Martin Sheaths (AKA Martin Swinkels) - BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JP170138]

A few months ago, I sent a Fallkniven NL3 knife to Martin Swinkels in the Netherlands (his website is http://www.martinsheaths.com/). Along with that, I sent a payment for the customs tax to him via PayPal (this was required since the total cost of the knife was well over $300). The knife was sent to him on February 25, 2016, and he confirmed receipt of the knife on February 29, 2016. I was reassured that he would need the knife for "2 to 3 weeks" in order to make the sheath. Since late March 2016, I have sent multiple emails to Mr. Swinkels, all with no response. As of today (5/29/16), I have not heard back from Mr. Swinkels since March 24, 2016. Basically, the guy has stolen my knife and my money. Apparently my experience is not a unique one, since I've read other stories on the internet message boards about this creep doing this to other people. From my standpoint, AVOID THIS GUY AT ALL COSTS. I'm not going to fly to the Netherlands to get my knife back. But I hope I can prevent him from doing this to someone else. I included a copy of all our correspondence below (start at the bottom and work your way up).


On Mar 24, 2016, at 4:50 AM, Martin Swinkels <info@martinsheaths.com> wrote:

Hi John,

I have good news and bad news. The good news is: The sheath is drying now.
The bad:
Unfortunately I got a bill from customs. As it turned out the shipper, Gale Wells, has put a value of $ 450,00 on the package.
As a result the package got intercepted by customs and they charge me € 154,67 for taxes, import etc.
Could you please transfer that amount to my paypal: m.c.c.swinkels@chello.nl so I can pay the bill.
I’ll send the original bill along when the work is done.

Best regards,
Martin


From: JP170138@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 10:41 PM
To: Martin Swinkels
Subject: Re: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

How are things going with the 2 sheaths for the Fallkniven NL3?

John

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 29, 2016, at 4:34 AM, Martin Swinkels <info@martinsheaths.com> wrote:

Hey John,

Just a short message to inform you your knife has arrived.

Have a nice day,
Martin


From: JP170138@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 7:19 PM
To: Martin Swinkels
Subject: Re: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

Sounds good. Thanks again.

John

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 25, 2016, at 12:21 PM, Martin Swinkels <info@martinsheaths.com> wrote:

Hi John,

I’ll keep an eye out for the mailman.
No deposit needed. I’ll send you some pics of the finished sheaths, and when you like what you see you can paypal me then.
Thanks,
Martin

From: jp170138@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 5:08 AM
To: info@martinsheaths.com
Subject: Re: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

I'll be shipping the Fallkniven NL3 knife to you tomorrow. Please let me know when you receive it. Here is a picture of what I'm looking for as far as the sheath is concerned. I need two of these sheaths, since I'll be giving one of these knives to my cousin as well. Please give each sheath all available upgrades that you would recommend. I will also be sending the Fallkniven sharpening stone that I'll be using with the knife. Please let me know what the deposit will be for the job, and I'll have the payment sent to you via PayPal.

Thanks!


<pic 2.jpg>


-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Swinkels <info@martinsheaths.com>
To: JP170138 <JP170138@aol.com>
Sent: Sun, Feb 14, 2016 4:34 am
Subject: Re: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

Those are the sharpening stones made by Fällkniven.



From: JP170138@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2016 2:06 AM
To: Martin Swinkels
Subject: Re: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

What does DC-3 and DC-4 mean? I'll get the first knife sent off to you within the next few weeks.

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 13, 2016, at 1:14 PM, Martin Swinkels <info@martinsheaths.com> wrote:

Hi John,

Thank you for your interest in my sheathwork, I appreciate it.
I’m happy to make you these sheaths, but need the knives here to make it work
I need them for 2-3 weeks.

Price for this work breaks down to:
Basic sheath 7”. € 135,00
Set of straps. € 35,00

Optional are:
Retaininstrap: € 15,00
Firsteel loop: € 10,00
Pouch: € 35,00 DC-3 size/ € 45,00 DC-4 size
and whatever else you might think of.


Read the shipping instructions here:
http://www.martinsheaths.com/Ordering.php

You can send them to:
Martin Swinkels
Violenstraat 56
1214 CM, Hilversum
The Netherlands

I hope this will work for you,
Let me know if you have any questions. I’m ready to discuss details.

All the Best from the Low Lands,
Martin



From: jp170138@aol.com
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 8:43 PM
To: info@martinsheaths.com
Subject: Interested in purchasing 2 sheaths

Hello, my name is John. I'm interested in ordering 2 sheaths from you. I need a sheath for a Fallkniven NL3 and a Busse Team Gemini Light Brigade. I'm interested in the leather kydex technical sheath in dark brown with green thread. I will use this primarily for camping/survival. Please include any additional upgrades that you would recommend (such as pouches for firesteel, sharpening stone). I can make a deposit for the sheaths through PayPal once you're ready. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks!

 

[leatherman]

Martin has been banned from here for quite some time for bad business practices.

 

[d.weglarz13]

Wow this is sad news. A couple years ago I sent him a $800 knife for a sheath, and all was great. The sheath arrived perfect and I was very happy. I even felt he was a great guy along all out conversations.
I'm sorry for your loss, but I do hope he makes this right and sends the knife to you. It is not right for him to keep the knife, especially when you send the knife all the way to him before knowing that something like this could happen.
I guess I won't be ordering any other sheaths from him. Too bad. This is unfortunate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jack Shen]

I wonder what ever happened to Martin. He made a kydex / leather hybrid sheath for me and everything went well. But this was a decade ago. The sheath is still holding strong. I'd really like to get another sheath of the same type from him or anyone else that is able to pull off the same design. I does seem like his business got hit hard, and the knife laws in Europe have gotten extremely strict, I've heard of items getting confiscated at customs.

 

[craytab]

I wonder what ever happened to Martin. He made a kydex / leather hybrid sheath for me and everything went well. But this was a decade ago. The sheath is still holding strong. I'd really like to get another sheath of the same type from him or anyone else that is able to pull off the same design. I does seem like his business got hit hard, and the knife laws in Europe have gotten extremely strict, I've heard of items getting confiscated at customs.

Could also be because of him stealing people's property.....

 

[Jack Shen]

Could also be because of him stealing people's property.....

That's what makes me sad to hear. He made some really fine quality sheaths, and at the time there wasn't another sheath maker, at least that I know of, that had designs like his. I had talked with him on several occasions.
I'm really curious about what happened in his life that changed and caused him to start this type of behavior.