Sheath Question

[David Loukides]

Hi Guys,
I am nearing the finish of a Bowie. It has a 11 1/2" long blade and is 17" over all length. It's going to be a surprise gift to a good friend with a small collection. I am stumped on what type of sheath to make. I have never made a knife this BIG. Where do you put the belt loop? or better yet does anybody
have any good pics they can show me?

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I don't pretend to be a fancy sheath maker, because, well, I'm not!
But, I like to make heavy leather sheaths to last as long as the knife.
This Bowie had a 10 inch blade.
I also make sure to bring the keeper from the front so as not to snag on items as you walk forward. When keepers come from the rear and loop over the back end of the guard, they catch on grass, weeds, etc.
Also, I make an extra item to attach the snap to so as to not scratch the knife inside the sheath.
The second one is on a smaller knife, but might give a person some ideas for a larger sheath.
I figure few Bowies are actually worn. But remember, they are already long! So, this higher you take the belt loop, the lower they will hang!

www.andersenforge.com
http://www.kbaknives.com/knifeconstruction.html

 

[David Loukides]

Thank you Karl,
Does the gaurd interfere with the belt loop or is the belt loop have an offset formed in it?
With your permission may I use your design?
Many Thanks,
Dave Loukides

 

[Longstrider]

Dave, With bigger knives I like to put what I call a "fillet" in behind the welt to give more room for the width of the handle/guard. With some big bowies the fillet may have to 2 or more layers of leather thick to give adequate clearance.
Heres a photo in which the middle sheath is for a 10" blade bowie with a wide guard...


This shot of a different sheath shows what a difference it makes to the throat of the sheath when you add a fillet...


... and this last shot shows a way I found of making the keeper strap not interfere with the knife at all on the draw or when putting it away. You can see that it's done by making the keeper strap out of the folded over end of the belt loop.It also keeps the whole sheath "skin side out"


Hope these ideas are of some use to you.

Longstrider.