Sheath for Cattaraugus 225Q?

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I'm having trouble finding a new sheath for an old Cattaraugus 225Q fixed blade knife. It's blade is 6" and the knife is 10.5" overall.

I have the original sheath but it's worn beyond use/repair. I've looked at the Ka-Bar sheaths but the standard length Ka-Bar sheaths (7" blade) are too long and the short Ka-Bars (5.5") are too short. I'd like something that fits right. Any recommendations?

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You'll notice the 225Q sheath is also set up for what appears to be left-handed carry. I've never found anyone who knows why. You might have to have a custom sheath made. Greg Gutcher who makes Randall's sheathes would be my first choice.

A story, and hopefully this thread will stay on track. I bought a 225Q off this or another forum. When it came, there was a name and service number written on the sheath in ink pen. Just for fun, I googled the name and came up with a member of the AVG, the Flying Tigers! I found their site and determined that this man was a mechanic for the P-47's in China. He later joined the Army Air Corps and was transferred to Britain where he was a mechanic on the B-17. Through the AVG organization, I found his son (the soldier was already gone) and determined that the knife had been in his father's posession while the son was a boy but through a series of financial setbacks, the soldier had sold some of his posessions, including the knife. I felt the knife belonged in the posession of his heirs so I sent it back to the son. He was very pleased.
 
get yourself some leather and basic leatherworking tools and try to re-create the sheath yourself. It'll be a fun and rewarding project.:thumbup:
 
They are a simple sheath, any leatherworker/saddler could make one. They do turn up on Ebay occasionally too. The sheath fits a number of other knives from WW2 .....too.
Phil
 
QUOTEYou'll notice the 225Q sheath is also set up for what appears to be left-handed carry. I've never found anyone who knows why.

I believe the knife sheaths are left-handed because they anticipated wear of a GI pistol holster on the right side.
 
fudo, quite possibly. However, the correlation of 225Q owners and pistols is pretty low. Being a retired Quartermaster Officer, and having commanded a Quartermaster unit, none of my 240 soldiers was authorized a pistol, except me. Granted this was not in the '40's but.... It makes me wonder why this knife is configured left handed while the "kabar" type was for righties, as were most other knives. Oh well, it's a puzzlement!
 
bruce said:
fudo, quite possibly. However, the correlation of 225Q owners and pistols is pretty low. Being a retired Quartermaster Officer, and having commanded a Quartermaster unit, none of my 240 soldiers was authorized a pistol, except me. Granted this was not in the '40's but.... It makes me wonder why this knife is configured left handed while the "kabar" type was for righties, as were most other knives. Oh well, it's a puzzlement!
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The Cattaraugus 225Q was not issued to quartermasters, that is a myth. Do a search on the forum for this knife, there have been threads about this in the past. It was apparently issued to many different combat units, in all branches of the service (except possibly Navy, although the marines used it). And once issued, it was, like many other items, frequently traded for things like cigarettes. This knife got around during the war.
 
Great story on 'your' 225Q Bruce!

My skills at leatherworking are pretty limited, although I may try it.

Lambertiana: I agree that the 225Q got around during the war and probably saw hard use in all theaters. The knife is as well built as any of the general issue knives of the war. From what I've read, there is quite a bit of debate about the Quartermaster designation.
 
The BRKT Teddy sheath may fit the 225Q. It also sports a six-inch blade. I don't know how wide the Teddy is compared to the 225Q, but it may be worth a look.
 
lambertiana, my point is that the density of pistols in the Army is and was low. The density of 225Q's was probably lower. The correlation of the two would be extremely low. Therefore, the posession of a pistol is not the reason for the left handed sheath.
 
Thanks kamagong. I'll look into the BRKT Teddy sheath. I did find that the Ontario P3 is pretty much the same design as the 225Q. Knifecenter has sheaths for the P3 for $17.
 
I read on another thread that the sheath was meant to be worn on the right side so when the knife was drawn it would be blade up. Which was supposed to be the recommended fighting grip back in the day. Seems fishy but might explain it. What it doesn't explain is why were the Ka-Bars and other sheaths designed the opposite way?

Maybe the left hand carry kept the knife out of the way of a rifle slinged over the right shoulder? I'm left handed but tend to cary my hunting knives on my right side so they don't keep bumping into the gun stock.
 
kamagong said:
The BRKT Teddy sheath may fit the 225Q. It also sports a six-inch blade. I don't know how wide the Teddy is compared to the 225Q, but it may be worth a look.
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I know this is a late and random contribution to the thread but. GOSHDARN!!! The teddy is nice, and that's coming from someone seriously in love with the quartermaster. Anyone have anything to say about the case xx 337q because I have looked for anything of a reviewing nature on it.If so I'd love to hear about it (I know it's not as good as cattaraugus but be honest.) .... Super new used to this site.
 
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