Random thoughts on sheaths.....

Paul is not only a great person to talk to but truly a master of his art!! Here are a couple of sheaths Paul has made for me.........

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Keith Montgomery said:
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.
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I think with certain makers, you are buying his talent as a knifemaker and covering because his/her sheaths are done so well. But, as Keith mentions, that category of makers is limited.

And, as in working with a knifemaker on that special order you have had placed with him, occasionally you have that certain knife you want to individualize a sheath to go with it.

That was the case when I purchased Adam DesRosiers' JS-test ivory fighter at my first Blade Show in 2006. Adam recommended Justin Reicherts for the job of a special sheath. I sent a walrus ivory net weight I wanted him to incorporate with the sheath (if possible), I had him highlight the ivory theme on the front with the walrus, inscribe 'The Chilikadrotna Fighter' on the back, named after a wilderness trip with friends on the Chilikadrotna River in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, and I have a special package:

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I recently posted my experience with Paul Long and a recent sheath with a piece of walrus ivory involved, and I can do nothing but highly recommend Paul for his talent and complete service.

Good Thread, Steven! :thumbup:

- Joe
 
I always offer a sheath with my knives, and struggle with making them.

Every now and then, I get Paul or Sandy Morrissey to make them for me.

Here are two examples that Paul did for me earlier this year.

Robert

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Sandy is my hero. Here's one he did for me few years ago. He has one in the works for me right now also.
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Good thread!

Several makers who excell at knifemaking and sheathmaking have been mentioned. Two I'd like to add who make sheaths as good as their knives: Burt Foster and Fred Ott. Both of those guys make outstanding total packages!

That being said, I've a question for y'all, and in particular, for STeven:
In light of STeven's penchant for the Japanese style cutlery, and the culture whereby they are crafted by several artisans (some make the blade, some the habaki, some the sheath, etc.), do y'all think any less of a maker because he doesn't offer a sheath with their blade?

Some makers just don't want to deal with the leather work, so I have ended up with several blades in a good ol' Bills case. Personally, I don't see this as a real big problem as there are lots of good sheath makers out there, and many working with a variety of materials, as has been cited - wood, leather, thermo plastics and carbon fiber, etc. In fact, I see this as really widening up the artisan base for knife collecting as a whole!

Anyway, with regards to sheaths themselves, no matter what material they are made of, I have one personal pet peeve, especially regarding the pics posted above as examples.... I hate the keeper strap that swings to the edge side of the knife!!! :mad: If I get one, I usually cut it off... Depending on the guard style, I prefer mine to cross to the spine side. And one of the best I have, is on a Fisk: the keeper strap is actually capable of swiveling to either side, and for me, it works best on the spine side. I also like the work by Rowe that uses his pin-lock.

Now, the only way I would actively persue an edge-side strap would be if it was a two part style: a snap releases both sides and the long strap is stiff enough to spring out of the way during the draw (if that makes any sense? Sort of like the keeper straps'n'snaps on a gun holster?)

Well, just my .02's worth... :D

Y'all have a wonderful time during the Holidaze!!!! :cool:
 
joeshredd said:
Several makers who excell at knifemaking and sheathmaking have been mentioned. Two I'd like to add who make sheaths as good as their knives: Burt Foster and Fred Ott. Both of those guys make outstanding total packages!

That being said, I've a question for y'all, and in particular, for STeven:
In light of STeven's penchant for the Japanese style cutlery, and the culture whereby they are crafted by several artisans (some make the blade, some the habaki, some the sheath, etc.), do y'all think any less of a maker because he doesn't offer a sheath with their blade?
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I don't think less of the maker if they don't offer a sheath....generally....because I have put in the time to have a relationship with Kenny Rowe...he knows exactly what I want, when I give some basic specs, and has only had to re-work 1 sheath of about 35......BUT....we are talking about $50.00+ in sheathwork for each one, not including shipping. I want this amount deducted from the price of the knife, and communicate as such, and why, and generally come to an arrangement.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I don't think less of the maker if they don't offer a sheath....generally....because I have put in the time to have a relationship with Kenny Rowe...he knows exactly what I want, when I give some basic specs, and has only had to re-work 1 sheath of about 35......BUT....we are talking about $50.00+ in sheathwork for each one, not including shipping. I want this amount deducted from the price of the knife, and communicate as such, and why, and generally come to an arrangement.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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That is how it should be done as far as I am concerned. I knocked the prices of two bowies that I sold on BB down because they didn't have sheaths. The guy who bought the first one had a very nice Mexican loop style sheath made in the UK and let me tell you, it makes my pitiful little knife look pretty good as you can see on my website.:D Much better for what little reputation I am building that me trying to crank out a lame excuse for a sheath...lol
 
