Random thoughts on sheaths.....

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
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Got some new sheaths from Paul Long today, and must say, they are quite tasty. Not bargain priced, but workmanship at the top of the heap....which leads me to random thoughts on sheaths.

1. "A fixed blade without a sheath is a letter opener".....along with "Garssonizing", and "Piece, Maker, Price"...I hope this tag line is attributed to me, past my living years. Even if the knife comes with a Bill's pigsuede case, and is a Warenski/Cronk style...it still needs a sheath...even if you NEVER put the knife in it. Others may disagree, and they may be right....but ALL my fixed blade knives have sheaths.

2. I like leather sheaths.....Kydex is a decent material FOR A KNIFE THAT GETS USED.....I'm not really crazy about it for collectible knives. I know Tim Wegner of Blade Tech, from WAY back...and we are friends, but I just don't like Kydex otherwise. I have seen too many knives get rub marks from the material, and have not with leather.

3. While I like leather, I LOVE wooden scabbards, or tip and throat, or velvet lined metal sheaths. The Japanese approach is my favorite of all time. The sheath is uniformly rigid, but the wood is soft enough to keep from scratching the finish if handled properly. The scabbard(saya) is formed to the habaki(blade collar), which keeps the blade from contacting anything but air anywere but a small portion of the spine and tip. This means minimal rust potential...which is the best answer for carbon steel. Would REALLY like to find someone with the skills to form the core, and wrap it in carbon fiber...If any of you know someone to do this, please PM or let me know, otherwise.

4. A good sheathmaker is worth the cost.......time I am not so sure about...ie...I don't want to have to wait very long past a quoted time. While I personally NEED a sheath, which maker it comes from is not so crucial. I have worked with Bob Schrapp, Chris Kravitt, Kenny Rowe, and now, Paul Long. All do superlative work. Kenny delivers on time, and comes in perfect every time, so I will continue to work with him for many projects....that said, if is is a VERY special piece, I will ask Paul to build the sheath for it. His work is unsurpassed.....and he is exceedingly responsive.

Opinions and responses welcome.
 
Congratulations on the new sheaths. If you have any pictures of them please share them. I am not very familiar with much of Mr. Long's work but am always interested in seeing recent work from any sheathmaker. I completely understand piont number 3. I was thinking about something like carbon fiber as well but have not spent much time searching. If you ever hear of anything please let me know. Oh, and you have me pegged at using kydex primarily for my users. Some leather sheaths cream to be used and others only to be admired IMHO.
 
Love the Leather
And I appreciate it tremendously when a Maker provides the appropriate dressing for their work.
 
I agree with you Steve. I personally think that offering my customers a knife without a sheath (folders aside) is kinda like buying a car without wheels/tires...its just not a complete package. Where I go off the deep end is when makers offer cheesy sheaths with exceptional knives. I understand that there are many makers who simply either cannot, or will not make sheaths, and for those, the leather workers you mentioned are an alternative. I personally hate sheath making, but my hang-up on sole-authorship drove me to it. As for the kydex......well, there was a time I swore I would never use the stuff, but customer demand made me change my mind (and besides, making those tiny leather sheaths for EBKs was a real pain:))

I'm very interested to hear others' opinions on this matter, especially those of the collectors.
 
RAN said:
Love the Leather
And I appreciate it tremendously when a Maker provides the appropriate dressing for their work.
Click to expand...


Hey, I do too, Riad....but it is not always an option. Don Fogg doesn't do leatherwork equal of his blade skills. Al Pendray does not make sheaths, Steven Rapp does not do leatherwork, Michael Burch does not do much leatherwork....heck...some fixed blade makers don't do sheathwork OR know a good leatherworker.

At least 65% of my fixed blades came with a sheath...some needed to be replaced.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Some makers just aren't as talented with leather as they are with steel. In those cases I will send my knife to a leather craftsman to get properly fitted out. A great knife should have a great sheath.
 
A great knife deserves a great sheath - even if the twain shall never meet. ;)

Here is a complete list of sheathmakers I trust and use:

1. Paul Long
 
Paul Long's sheaths are certainly a wonderful compliment to ANY decent knife out there. He does incredible work.

