Please help me understand

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I have difficulty understanding why many modern sheaths have squared edges instead of following the shape of the blade. To me is looks blockier, adds mass and dimension to the sheath, and I can see no positives to it. I personally prefer the more sleek Puuko style sheath, and would like more input from those that like This:

More than this:

Thanks for helping me in understanding another point of view.

 

[rayban]

As I understand it, it all started when Sponge Bob and his square pants became popular....his hero worship fan boys started wearing their knives in this style.....

 

[sheathmaker]

As I understand it, it all started when Sponge Bob and his square pants became popular....his hero worship fan boys started wearing their knives in this style.....

Rick that's as good as any explanation. I first noticed this style back in the 60's when Puma used this style for their bigger fixed blades. I don't see any particular advantage other than it gives a convenient area to put a thong hole, but the necessity of a thong on that end of the sheath is another whole topic.

Paul

 

[helmar4578]

The squared shape serves no purpose------------neither do the rivets!

 

[leatherman]

The rivets bother me more than the funky shape, but the sheath runs right with the Nessmuk craze, I just cant understand it.

 

[JackNate]

Maybe it's too expensive to have all the trimmings hauled away as garbage. So they just cut them square and every customer carries the excess away themselves.

 

[shockjockey24]

I like a square bottom on a smaller knife sheath...when its in my pocket, it stays upright, where the contoured bottoms always turn sideways. But for belt carry, i dont see the point (in not having the point)

 

[mkleathers]

I talked today with my friend who is making his frst sheath projects, and he told me for him its easier to make square sheath than to follow the shape of the knife.

Ive been asked to make bulky sheaths like that with rivets, ch. screws etc to make it more versatile. As a maker I prefer sheaths that follow the shape but sometimes you just have to give up

Mat.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I am not 100 percent sure why, but I like squared bottom sheaths.

I also like round bottomed sheaths. I Just don't know why.

For some unexplainable reason, I don't like really profile following sheaths too much.

I make my own leather sheaths, and on smaller knives, I often make a pocket sheath with a clip on the back so I can pocket carry, front right pocket. Some times I make pancake with a rounded bottom, some times taco style with square (one thing it does is gives a very wide heavy welt at the bottom, so it does not poke my delicate bits in the pocket!

For example the middle squared off sheath in this photo with the little tan handled Busse BAD is pretty squared off. All that extra space in the sheath is actually welted. The knife cannot wiggle in either direction. (all these were made by me, except the tan Kydex which is a BuyBrown sheath. )

The green handled knife in that photo actually has a squared blade with a sharpened front edge as well.

Here is the other side of that sheath.

Here is an earlier attempt at a squared off sheath for a Busse SS that I modded into a straight edge warncliff.

Back side

Round nosed sheath for a GW. Also a clip back for right front pocket carry. (this is I believe my 3rd attempt at a sheath)

I just don't know why they appeal to me.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

In terms of style - I don't think anyone can account for style. In any preference, not performance, but preference - there can be no value judgment. This would be lie asking a sheath maker what color sheath is 'right'.

I have made dozens of square bottomed sheaths. I did it, mostly, because that is what a 'Bushcraft' sheath was 'supposed' to look like. When I got into buying bushcraft knives - all of the sheaths that came with them, and were most popular were square bottomed.

One of the knives that started the craze of bushcraft style knives (4 inches, usually scandi ground, 4 inch handle with a lanyard tube at the end) was the Woodlore by Ray Mears and Alan Wood. He made contoured sheaths for some time and was asked to put a lanyard hole in the bottom so that it could double as a neck knife if needed. He added some welt to the bottom to accommodate this hole and had a more squared sheath as a result:

I think this style simply took off as a result of the bushcraft craze. People followed this style to its logical end and squared it off totally.

I have a few sheaths in this style in my collection but have never found a use for the lanyard tube and thus have abandoned carrying them on my personal knives. I still get quite a few requests for them though.

TF

 

[extremesurvival]

I noticed that after Ray Mears Woodlore knife took off this style of sheath started appearing everywhere.
Ray Mears uses the tie down holes to wear the sheath baldric (or Scandinavian) style across his body.

As far as rivets and eyelets go on leather sheaths, personally, I love them.
I had a couple old sheaths (A USMC Kabar and an old Aitor) where the only thing stoping the blade from skewering me were those rivets. On both of those sheaths the cotton thread had rotted away or was cut by the blade at some point leaving only the rivets holding the sheath together.

I can understand not wanting or needing them on a nice fancy sheath though, or a sheath with a propper welt.