does the sheath really matter when buying

C

chubby

Joined
Sep 15, 2000
Messages
97
For me, the sheath is usually that "final nail" when deciding to purchase a knife. But does it really matter anymore with all the custom sheathing everyone is doing?
 
Yes. To me a knife is not complete without a good sheath. If the maker cares about making a good knife, he should care enough about providing a good sheath to go with it. I've seen what a knife can do to someone's thigh when carried in a crappy sheath.
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[This message has been edited by samhell (edited 04-17-2001).]
 
I think it is mostly important in terms of perceived value. I would also think that in the case of custom knives, it also might be an indicator of overall attention to detail.

I guess in my mind, the recent reading of an old issue of TK wherein 2 CS "high quality leather sheaths" disintegrated in 3 and 5 days respectively in the jungle is as good an example as I can provide where the issue of perceived overall quality might come into question.

You answered your own question, I believe, by pointing out how many folks nowadays are getting custom sheaths. But, to me that shouldn't be too surprising on an inexpensive knife. If I'm going to spend $200 or so, I want a sheath that can last more than 3 days.


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Hey Ferett..

Rest Assured that 99.999% of the sheaths I make are made with the lefty in mind.. Being a lefty in a world of Righties I know exactly what you mean...

All of my sheaths are Completely Ambi...

Now as for the knife and sheath..

For years I passed up on dozens of knives because of the poor quality sheath it came with.

Obviously this has changed for me know,,as the majority of knives I buy the sheath gets tossed in the bin with the rest of them anyway...

On some production knives the sheath seems to be an afterthought for manufacturers.

They make a Beautiful Highly useful knife with a POS sheath..It got to the point that I started looking at the sheaths of knives first and the knife itself last.

If I didn't like the sheath, I wouldn't even bother looking at the knife...

All this has changed now with the many custom sheath makers working in both leather and synthetics.

Most any knife, even as simple as the Sharade Sharp Finger can have a high quality safe and functional sheath...The CS Bushman is a prime example of this. Even though the sheath costs a little more than the knife itself, it makes a Great user blade that is comfortable to carry and much more useable...

I say if you like the knife buy it, more times than not a good custom sheath can be made for it at a reasonable cost.

ttyle

Eric...

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
using knives-YES.
display-who cares?
the sheath is part of the knife.you cant (well,you could) walk around with a 12 bowie with out a sheath,now could you?i suppose you could tuck it in your belt,near the buckle
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Normarkkkkkkkk, good onya
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When I eventually get off my butt I think customers will have to specify that they want a right-handed folder/sheath...call it leftie's revenge
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chubby,

I have to agree with Eric. I learned early, from a local maker, that the sheath is as important (on a using knife) as the knife itself.

While I do not, in general, like the looks of the kydex sheaths so popular at the moment, they are the pinnacle of 'usability'.

Most leather sheaths that come with knives these days make me wish the cow was still alive....and I really dislike the nylon and velcro 'sheaths'.

I am not talking about custom knives, most of them come with an appropriate sheath. There are many well made production knives that deserve a better sheath though.

Go get 'em Eric!

Steve-O

 
I look at it from the viewpoint of people who buy knives for combat, self-defense, or survival since that is what Phillip and I make. Our customers want a sheath that is as good or better than the knife it comes with. If the sheath is no good then the knife does not get bought. It is that simple.

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Barry
Jones Knives
"NEW Knives"
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Curly, Moe, & Larry
 
If you are talking about a new custom knife and the maker does not want, or have the ability to provide a sheath, then that is fine. Both of you would simply agree on a price and you would go an obtain a suitable sheath on your own.

However, if you buy a knife on the secondary market without a sheath, because the original manufacturer supplied sheath has been lost or damaged, then you should be aware that the knife has potentially lost significant collector value. For antiques I have seen prices drop by over 40+% for knives with missing/other-than-original sheath. Do not underestimate the value of the sheath, it is an integral part of the set.

 
Ferret, you making something? Couldn't quite figure out what you meant in your post...

If you are, i want on the list
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At last!!! Reasonable postal rates and waiting times on packages
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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
Very interesting question...