I made a few kydex sheaths in the past, however, I just couldn't warm up to the process of making them. I own a few kydex sheaths (made by others), they work very well in their given applications, but it just didn't have a place in my leather shop I thought (stuck in the past). :)
 
my thought is " Plastic is for buying knives , not sheathing them "....

however as has been said , for a user , kydex has its place. And there are some talented Kydex guys who can make a sheath that won't mar the blade up to badly , again on a user it doesnt bother me.... I still prefer leather.

great thread !
 
Kohai999 said:
Kenny delivers on time, and comes in perfect every time, so I will continue to work with him for many projects....that said, if is is a VERY special piece, I will ask Paul to build the sheath for it. His work is unsurpassed.....and he is exceedingly responsive.

Opinions and responses welcome.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. How's this for turnaround time. I ship a knife on Thursday, Paul receives is Monday and calls me Monday night to work out the details. I have the sheath in my hand on Friday. Very impressed with his craftsmanship. I wouldn't hesitate to use either Paul or Kenny, but Paul's sheaths are a bit classier, but you'll also pay a bit more...but worth it. However, Kenny Rowe still makes a quality sheath.
Bob
 
I agree with all your points - save that I have no personal experience with Paul Long. I do have one or two pieces that need a sheath, so that will likely change. ;)

Getting a first rate sheath from the maker in the first place is a real bonus, IMHO. I know not all makers have the ability or the inclination, but I sure do like it when the package arrives from one place, all crafted by one artisan. When you are getting, say, an Ed Caffrey, Burt Foster or Rodrigo Sfreddo (to name a few, not all) you sure are getting significant value added with their sheath work.

Roger
 
You've got my vote as well.
My opinion is not that much different than Ed Caffery's. I figured if I could make a knife, I could learn to make a sheath. And, it had better do its job!
In the Loveless book/video, he states, "A knife that is loose in its sheath, is a dull knife!" (It's floppin' around in there - right?)
So, I make all of my sheaths so the knife FITS!
A maker can make a sheath, but at least make one that does its job.
 
A knife that will never be used absolutely must have a sheath that it will never be carried in. Hmmm...

I have never understood why top of the line customs would have a sheath. It seems superfluous (if not outright silly). But I guess there is no reason not to have one. If the customer wanted to pay for it, if I were a maker I'd certainly make one for them.
 
Would REALLY like to find someone with the skills to form the core, and wrap it in carbon fiber...If any of you know someone to do this, please PM or let me know, otherwise.
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Steven,
RJ Martin has been doing this for a long time. His Japanese styles used to come with a mahagony core, carbon fiber wrapped, internal magnet sheath. VERY slick.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
Steven,
RJ Martin has been doing this for a long time. His Japanese styles used to come with a mahagony core, carbon fiber wrapped, internal magnet sheath. VERY slick.
Click to expand...

I have one of those, Anthony.

Yes, R.J. has the basic skills. I cannot think that there is any way on the planet that R.J. will take the time to learn to make a habaki, make the habaki, fit the sheath core to it, and finish it in a Japanese style(no Turks head knot for starters) when he can go fishing.:D

I almost put in a "R.J. Martin COULD do it, but probably(likely) won't" disclaimer....I should have.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
For someone who claims to hate making sheaths, Ed Caffrey could make a half decent living at it:D I have been using Chris Kravitt's "ready to wear" pouch sheaths for my hunters and have been very pleased, as have the 3 guys who bought my hunters. I have also used a couple of Sullivan standard Randall sized sheaths and they give a very good bang for the buck. I am hoping to have Paul Long make a couple for some of my large show knives ( I figure they should wear a tux for the show...lol)and will also be buying some from Kenny Rowe in the future. I really want to build a hard use fighter and put it in one of Kenny's 4 postion Pinlock sheaths at some point.
As for Kydex. I have owned two. The little one that came with my Caffrey EBK works quite well, but, as Steven can attest to, the other one was not so great.
 
I absolutely agree that a knife should have a sheath, I do have a couple here that are in need and may try Paul Long. I would rather a maker not sheath a knife than send me something that is not on a par with his knife.

Win
 
RogerP said:
".... I have no personal experience with Paul Long. I do have one or two pieces that need a sheath, so that will likely change. ;)
Click to expand...

Roger, if you'd like to handle a couple of sheaths in person before placing an order with Paul, let me know.
 
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