Providing sheath with your knives?

Brian Avila

Brian Avila

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
1,286
I have had the comment more than a handful of times come up in the past 6 months or so about sheaths and sheath options that I provide with my knives.

I don't provide sheath options. I make a leather sheath that goes with the knife: tooled, lined, hand stitched. It is fit to that specific knife, I don't care for kydex so I don't make kydex sheaths.

What are some of the thoughts that you guys have about providing sheaths with your knives?

Is it worth making a custom sheath for each knife that is in my opinion great, or do I need simple plain sheaths, no tooling, no lining?

I have thought of just offering sheath options, but that seems to make people not want to purchase anything or not think about a purchase because they would have to wait for a sheath.

I am not calling anyone out, just curious to see if I am thinking about this the wrong way.
-Brian-
 
It's tough and that's why you don't see holsters sold with pistols (except for the Springfield XD - and it's crap.) A lot of guys simply include a padded zipper-case with their knife. I'd say, if you like making sheaths, make a sheath. If, after the sale, the customer then wants to order a custom sheath with this-and-that feature, then that is a different business transaction and you can deal with that or pass it on to a professional sheath-maker. There are lot's of those here that I'm sure would love the business - then you can get back to making knives.
 
Do you think that providing a sheath is a selling point for most customers? I would think and have experienced that people don't really want to buy a knife that doesn't have a sheath for it. ( That could just be my work though ).
 
I think it best to make a sheath that fulfills your artistic vision of what the overall design elements are for that particular knife .
Of course left or right handed are the preference of the customer on a custom .
 
Hi Brian. Sure it is... but it isn't. Every customer is different. If he is left-handed and loves Paul Long sheaths, a right-handed Avila sheath is going to get tossed in the trash. Do what you love doing. Making sheaths, to me are relaxing, but take away from what I'm really getting paid for. Communicate with your customers and you'll have to balance your time and business choices.
 
Michael Rader said:
Hi Brian. Sure it is... but it isn't. Every customer is different. If he is left-handed and loves Paul Long sheaths, a right-handed Avila sheath is going to get tossed in the trash. Do what you love doing. Making sheaths, to me are relaxing, but take away from what I'm really getting paid for. Communicate with your customers and you'll have to balance your time and business choices.
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Gah!!!! :eek: Tossed in the TRASH!!!!! NO!!!! you just make me cringe. I understand though.


I just figured I should start asking around and see what others thoughts are.
This is helpful. I make knives and sheaths that I like and that I would want to keep as my own. Maybe that isn't the way I should be thinking anymore... but that might take the fun out of it. I will have to think some more and see what else is said.
 
The customers I've had all expected a sheath with their knife. I don't do fancy, just solid, dependable, well made, and simple. They are made around the knife and also to the customers specs ( like belt loop/clip, mode of carry, angle, etc.) I also do leather or kydex. Kydex is super easy to work with a minimum of tools, and takes only a few minutes to finish. Are they as pretty as tooled leather? Of course not, but some customers want kydex based on their carry needs. That is truly the only reason I give the option. Nice leather sheaths are expensive, nice kydex sheaths aren't. Each has its pros/con's, but in the end the customer (IMHO) seems to want to get a knife and be able to use it and carry it. I know I would not want to order both separately, unless I was looking for some crazy custom blinged out sheath.
 
I am not a knife maker, but I am a consumer and user. I love custom knives especially fixed blades. But I typically won't buy a knife if it doesn't come with a sheath, reason being I purchased a custom fixed recently that did not come with a sheath. After receiving the knife I then had to ship it to a leather worker to make a sheath for it. Start to finish the whole thing took a month, plus all the risk of shipping the knife three times. To much of a hassle.
 
SixStringSamurai said:
The customers I've had all expected a sheath with their knife. I don't do fancy, just solid, dependable, well made, and simple. They are made around the knife and also to the customers specs ( like belt loop/clip, mode of carry, angle, etc.) I also do leather or kydex. Kydex is super easy to work with a minimum of tools, and takes only a few minutes to finish. Are they as pretty as tooled leather? Of course not, but some customers want kydex based on their carry needs. That is truly the only reason I give the option. Nice leather sheaths are expensive, nice kydex sheaths aren't. Each has its pros/con's, but in the end the customer (IMHO) seems to want to get a knife and be able to use it and carry it. I know I would not want to order both separately, unless I was looking for some crazy custom blinged out sheath.
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Good points.

