Kitchen Knife Storage/Sheath

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
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I'm working on a 2 blade kitchen knife set. An 8" Santoku, and a 3" paring knife. Both will have matching ironwood burl handles. Anyways, I've only ever made one other kitchen blade, in which I sold without a sheath. What would be the "normal" or best way to store/ship these? Thin leather slip sheaths? A slotted wooden block? I'm not sure how to go about this.
 
This is what I do with all of my kitchen knives whether it's a petty like this one or an 8" gyuto. This also invites the user to carry the knife with them which is good advertising. I'm not sure if the link works so let me know if it doesn't.
 
If you have woodworking capability, you can buy some 1/8 plywood at the local hardware and make a surprisingly nice saya out of three layers pretty simply.
 
Matt R. That looks nice. Yes it does work.
And elemente, that is also a good idea.
 
saya are nice and easy once you get a plan you like i saw a board in half then use the mini mill to get the slot close to shape then hand cut the rest then glue the boards back together and finish for me the trick is getting the pin in the right place and turned tohe right size
they also have plastic clamshell type sheaths and "taco" plastic edge covers (woudl be a snap to mak in kydex but i bet not cheaper) i think chefs knives to go has cardboard sleeves
 
Matt R said:
I have used the clamshell style kydex ones and they will scratch your blade.
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Thats what I'm afraid of but, I was thinking of maybe trying out just an edge cover thats maybe only a 1/4" tall, and forming the kydex tight from the tip, to the back point of the edge. So it could be sort of snapped on. But we'll see. Thats just what I quickly came up with in my head. I'll think of something. I should have the knives finished tomorrow afternoon.
 
the plastic clam shell ones i have seen have little rubber grippers in side so not plastic touches the blade
 
butcher_block said:
the plastic clam shell ones i have seen have little rubber grippers in side so not plastic touches the blade
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Those are a little fancier than the ones I have used. I have thought of making my own and lining the inside with felt. I just am not sure how it would hold up to the cutting edge.
 
You can also use the cover that comes on a band saw blade. Cut some off and slip it over the edge. Put a couple pieces of tape on it and then tape the knife up between some cardboard for shipping.
 
colu41 said:
Thats what I'm afraid of but, I was thinking of maybe trying out just an edge cover thats maybe only a 1/4" tall, and forming the kydex tight from the tip, to the back point of the edge. So it could be sort of snapped on. But we'll see. Thats just what I quickly came up with in my head. I'll think of something. I should have the knives finished tomorrow afternoon.
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That's exactly what I did for this little lime cutter a while back.

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I made a saya from a chunk of spalted maple I had. I cut two pieces on my bandsaw a bit over 1/8" thick for my outside walls and then a piece of alder (softer wood) about the same thickness for my center. I traced my knife onto the alder and cut out the knife shape a bit over sized so the knife would fit inside. Glued the three pieces up like a sandwich, did a bit more shaping and sanded and finished it. Hard part for me was getting the pin nice and snug in the right spot. You can see the alder piece in the third picture.


IMG_5032.jpgIMG_5030.jpg IMG_5041.jpg
 
RandyB, that is a great looking Saya. I like the shape you went with, I'll be stealing that idea on one of the next ones I make! I love spalted maple, that's a great use of that piece. What are the handle scales on that knife?
Matt, I think a simple Kydex that covers the edge would be fine, but a Saya is a next level of workmanship IMO, you could actually do a 'two level' one that would hold both of these knives---that actually sounds pretty cool to me.....
 
Thanks Fish. The scales are maple burl. I spend a lot of time in the woods and have a fair bit of wood that I have collected in the last few years for flute making. It's sort of fun when it is reclaimed wood you found for free! I just had to send some out for stabilizing.

This saya was easy to make. Basic basic woodworking skills needed. If You can attach scales you can make a saya. It was Stacy who got me going on making one. I'm happy I did.
 
A good method for positioning the peg hole in a saya is to glue up only one side and the core first.
Set the knife in the recess and make a 1/8" starter hole where the peg will go.
Glue up the other side and drill the starter hole through the second side.
Shape the saya and finish.
Once all is done, enlarge the holes to fit the peg and retain the blade.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
A good method for positioning the peg hole in a saya is to glue up only one side and the core first.
Set the knife in the recess and make a 1/8" starter hole where the peg will go.
Glue up the other side and drill the starter hole through the second side.
Shape the saya and finish.
Once all is done, enlarge the holes to fit the peg and retain the blade.
Click to expand...

I can't believe I didn't think of that. So simple, but so far beyond me!!!
 
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