Do you make a sheath for every knife you make?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
If the knife is going on display (I mean at my house of course no public display here) and is not going to be used per say do you still feel you have to make a sheath?
I am making a little progress in making the knives themselves and want to continue to spend the little time I have improving that.

What do you guys think?
 
I make a sheath for every knife. To me, they are one in the same, franks and beans, the whole package, all that and a bag.... oh you know what I mean.


Yes.




Rick
 
I have a knife sitting in my drawer right now without a sheath. Of course, it's not finished and will likely be given away regardless. If I do give it away, it will have a sheath. If I keep it, I'll make a sheath because I'll want to use it.

That being said, if I was making a safe queen for myself that would never be carried, I probably wouldn't go through the trouble of making a sheath for it personally unless I wanted to. If it ever was sold, it would absolutely have a sheath.

--nathan
 
If your gonna display it a sheath is not a must,do you mean your gonna put it in a box and hang it on the wall,or you just gonna have it around to show off.If it's the latter I would make a sheath.I have couple I use as bench knives that don't have sheaths.
Stan
 
I tend to agree....buying a top quality knife without a sheath, is sort of like buying a luxury car without wheels/tires.

Whether the sheath is created by the Maker, or by an outside source, is up to each Maker, however, it bothers me when I see makers selling knives, especially higher end hunters and bowies, and a sheath isn't included. I know that some maker's opinion is that they are KNIFE makers, and not sheath makers, and that's OK, but I feel that a knife offered without a sheath, or other storage/display device is leaving something out.

I personally hate making sheaths, and for a long time looked for someone to do it for me. For one reason or another none of the prospects were acceptable to me, so I bit the bullet and learned how to do it myself. Often times now, customers comment on how nice my sheaths are, and in some cases they have told me that the decision to purchase, between one of my knives and another maker's, was the sheath.

If the knife warrants a sheath, I personally think that the maker should provide one with the knife. Of course there are other possibilities such as display stands, boxes with glass lids, etc. And to be completely clear, I don't think folders need to be offered with a sheath included.
 
I make a sheath for every knife that is meant to have a sheath and knife blocks for kitchen knives. I think every sharp tool should have a cover over the edge.

Bob
 
Although I am not the experienced knifemaker that many of you are, I still make a sheath. Even if it's just some rolled up cardstock and duck tape.
 
I make the sheaths. For one thing, I want to protect the knives. The other thing, however, is that I enjoy the sheath making process too. Finally, a custom knife NEEDS a custom sheath. It's part of the same creative vision.
 
I do, but it is my least favorite part, mostly cuz of the hand stitching. If a sewing machine wasnt so expensive, itd definitely be less of a pain
 
zaph1 said:
Even if it's just some rolled up cardstock and duck tape.
Click to expand...
Some of my sheaths fit this description, however, I only make fixed blades and I feel that a sheath is part of the total package.

I have "farmed-out" three sheaths (by Paul Long and Sandy Morrissey), and if I could afford it, I would have them make all my sheaths. I just can't justify it because I don't think my customers would be willing to pay the extra bucks.

I won't offer a knife without a sheath. It may not be pretty, but it will come with a sheath.

Robert
 
To me a knife needs a proper sheath. The sheath is the finishing touch that make the knife complete, even if it was a sake queen or display knife, every time I looked at it it would just be missing something. You know all these pictures of beautiful knives we see here with out sheaths, I just assume that the knife has a sheath.
 
With regards to knives being made to sell, always a sheath. For display in my own home, I have 2 without sheaths, my 1st attempt at a mini knife, and my first forged blade. The 1st forged is cool to display because I made it at a Bill Moran hammer in and a cool guy named Burt helped me,...wasn't until later that I learned who Burt Foster is, nope won't sell that one.
 
At one time I felt the exact same way you do now. But.....If you want to be considered a good knife maker, then it needs to become a priority of yours to become a good sheath maker as well. I used to hate it, but with a bit of creativity I've found that I now actually look forward to it. It's alot nicer when you can answer your customer proudly, "YES I made the sheath as well"....
Just my opinion,
Matt
 
If it is going to someone besides me, it gets a sheath, if its a beater for me around the shop, it gets a sheath :D .

I do it for reasons beyond what most would consider, I think to myself. What if I HAVE to use this knife? What if the S hits the proverbial F and I need a tool with me and this is the one I have on hand? That's the main reason, the other... well it just aint right to not make a sheath, plus its just as fun IMO.
 
Ok, you guys succeeded, now I feel guilty and will HAVE to make a sheath for every one. :( ;)

Kidding aside, thanks for all your input.
 
Ed caffey and I think alot alike before I read his post I was thinking the same thing. I was thinking more on the line of a hot chick with clothes on and one with out lol Or a car without wheels what ever . lol
 
I have a local Mennonite Harness Maker and good friend make all of my sheaths for every knife. I actually have knives I carry that they will make a couple of sheath before it sales.
 
if you made a fine custom knife as a collectible piece, which was to be displayed to others, on which you worked many hours to get the finish perfect; would you *want* somebody out there abusing it?

i probably would, because i am a tool guy more so than an art appreciator, but some of the knives i've seen here are masterpieces, both of quality and of anal retentiveness. how much work might be destroyed or undone by carrying it around on one's belt?
 
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