Green River sheath

[Chad Ferguson]

Hello! I’ve got an old Green River 5” skinner, a simple but functional knife. If you know them, you know the original sheath is terrible. I’d like to keep the knife going but need a sheath that actually securely holds the knife; without a hilt, there’s nothing positive to keep the knife from sliding up and loose, and I don’t want to get sliced reaching into a pack. Suggestions?

 

[Alberta Ed]

I use a thong through the belt loop to keep the blade in place, similar to the snap straps you see on some sheathes -- positioned toward the butt, it's quite easy to slip on and off yet holds the blade quite securely. Or you could substitute an elastic cord. Another suggestion would be to use a pouch-type sheath like a traditional puukko; fitted snugly, you wouldn't need a strap. These are quite simple to make (even I can fashion a functional sheath) or there are a lot of excellent custom sheath makers on this forum who could whip something up a lot classier than I could. I've seen paintings of frontiersmen carrying their blades in fringed and beaded pouch-type sheaths, often slung from their necks.

 

[Henry Beige]

Got a pic? A lot of different knives have been called a Green River skinner. Some will fit in a sheath for a 5” Kabar or some other proprietary sheath. Some are too sharply curved to fit a straight sheath. It’s not too hard to cobble something up out of cardboard or plastic, held together with gorilla tape to protect the blade in a pack.

 

[bobobama]

Got a pic? A lot of different knives have been called a Green River skinner. Some will fit in a sheath for a 5” Kabar or some other proprietary sheath. Some are too sharply curved to fit a straight sheath. It’s not too hard to cobble something up out of cardboard or plastic, held together with gorilla tape to protect the blade in a pack.

Right on, Henry. There's a number of options available, but without seeing the knife we don't know which would work. I've had success with a Tandy leather sheath kit and a vintage Marbles leather sheath (still available on-line, I believe) with a couple of knives I've had that came without a sheath or with a terrible sheath. Shouldn't be too hard to find something that works, including a custom made sheath if necessary.

And I'm a big fan of cardboard and gorilla tape myself!