Over the last month or so, I have been finalising a design with a custom maker and I swear I spent more time discussing the sheath design than the knife. As far as I am concerned, the sheath or 'carry system' is as important as the blade. I have passed up on knives because they have had a crap sheath!

And hey, what happened to the pockets for stones or other misc. items on the front of the sheath?! They seem to be on the verge of being labelled 'extinct'. Bring back the suckers I say!
 
Again, it depends on the knife. If it is one of Tim Hancock's fancy bowies, nobody is going to use the knife anyway, so it doesnt matter. Even though Tim provides a nice sheath anyway. For a using knife, definitely. A good sheath is a must, but I still dont get too carried away with what is provided. If I get a decent discount for the knife not having a sheath, I take it and have Kenny Rowe get to work.

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
I may be the only one, but I don't care what sheath the knife comes with.
Which is why I usually try to buy knives whithout sheath and save money on that.

Reason: mostly I don't like sheaths of knives anyway, and make a new one myself in either leather or kydex. Since I like doing that...

Oh..the drop that did it for me was the horrible sheath on the buck nighthawk. Since then I decided I don't like sheaths made by companies unless I can see they are good.

Greetz, bart.

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"If the world wouldn't SUCK, we'd all fall off !"

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When I make a knife, I consider the sheath to be no less a part of the knife than the blade. I have seen way to many makers tell me that they are knifemakers, not sheathmakers. I have also seen some really fine custom knives with sheathes that are total crap.

The factories are guilty of this too. Take Cold steel for example.

 
If gunmakers provided a holster with each gun purchased would you refuse to buy a particular gun because you didn't like the holster? Same thing here. If the sheath is good, you got lucky, but if you don't like the sheath and it is not a significant part of the purchase price, just take it and look for a good sheath maker.

For those of who use knives as tools, the sheath is as important as the knife. The combination of a good knife and proper sheath with whatever bells and whistles are necessary to accomplish the mission, is very necessary. Sometimes you have to have two or more sheaths for each knife depending on why you are carrying it.

I have ordered custom knives with sheaths when they were good, and without sheaths when I could get a little off the purchase price, knowing I would have to resheath it anyway. If a maker provides a sheath I don't like and won't take it back for a price reduction, fine! I'll buy the knife anyway and spend a little for a good custom sheath.

But the best deal is getting a good sheath with a good knife!

Bruce
 
Good post. If I really liked the knife, I could accept a lesser sheath. A GREAT sheath on a GREAT knife is what it's all about. THAT'S VALUE.
Great sheath concepts really improve the use-ability of a great knife, too.
I put a lot of work into my sheaths-always have, and it has paid off.



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Stay Sharp,

RJ Martin
http://www.martinsite.com
 
Absolutely! I always look at a new FB with the question,"How will I carry this, and how well will it work?" I have no trouble calling on Mike Sastre when I see another good way to carry the same knife, but it must come from the manufacturer with a sheath suited to my main purpose at the time. There are many knives I would love to have, but do not like the sheath (or more likely it doesn't fit my uses). There are too many companies that include great sheaths (Camillus,Spyderco,Dozier, Busse, etc.,etc.)to settle with having to buy a new one in which to carry the new knife. I love custom sheaths, but as an accossory to the original.

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AKTI Member #A000934
"Always just one knife short of perfection!"
 
What Bart said.
If it's the best knife for my use (or in my mind), then the sheath means nothing. I'm not going to pass up a great knife, just because the sheath sucks.
Eric is just a email away, and I've yet to see ANY factory sheath that could satisfy everbody's wants/needs/tastes/whatever.
I don't own alot of fixed blades, but of the last three I've bought, I'ved ditched the sheath on all three. Not saying that the sheath sucked, necessarily (well, yeah, the BM Nimravus sheath blows big time), but they didn't suit me.
A manufacturer can't satisfy everybody, and I don't see how anyone could expect them to.

edit: somehow forgot that I just got a Camillus Talon (it's not one of the "last three"), and like the sheath, though it lacks good retention. Probably won't replace it any time soon.



[This message has been edited by OwenM (edited 04-18-2001).]
 
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