Mike Sastre...??

silver_pilate · Apr 2, 2003

Well, I'm just trying to see what's up.

I ordered a sheath towards the first of December and sent the check. I've talked with Mike a couple of times, and both times I was told to look for it soon. That was a while back (read...several months). So far, as of late, I haven't been able to catch him at home, so I sent him an e-mail today, and I'll wait for a response.

I understand the pressures of running your own business along with family and life events, so I'm not ragging on Mike. Just curious if anyone knows if all's well with Mike and River City Sheaths.

FYI, the sheath is for a Bob Lum/Spyderco fixed blade setup for SOB, vertical, and IWB carry. I've heard great things about Mike's work, and he's top notch to talk with on the phone. I look forward to receiving my product.

Any ideas?

--Nathan Burgess

Boink · Apr 2, 2003

I like MIke and he does great sheath work. I was supposed to commingle with him at Mike Janich's knife fighting seminar two weeks ago; I crapped out due to it being rescheduled at the last minute - (the big snow in Colorado).

My guess he is putting on some salve from bruises at that course! LOL!

I, too, have a sheath on order; my check having gone to him in early February.

Here's hoping he get's on top of his work and delivers us our stuff!

Gene · Apr 2, 2003

Looks like business as usual!

tom mayo · Apr 2, 2003

Mike is like a lot of knifemakers................veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery slow!!

Commodorefirst · Apr 2, 2003

Well......if you are reading this Mike, I do believe I have dibs on my work being done first.

Wade

RL · Apr 3, 2003

Hmmm...I ordered a neck sheath for my Spyderco Ayoob on February 22 and it arrived here in Canada on March 11.

RL

Michael_Aos · Apr 3, 2003

Yeah, he does really GREAT work. My first sheath from him didn't take long. I don't remember how long it was, but it wasn't bad.

The second one was probably 6-7 months. Seemed like a REALLY LONG time.

Great sheaths though.

Mike

Keith Montgomery · Apr 3, 2003

I have read a lot about this in the GB&U forum. It seems that Mike gets way more orders than he can handle quickly and he does not seem to be the best communicator.

silver_pilate · Apr 3, 2003

Well, I sent the e-mail yesterday and received the reply this morning.

Seem's Mike's been wrangling with a number of problems with vehicles and such. He said that my sheath is on the way. Can't wait!

I'll let you guys know how it turns out...maybe post a pic.

Thanks, Mike.

--nathan

Commodorefirst · Apr 3, 2003

Boink · Apr 7, 2003

I have not heard from Mike by phone nor email, but I will say I noticed that package that arrived in the mail today from River City Sheaths!

The products came exactly as I expected it; everything was in order.

The last time I elaborated on a sheath from Mike, the knifemaker who provided the sheath that it replaced was rankled somewhat. Whatever good was said about Mike's work was viewed as detracting from the original sheath's workmanship. This was not the intention and things were patched up quickly.

Suffice to say, I will not say which knife this sheath is for. I will say that the original sheath that came with the knife was very nicely done and very serviceable. But where it excelled was at utilitarian carry, not quick-draw carry.

Mike's sheath presents the handle of the blade in a way that you can grasp it exceptionally fast and you know that you have all of it. You are not partially grabbing the sheath, preventing fast presentation. The sheath itself is abbreviated - in a "just the facts, 'mam" kind of way. It is smaller than the original sheath, and allows the handle stick out less, yet you can grab more of the handle and none of the sheath. Hard to describe. Easy to demonstrate.

I got some clips with it that allows the sheath to go in different positions until I pick the one that's right for me. And it's completely ambidextrous, due to the sheath and clip design.

Also, got some stingers with Mike's little Concealex Stinger sheaths for the ComTech Stingers. I though I had it good carrying a Stinger on my keyring. Now, the Stinger can be yanked free of the keys! And I can also carry a Stinger in a neck carry style with one of Mike's Stinger neck carry sheaths.

Damn! Mike's work is so good. All he needs is a business manager to field the calls and keep people informed about their orders. For a maker, it's stressful to have more orders than you can handle - but it's also stressful for buyers who are waiting for their stuff beyond the time that it was promised for.