Randall Sheath stitching

[John A. Larsen]

I was at a friend's house recently and he asked me about why this Randall sheath had stitching horizontally across at the mouth of the sheath. He felt that it could easily be caught and eventually cut when re-sheathing your knife. I checked my two sheaths, the original Randall 14 sheath i got when i bought my 14 in 1970, and the beeswaxed one I got in 1985, and neither of them have the stitching. Does anyone know why Randall found it necessary to put the horizontal stitching on the sheaths? John

 

[willis]

My model 3 and model 8 both have it.The model 8's stitching is cut and frayed badly,the 3's upswept tip is not as hard on the stitching.I almost posted exactly what you have after reading the thread about the covered noncovered issue on the sheaths belt loop stitching.Back to the exposed stitching it is a design flaw and lack of attention to detail.The sheaths are made knowing that the majority of them will never be used and a lot of them will never have the knife inserted so they are made as cheaply as possible.The edges of keeper straps are not even burnished anymore.When I read folks praising the high quality of the sheaths it reminds me of two Gary Larson cows in a field discussing the relative merits of an Audi over a Volvo.

 

[willis]

 

[willis]

The model 3 sheath throat stitching is also exposed but the trailing point blades tip doesn't tend to catch the stitching as bad as the 8's straight profile.

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

John,

Each of the various sheath makers for RMK have/had their own styles...

Left to right - Maurice Johnson, early 1960's to mid 1980's; Johnny Johnson, mid 1980's to very early 1990's; Greg Gutcher, Sr., very late 1986 to current.

Hope that helps,

Shel

 

[John A. Larsen]

Thanks for the photos. Both of my sheaths are marked on the front of the sheath, top part, where the handle rests against the sheath. One from 1970, one from 1985, neither with the stitching. Must be something to do with the Model the sheath was for. Thanks. John