Jeez...if ya want a Kydex sheath for a Perkins knife just make one for it yourself! It's easy, especially on a knife that size! Hell...I'm on vacation right now...any of you guys that want a Kydex sheath for their Perkins knives contact me. I'd be willing to do them for you. I have some Kydex in gray and I also have black. I'd be willing to do sheaths for a pretty small fee, or I will do them next to nothing if you provide materials. I'll tell you right now, though, that I don't use eyelets. I exclusively use Chicago screws unless someone else provides the tools and materials for eyelets. Anyway, it costs me 60 cents per screw (right now I have a few brass and a few aluminum) and I also have a little paracord.
Lemme know if any of you guys are interested. I would be willing to discuss carry options, but I am really only willing to do this while I am on vacation, which means for about the next four weeks or so. This could be fun, and I will guarantee you'll be happy with the results, or I will keep sending you sheaths until one DOES make ya happy! ;-) One catch that serves for all Kydex places is that you have to send the knife for the material to be form fitted. Just for anyone interested, as a rough estimate of time and money, ehere it is:
Time: upon receipt of the knife and designing the sheath, I would guess that I could have the thing done and back in the mail the next day if I am properly motivated. I would just as soon send the knives and sheaths insured via USPS Priority Mail for the quickest turnaround possible at an affordable price. The regular cost is $3.20, but it is a couple bucks extra for insurance. Let's guesstimate $5 for return postage, okay?
Add to that the cost of the materials, which would vary from knife to knife. I could probably do them with as few as two Chicago screws, for a total of $1.20 and whatever a few square inches of Kydex runs these days to as much as a few bucks in hardware and Kydex, depending on the carry options. Add finishing time and labor, and I would say it would be fair to get around $15 give or take a few bucks for each sheath, plus the $5 extra for shipping. Let's say I won't charge anyone more than $20 altogether, sound good? I think this could be fun, actually!
I just made a sheath for my fixed version of Bob Lum's Chinese Folder (blade made by MadPoet) that I did as a kit, and the sheath turned out GREAT. The design is based around a vertical carry leather pouch type design (i.e. your typical hunting knife sheath) with a large belt loop for vertical carry. The belt loop can be turned for horizontal carry (i.e. running along the length of the belt), and I made a second interchangeable small loop that is attached to a metal clasp to make it into a swinger sheath ala Madpoet. Sheath carry can be changed with a flathead screwdriver in seconds. Plus the sheath can be opened and cleaned because it is held together by screws instead of rivets.
I figure it could be pretty easy to rig up something that would work for horizontal, vertical, neck, and pocket carry, although this many options requires a lot of planning, a surprising amount of material, andmore finish work that you would think. I would guess this type of sheath would run the upper end of my estimate, but it's still a good price, and will probably turn out lower than the estimate anyway.
In any case, if any of you guys are interested in trying this route out, then let me know. I am at home for the whole vacation and need something to do while I care for my poor little sick puppy, so I would be interested and excited to work with people in this capacity. While I can't guarantee how this will turn out as I haven't done a sheath for a Perkins knife yet, I WILL guarantee that I will reimburse your money in full if you aren't happy with my sheath, or I will keep making them until you ARE happy with one. Sound good? Oh...I also promise to return the knife with the sheath! ;-)
Anyway, please email me if any of you guys are interested. My guess is average price will fall between $10-$15 with the postage included. That swinger sheath requires some extra hardware at a few bucks, but like I said, no sheath will cost more than $20 with shipping included.
One other thing, the brass Chicago screws will be in the brass color. Youc an choose to blacken them with gun bluing agent, but I prefer brass in its original color, so this is how they will be sent. Also, the aluminum screws are aluminum color, but they could be anodized or painted easily. I will ship them in their natural state, as with the brass. The Kydex I have in thick and high quality. The gray is really nice, and I used it on my Chinese utility and it is really sharp. The black is...well...black! I hope someone bites on this, as I think it would be fun! Ah hell...let's say the first person who wants one will get it for free, and can post his impressions as soon as he gets the knife back just so you have an impartial party to recommend for or against my propsed service. Sound fair? Talk to ya soon!
Steve Agocs
