Do you include a sheath with a sale?

T

tmickley

Joined
Apr 4, 2001
Messages
1,803
Do you always include a sheath with every sale?
Do you offer different kinds?
Do you farm it out? Who to?
Why can't I get as enthused about making sheaths as knives?
 
I consider a sheath as part of the package, I don't
offer much in the way of choice, I try to keep it
simple with good quility. In my case I can not find
anyone to build sheaths the way I want them done so
had to learn how to do it myself, still don't ltke
to do it, but find it is a nice change of pace. Gib
 
Like Gib
I make my own and it's a change of pace.
I do offer other sheath makers services too,
for real fancy stuff.
I offer one with every knife, if the customer wants one.
I don't mind making pouch sheaths
one like this is easy strong and works well.
gray162-1.JPG
 
I am a simpel hobby maker, who has no interest in making sheaths. it takes me long enough to finish a knife, so I don't want to fiddle with sheaths too! I have only sold one knife, but what my plan is is to offer the knife as is, or the knife plus a sheath made by a local sheath guy. The guy I go to makes AWESOME work, very inexpensively too. I think it is advantageous for me to do this. I can concentrate on what I want, and if I sell a knife to someone who wants a particular sheath, they can get that sheath made.

I.E. some on the forusm would prefer a sheath from Normark, some from River City, maybe soem want a nylon sheath from SOE. I can make the knife they want, and someone who is geared up for it can make the sheath they want too.
 
Hi, Gib and Dan-- Gib, how about telling us what you want in a sheath that is so different that you can not find a maker. I could be missing the boat on not making the type sheath you like. I am not trying to be smart as I think you and I have mutual respect for each other in our respective fields. Tell me what you want and I'll try to make one for your inspection, no obligation. Dan, that is one very nice sheath and would compliment any knife. You guys make sheaths as a change of pace---Guess I will have to make a knife or two for a change--- I made my last knife in 1945 while serving as an aviation metalsmith in the navy. Lot of water under a lot of bridges since then! Regards, Sandy
 
Sandy, I have two knives in a box in my car front seat all ready to mail to you as soon as I pass a post office. I can make them and they aren't terrible but I'd rather grind steel.:D
Besides, I want to see how a pro like you does them.
 
I make knives as well as sheaths.I always sell a "package".I also do some sheaths for other makers,but I am usually to busy to take on too much extra.I love making sheaths almost as much as making knives.And you can't go wrong getting a sheath from Sandy,he's da MAN.Dave
 
Sheath making is the hardest part for me to get into also...I do like making the metal and throat and tipped sheaths without any problems,but when it comes to sewing up a regular pouch style sheath I have to just do it and usually I have a few knives made and have to forse myself to stop and sheath them.
Bruce
 
Speaking as a buyer (and user) of custom knives, I very much appreciate a high-quality sheath, and I hate having to deal with shipping a knife out to be sheathed, etc. For that reason, I like the maker to provide a sheath with the knife, and I would rather see him or her ship the knife to a sheathing expert for me, rather than let me deal with it or provide a sub-par sheath that means I won't use the knife.
 
I think a fixed blade knife without a sheath is virtually useless, and for that reason have allowed myself to be convinced to always provide one. I've learned to do my own simple pouch sheaths. It's not difficult, you can sew while you're watching TV with the wife, it's relatively clean, and your customer needs it.

Whether you make your own or have someone else do it, you should always include a sheath with your knives. Just my 2c.

Dave
 
Here is a ;ittle bit of advice I was given years ago it may be something for some of you to think about..

When you are at a knife show and look down the aisles at all the hunting and skinning knives they all start looking about the same,as there is only so much you can do with a 3-4 inch drop point.If the customer wants a sheath with the knife and you don't supply one,he can move on to the next table and find one,then if you supply a so-so sheath he can move on to the next table and find a better one,Now he has found a couple of knives he like and cant make up his mind,Guess what the deciding facter is....The sheath,"HE who has the best quality sheath wins"...everytime....

I have heard it said at the symposiums more than once that the sheath can sell the knife for you.So either learn to make a good quality sheath or have them made for you...

Just some food for thought that I have been told over the years..
Bruce
 
Looks like I'm in with the majority...I make sheaths but it's not my favorite thing to do. Seems though, that the better I get at it, the less I dislike makin them. Maybe someday I'll even enjoy it. I do agree that a good sheath can make or break a sale and that's incentive enough to get good at it.
 
A guy told me once upon a time I needed to make
a sheath fitting the work I did with my knives,
 he was telling me the sheaths I made then was a bit substandard.