Good thread . I agree about all fixed blades having sheaths and I definately prefer leather to all others. Only time I like Kydex is on a hunting knife for extended time in the field and only because sometimes after dressing game I can not get to water to wash the blade and I have contaminated many a fine sheath in doing so. If there is a stream or I have a water bottle no problem but alot of the times it is to cold and I can't get the blade clean enough because of talow or fat getting hard cause the cold water. Kydex there is no problem just wipe blade off as best as you can and wash out sheath later.. But I definately prefer leather and as of late have started to carry those little wet wipes that you get at crab houses to wipe off blade so I can carry leather instead. Works great. Merry Christmas By the way does anyone have Paul Longs contact info


jp
 
I have used both Paul and Kenny. Paul smokes Kenny when it comes to customer service and in delivery. Last time I placed an order with Kenny it took 6 weeks longer then promised and came in the wrong leather. I asked for snake and got elephant. When I asked him why all he saidis ,"that's the way it works sometimes". Sorry not to me it doesn't! Paul has all my business now!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
You "asked for snake and got elephant" ... and you are complaining?? Really...humm. Seems like a trade up, if you got it for the same price. Did it look bad?
 
ckerwin said:
I have used both Paul and Kenny. Paul smokes Kenny when it comes to customer service and in delivery. Last time I placed an order with Kenny it took 6 weeks longer then promised and came in the wrong leather. I asked for snake and got elephant. When I asked him why all he saidis ,"that's the way it works sometimes". Sorry not to me it doesn't! Paul has all my business now!:thumbup::thumbup:
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This post belongs elsewhere :thumbdn:

Stephen
 
One of the nicest "sheath & blade" combos I have seen is STevens Rapp & Rowe rig .... shows the benefit of getting the best out of each specialist.

Stephen
 
Some great looking sheaths in this thread. I hadn't heard of Paul Long before. He obviously does great work.

Peter
 
Stephen F said:
One of the nicest "sheath & blade" combos I have seen is STevens Rapp & Rowe rig .... shows the benefit of getting the best out of each specialist.

Stephen
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Thanks, Stephen.:) I do think that it is great work out of both Steven Rapp and Rowe Leather, really exceptional. I write Kenny a letter with details for each sheath requested(material, style, and colors, mostly), giving him the freedom to do a work of art on the sheath....it has worked out very, very well.

ckerwin said:
I have used both Paul and Kenny. Paul smokes Kenny when it comes to customer service and in delivery. Last time I placed an order with Kenny it took 6 weeks longer then promised and came in the wrong leather. I asked for snake and got elephant. When I asked him why all he saidis ,"that's the way it works sometimes". Sorry not to me it doesn't! Paul has all my business now!:thumbup::thumbup:
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I think that this is part of the request for opinions I asked for. It doesn't have to be a Rowe Lovefest......BUT.....I can't see Kenny making arbitrary material decisions without checking with me first....YMMV....I DID have another sheathmaker create a black sheath when I requested brown, and he went almost 8 weeks over promised delivery date...HE does not get my business anymore.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
All things considered, IMO Paul's the best.

His quality is the best of who I consider to be the top three (all around) sheathmakers.

His prices are less than one and equal to the other.

No one turns around an order even close to as fast. He made the two sheaths below including a prototype (which he didn't charge me for) in less than a week.

He is incredibly easy to work with no matter if using your or his design.

His fit, even when making from a template is outstanding. Nothing worst than a fit so tight that you bust a gut to pull the knife out.

I definitely like getting a sheath along with the knife, as long the knifemaker is also a sheathmaker such as Joe Keeslar,Tim Hancock, Larry Fuegen, Winkler/Shook, Burt Foster, Jay Hendrickson, Russ Andrews, Chuck Burrows to name a few. Otherwise, deduct the money and I will get one made.

FWIW, even though elephant hide is very durable, I don't like the look or feel of it.

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this thread coincides with two thoughts I've had lately about sheaths.

1. A knife maker must be able to make a quality sheath for his knives, a poorly made sheath has a negative impact the wy i see his knives. if he's doing poor sheath work, cutting corners on execution, i make generalizations about overall skill.

2. a sheath must have appropriate stitching, for a user it must be built to withstand wear, the thin stitching some high end knives show are immediate clues if the maker intended them for use.
David
 
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