My thoughts were why not have a great looking sheath and a great knife from the same maker? Maybe my leather work and my knife making skills don't match up.
 
spydiesteve said:
I am not a knife maker, but I am a consumer and user. I love custom knives especially fixed blades. But I typically won't buy a knife if it doesn't come with a sheath, reason being I purchased a custom fixed recently that did not come with a sheath. After receiving the knife I then had to ship it to a leather worker to make a sheath for it. Start to finish the whole thing took a month, plus all the risk of shipping the knife three times. To much of a hassle.
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I understand that all to well.
 
TheWeatherman said:
Good points.

My thoughts were why not have a great looking sheath and a great knife from the same maker? Maybe my leather work and my knife making skills don't match up.
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The only reason i wouldnt always do both is that sometimes the customer is asking for a Cadillac, and sometimes they want a Honda. Not every sheath should necessarily have tooling or inlay, as some of them may want a plane Jane sheath that they know can be easily fixed. Or they know its going to get scuffed/ dinged/ bloody and would rather not "ruin" its appearance. The fact that a sheath that is not peacocked takes less time to make should also reflect a lower price to the end user. Some of them like that. Some have requested kydex simply because they knew that a leather sheath would be destroyed where they intend to carry it. Others requested them simply because it only adds $25 or so to the cost of the knife, and don't care what its made out of. Know what I mean?


TheWeatherman said:
Good points.

My thoughts were why not have a great looking sheath and a great knife from the same maker? Maybe my leather work and my knife making skills don't match up.
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SixStringSamurai said:
The only reason i wouldnt always do both is that sometimes the customer is asking for a Cadillac, and sometimes they want a Honda. Not every sheath should necessarily have tooling or inlay, as some of them may want a plane Jane sheath that they know can be easily fixed. Or they know its going to get scuffed/ dinged/ bloody and would rather not "ruin" its appearance. The fact that a sheath that is not peacocked takes less time to make should also reflect a lower price to the end user. Some of them like that. Some have requested kydex simply because they knew that a leather sheath would be destroyed where they intend to carry it. Others requested them simply because it only adds $25 or so to the cost of the knife, and don't care what its made out of. Know what I mean?
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I understand, I have been accused of liking "pretty things". I believe that my work reflects that. Maybe I need to change a little.

What are the thoughts about offering a knife up for sale and stating that a sheath can be made to a customers specifications? Tooling, no tooling, lining, no lining, belt loop style etc...
 
What I try to do is match the sheath to the blade, pretty blade, pretty sheath, field grade blade, field grade sheath. I have heard lots of people say the expect a sheath with there knife.

By the way, you make beautiful sheaths AND knives. They complimen each other well.
 
Shawn Hatcher said:
Cody is spot on, Brian. I tried to clarify this in my last email. I can only hope to have your skills with leather one day. :thumbup:
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I got you Shawn, thanks,

Cody - Thank you as well.

I am just working though some ideas and figuring stuff out. Had to post and see what others thought.
 
Yes, and they expect to get it for free no matter how nice it might be. ;)
TheWeatherman said:
Do you think that providing a sheath is a selling point for most customers? I would think and have experienced that people don't really want to buy a knife that doesn't have a sheath for it. ( That could just be my work though ).
Click to expand...
 
TheWeatherman said:
What are the thoughts about offering a knife up for sale and stating that a sheath can be made to a customers specifications? Tooling, no tooling, lining, no lining, belt loop style etc...
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That what I prefer to do if I make a blade that hasn't been "ordered" first.

Edit: haven't seen your work, mine is merely amateur at best though. I'm still just a "part timer"
 
Speaking as a purchaser (of knives I intend to use), not having a sheath with it (obviously at a higher cost), is a huge drawback. I want to be able to take my new knife and go use it. Not wait for it to arrive, then send it to a sheathmaker (or make my own) before I can use it. The cost is not as big a factor as the time.

With that said, I don't think I would need options - whatever the maker wished to provide with it would be at least usable in the short term. If I have a specific need beyond that, then I would engage a maker.

I say this as I realize I still have two knives (I was very excited about) I bought nearly a year ago, I have not used because I have not procured leather for them.
 
I prefer to get sheaths with my knives, though I've bought some without. I think others have really nailed the answer with: make the sheath you want, if the customer wants something else they can ask.
 
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