 Not knowing any sheath makers and being before
the Internet and going to any shows 

 I had to learn to do it myself. 
 There are a fair amount of sheath makers that I know now.

 but why don't I have them do my sheath work?... well
 I do on occasion..
but
 as mentioned here in the thread.
 sending the knife out is a time wise pain.
and shipping cost.
 wondering if the great USPS or UPS
will come through getting it back to you.

 sole authorship is a must for some collectors
and buyers, but not all.
  and style could be it for some.

 A good sheath costing say $25.00
can end up at least $35.00 depending the value
 the knife is being insured for,
most all knives need to be fitted
so you have to ship it.

..and who it's shipped by?
UPS can be around $ 16.00- $ 20.00 shiping two way
then to a customer it all adds up.

 The guys I know now making sheaths be it

 Sandy Morrissey Master Leathercraftsman
 Chris Kravitt  Tree Stump leather
Chuck Burrows  Wild Rose Trading co. or the many others.

 These guys are Great sheath Makers and will
do the job you want done and a fine job too..
 there's nothing they can't do to make you happy.
 It's just for us that can do it, the extra problems
mentioned add up.

 It takes me about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to make a
pouch sheath less drying time.
 fully hand sewn by two needles and hand sewing thread.
 and it's ready to go. no worries.

on the other hand if you make the same pattern
of a knife you can send one knife out
 and stock up on sheaths for that one
pattern cutting cost and time.
 and the leatherman will normally give
you a brake in price too.
   just my 2 more cents
 
Sandy, One of the resions that I can not find a
sheath maker is that I live 120mi. west of Phoenix
80mi. north or Yuma Az. I started out making my oun
sheaths and had a terrible time following the
instructions from Tandy. I kept looknig for a
leather worker to do it for me, there are a lot of
retieres in this area. I found one that did good
work (I thought) and used him for a while till I
went to my first show and found that NO one wanted
any thing to do with my knives and was told quite
a few times that the sheaths were no good. I went
to him and told him what happened, he would not
change. So I started to do the sheaths myself and
started to get complements on them and found that
a good sheath will sell a knife.

Two years ago I thought I had a the answer. A saddle
maker moved in as my naybore. This fellow could not
make a sheath no matter what, thay came back looking
like thay went to war and the other guy won. I dont
use him any more.

In the emails you sent your sheaths are great to say
the least. I use 10oz leather on most of my sheaths,
on some of the larger Bowies mabey should use
heaver leather, on very small sheaths I use 7oz
leather. I don't like snaps period. Unless there is
no other way, I am going to try a sam brown stud
the next time that comes up. I have started using
beewax and neats foot mix to finish and like it.
Go to my web site there are examples there of my
sheathes, I prefure simple and plain to fancy.
Email me with ideas Gib
 
I always sell a knife with a sheath. I make them myself, usining Kydex in the past but will now use Conealex too. Just got into the Tek lock thing and IWB loops from Bladetech but in the past they were always IWB made from keydex loops myself. My sheath making skills suck though. Not so much the actual forming of the sheath but the carry loops I made were not to my liking. Some were fine and worked quite well, most were'nt. That's why I am usinig the IWB ready made loops and the Tek locks. Gotta have sheath though, it ain't finished until the knife fits the sheath !
 
Yes!
Yes!
No!
Dunno??

LOL....I make sheath for all my knives and enjoy it VERY much...I make leathersheaths, some with fancy skinoverlay like stingray, frog or lizard. I also make Kydexsheaths...I used to like it,....then it became a pain in the b... but then >I tried to mold the kydex using foam...now I LOVE it!!....I like the change of pace making sheath and I can sew and watch tv at the same time... ;) really..don´t see much tv...hardly sit down for more than on program a week or so... :)

and btw...I make a GREAT sheath too! :D
 
I seem to have the entire package envisioned in my head before I start a knife....sheath and all. I find myself doing more frog/stud Sheffield style sheaths these days because they are easier and I also have found more practical.

I do use Eagle sheathes for my combat knife because of its interface with modern webgear......but if it were just me, I'd have a heavy leather Randall style sheath everytime!
 
I don't even offer a knife for sale until Sandy [Martin Morrissey] gets the sheath done and sent back to me. I can't even come close to his quality, even if I spent a week on each one.

I don't do teeth and my dentist doesn't make knives.

But Sandy makes some of the highest quality sheaths available anywhere. Send him a couple and let HIM design and make them. If you aren't happy with his work send it to me and I will buy them from you.

Please just wait til he gets my latest order done :) :) :)

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top