Sheath for a wheelchair, Updated!!

P. McKinley

P. McKinley

Joined
Jan 27, 2008
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I am building a knife for a gentleman who is wheelchair bound and would like his knife/sheath affixed to his motorized wheelchair. I would like to go a step further and incorporate a small integral leather pouch(wallet, glasses, inhaler, etc) into an inconspicuous design that looks like it "belongs" there. Surely it should be sturdy and easily accessible/ergonomic from his position, but "inconspicuous" is the key. As well, I am somewhat bound by the available attachment points on the chair.

Anyone here done this before?
I'd appreciate any idea.

-Peter

 
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Never done this before, but I love projects like these! What about making the "murse" part hang in front of the adjustable part of the arm rest, so the glasses, etc will be on the outside, and the sheath part attached to the back of the murse? That way its discreet, the blade is accessible but not ' in yer face' and you have a pouch that looks like it belongs.
 
Six String has a very good solution. I was thinking saddle bag style over the arm with goodies outside and knife inside, but I like his idea best.

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
Six String has a very good solution. I was thinking saddle bag style over the arm with goodies outside and knife inside, but I like his idea best.

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks! My first thought was saddle bag style too. For some reason my eye kept going to the height adjustment slots, and I figured that you couldnt ask for a better attachment point.
 
Six.... Thank you! That's pretty damn close to what I had in mind. I think it also may also need a cleverly designed flap covering the pommel from view, but easily disengaged allowing quick access. And, possibly a Mexican loopesque design offing the possibility of removing the "sheath" from its attachment under the arm rest before drawing the knife.

The knife will be a 4.5" bladed hunter/bushcrafter similar to this one but with bolsters and bird'seye. I just forged and rough-shaped the blade the other day.



-Peter
 
This was/is a vary challenging project for a wheelchair bound friend with MS who wanted something useful in Bird's eye Maple. I wanted to make him a sheath that, when attached to the chair, would be inconspicuous, only he could access, and that could be removable.

The Maple initial tag is backed with leather and has two nylon webbing loops and two snaps imbedded and stitched together. That piece slips tightly over the round tube supporting the arm pad. It is then connected together with the two snaps stitched into the sheath case. The leather flap at the tip-end fits snugly over the slotted bar. The flap to access the knife faces the inside.

These are some less-than-perfect shots with my phone while may camera battery charger is 4 hours away at our farm. :grumpy: I'll be taking some shots of it attached to the chair in a few days, hopefully by then with a fully charged camera.

Please give me your thoughts.

-Peter

Blade: 5" x 1/8" clay quenched 1095 with an 800 grit hand sanded finish then etched and polished to show a prominent hamon.

Handle: Air-dried Bird's eye Red Maple from our farm in Pictou County N.S. with Rosewood bolsters and liners, stainless steel pins and a buffed Tung oil finish.

Sheath: 6/7 oz veg tanned leather with a wood burned Bird's eye Maple tag custom fitted to a wheelchair.















 
That is 10 shades of cool, amazing work! Can't wait to see it mounted on the chair!
 
I'm struggling a little with figuring out how it mounts, but I have little doubt that it is a solid design. Nice clean work. I too look forward to seeing it on the chair if that's possible.

Knives are gorgeous too. 1095, yup. Hamon, yes please. BEM (one of my very favorite woods) and bolsters? Yer a good friend. :)
 
Dang post ate again. Strig pretty much said it. I'd like to see pics on the chair too. Nice work.
 
Nice job buddy! Excellent blade and stellar job on the sheath! Make sure to post some shots of it on the chair! Well done!
 
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