Benchmade 710 Axis

Buck/Strider
Buck/Strider Military

Coldsteel
Prolite folder
Voyager X2 (Shoulder Rig)
Voyager Large
RECON I

Microtech
Microtech Mini Socom
LCC

Spyderco
Spyderco Copilot
Spyderco Delica (Metal Clip)
Spyderco Endura (Molded Clip)
Spyderco (Blue) Native
Spyderco Native (BRK Edition)
Spyderco Calypso
Spyderco Calypso Jr.
Spyderco Chinese Lum
Spyderco Rescue
Spyderco Police
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Ladybug
Spyderco Jester
Spyderco Wegner Jr.

Swiss Army Knives
Victorinox RUK SAK
Victorinox Outrider
Victorinox Trekker (One Hander)
Victorinox Trekker GAK
Victorinox Camper
Victorinox Swiss Champ
Wenger Tool Chest
German GAK

Multi-Tools

Buck Classic
Gerber Scout Multiplier (Blunt Nose)
Gerber Multiplier Locking (Needle Node)
Gerber Military Provisional Tool (MPT)
Leatherman PST (Original)
Leatherman Wave
Leatherman S2
Leatherman S6
Leatherman P4
Leatherman Side clip
SOG SwitchPlier

If you have any questions,, please feel free to drop me a note..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Busse. They are popular, high-end, and do not come with sheaths in the first place. So everyone that buys a Busse needs to get a sheath as well.

The problem is that Busse has a lot of models. So I would suggest starting with current models. Pork Belly Skinner, Hell Razor, and Game Warden
 
I could use a leather sheath for my MOD Mark V and a nemesis lmax tomahawk..particularly the tomahawk.
 
Hey Guys..

Hair has an excellent point that I forgot to make...

Looking for knives that don't have sheaths is a good way of doing it..
also looking for knives that have POS sheaths is another way...Theres lotz of them...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Busse knives needs shaeths, mine to:D
Could you post a picture of your work?
I would love to see sone Randall style sheaths for busse knives. The riveted models are so cool. Not really fancy sheaths but sometimes less is more.
That would be old school military meating the next generation military knife.

Cheers,

André

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Hey guys,

I realize this is a very old thread. Still, I feel I should apologize to everyone for not responding to your kind suggestions. I think what probably happened was I posted similar requests elsewhere and simply forgot about this one. Being not so forum savvy I didn't know about subscribing to the thread so I would be alerted. :o I assure everyone that I didn't simply ignore all of you as I would never do that intentionally... just getting older and more forgetful! A very belated thanks to all for the input!

Richard
 
Would be really nice if someone made some nice sheaths for the Spyderco Mule Team blades.
 
Welcome back! In the intervening years, we've added a Sheaths & Such forum, so I'll move this there. :)
 
I would like to see a sheath that had two slots: one for a single AA/aaa flashlight on one side and my large stockman on the other side. This could be made of any material that works.
 
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