Desk or Counter Display Sheath

rhrocker

rhrocker

Joined
Jan 18, 2004
Messages
1,135
I've been working on this idea for a long time. The principle of it is, that not everyone that owns, or collects knives, wears sheaths. I realize that a lot do, but not everyone. My wife, for example, doesn't wear a sheath at work or around the house, hunting being the exception. A lot of businessmen don't wear knives at the office, but may like to display them on their desk, so that they'd have easy access to them for showing, or using. At the house, Carrie uses a little "Scagel inspired" knife that I made for her, but is always leaving it here and there, it doesn't have a place to rest. The sheath in the photos takes care of those issues. The sheath is finished on both sides, so that there's not a belt loop or clip on one side. This, to me, really makes it attractive, to be able to slide it over to someone to look at, and they can rotate it and see the entire sheath. The inlay design on this sheath is something my wife wanted ("no rattlesnake skins in my kitchen she said!"). However, the sheath could also be made like the usual sheaths, with tooled or carved patterns, or left just plain leather. On this particular model, the sheath is permantly attached to the base by using brass pins, and epoxy. However, it would be just as easy to make it so that the sheath lifted off of the base, so that the knife could be used, say in another room, then returned to it's base. The knife slides in and out of the sheath very easily (no wet-formed fit necessary because of the angle of the sheath to the base).
I am currently working on several models of this idea, using other materials for the base materials, including steel and rock, plus the wood (Mesquite, of course) you see in the pictures. I am learning the art of sheathmaking currently, and will be offering this idea along with regular belt and boot styles of sheaths.
I'd sure like to hear your comments and suggestions about my "RHrocker Desk Sheath", good and/or bad. You'll have to excuse the photos, I'll take better ones later on.
Thanks for looking :D

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I like it Robert !!

I would think it a very handy set-up. Especially for the kitchen and utility knives.
 
I think it really looks like you put a lot of thought and time into the design. I especially appreciate the material that you used in it. Great lookinf and functional too. Mike
 
Good idea.Several years ago I made a real fancy desk knife.2" blade,MOP,Star sapphires,gold,the works.The lawyer who bought it wanted a way to display it.I took a small abalone shell and sanded the outside down to the color.I cut a slot the blade could pass through in the center of the shell. and made a simple leather sheath,and glued it to the inside,at an angle.I mounted the whole thing on a nice walnut base.The knife in the sheath looked like it was stuck right into the abalone shell.
 
great job as always,Robert.you're really getting your teeth into this leatherworking thing.I'm still playing catch-up.take care
 
Robert, I really like that idea and it came out great looking. It will be interesting to see what you come up with on a 'releaseable' mount sheath.
 
Thanks Tom! It gets overwhelming to say the least. Lots of new tools to learn, new vocabulary, techniques, stances and positions, and tons of "what to do if this happens". Far more than I originally anticipated, but I'm still enjoying ever minute of it, wouldn't trade for anything.
 
Sounds like a great idea Robert and that sheath is just plain gorgeous!!!
What materials did you use for the inlay? It looks like it has beads on it. Man that is nice!!! I agree with leaving the belt loop off to give you more room for the art work.
I've seen folks carry fixed blades in sheaths without belt loops in the waiste band, just like some folks carry a small hand gun.
 
Very cool!!! Keep them pics coming, I think you're onto something fantastic. :cool:
 
Robert, I see you got the juices flowing. Looks good to me and I like the chair stand thats holding the sheath and knife.....
 
Well that's a real neat idea and I have to say that the sheath is absolutely gorgeous. I would prefer the version where the sheath was not affixed to the stand. Or better yet (for me, anyway) - a stand that supported / displayed both knife and sheath separately, as I have an aversion to storing knives in their sheaths for any extended periods.

Really cool what you came up with here.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
Well that's a real neat idea and I have to say that the sheath is absolutely gorgeous. I would prefer the version where the sheath was not affixed to the stand. Or better yet (for me, anyway) - a stand that supported / displayed both knife and sheath separately, as I have an aversion to storing knives in their sheaths for any extended periods.

Really cool what you came up with here.

Roger
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Thanks guys! Roger, you're right, that would be a nice idea to have the knife and sheath seperate on a base. Lots of possibilities!
 
Great looking combo. I too thing it would be nice if your pins slipped into a catch so that you could take it off the stand if you wanted to. But I don't thingk it was your intention to have it move from the desk and you have done a great job of it thank you for sharing.
 
I think it's really cool Robert!

Can I slip my belt through the base plate and the upright support??? ;) :p :D

I think your point about displaying a knife is dead on. That's why I was so jealous when I saw the set-up that William-Henry came up with to display/store their high-end kitchen knife set.

BTW- Aren't you supposed to just use mesquite for firewood and smoker chips??? :p

Quick story-

I took a folder class with JP Moss in Woodson, TX, back when I was 20. His neighbor gave me a beautiful Mesquite burl. He kept calling them "Mesquite brain."

Anyway, the next knife show I went to (as a spectator) I was asking all these guys if they ever used Mesquite, because I didn't see any ANYWHERE. Finally, one guy said, "Yea, I used it, but why in the hell would you want to. The only thing that stuff is good for is firewood!"

If I would have had my "Mesquite brain" with me, I would have konked his ignorant ass on the head with it! :D
 
Nick, I know a Rusty Moss, don't know if their kin or not.

Mesquite Brains eh?? :confused: I've been accused of having a lot of things, but so far, no one has ever told me I have Mesquite Brains, but I rather like the idea :D Also, I'm writing up a little tutorial on how I made my desk sheath. I've received a ton of emails asking all kinds of questions, so I thought I'd answer everyone once. Will do that in a few days. I think Roc mentioned that my base looks like my rockers, and he's right! I didn't know I was doing that at the time though. BTW Nick, you, you can slip your belt through the hole between the base plate, and the curvey part that holds the sheath. It'd work, but would possibly make you stand out in a crowd :D

Here's what I make for a living with my Mesquite Brains:
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Robert that is beautiful! Naturally you took the idea all the way. I make a little desk knife but all I've ever done is make a little sheath sans belt loop that lays in a drawer. You're right that you can do nice decoration all the way around the sheath without the loop but I sure never thought of taking it this far. My buddy Reg Ellery gave me a sweet little desk knife for my birthday that has ostrich overlay all around it, and that is super cool too.

I really love your little Scagel too, that is so fine I just want to play with it! :D

What I really like about this whole idea is what you said up front - most people don't carry sheath knives. So being able to display it is a real bonus.

One caveat: The only time I've left my knife on display on my desk it got stolen. I've never gotten over that and would have a hard time leaving something this beautiful in plain sight... I've had more stuff stolen living in Iowa in 15 years than in the whole rest of my life combined. Who'd have thought?

Oh Yeah - That rocker is freakin BEAUTIFUL! :eek: :cool:
 
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