Sheaths.... Are they Important?? What is your postion in regards to Custom Knives??

Snody

Snody

Maker of Fine Knives & Leather Goods
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Thanks for opening my thread
What is your position?
Is the sheath important?? Is it important to get a sheath when you purchase the knife?
Do you send your knives out for custom sheaths?? Thanks..
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Yes getting a sheath is important. Nothing like waiting 6 months to a year for a custom knife only to turn around and send it to a sheath maker before you could actually start using it. Think of all the knife finger F'ing time you lose!:eek:
 
not important to me. its great when you get a sheath, but its not a must, especially from a custom knife maker.
 
It's very important to me.
I've passed up on custom knives that I liked because I didn't like the sheath.
I think the knife and sheath is a "Total Package".
Doc
 
jacksterp said:
I simply won't buy a fixed blade knife without a sheath - custom or otherwise.
Click to expand...

Wow!!!
Survey Says: Three out of Four Bladeforums Members Prefer Sheaths when they Purchase Fixed Blade Knives.
Thanks for the posts guys...
You cant pay for this kind of information. You cant buy this kind of information..
Your post reflects what I have consistently witnessed over the past fifteen as a Custom Knifemaker..
Much Respect..
 
With independant sheath makers doing such an awesome job(Paul Long, Kenny Rowe etc.) it's not a dealbreaker if a fixed blade is offered without a sheath. However I prefer it if the entire package is sole authorship from the maker.
 
Kougera said:
With independant sheath makers doing such an awesome job(Paul Long, Kenny Rowe etc.) it's not a dealbreaker if a fixed blade is offered without a sheath. However I prefer it if the entire package is sole authorship from the maker.
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Thats a Great Point.

I have spent money with both of those gentlemen in the past and their work was/is truly superlative.
 
I buy fixed blades almost exclusively, and with very few exceptions, I'd rather have a sheath with the knife. If I can get a quality sheath from the maker, that's a significant value-added bonus. If I can't, I'll usually have one made. The less expensive the knife, the more I am looking for a sheath to be included at the point of sale, but the less fancy I am expecting the sheath itself to be. Adding a $150 custom sheath to a $1500 bowie makes a bit more sense than doing the same for a $300 hunter.

Roger
 
kinda funny- it's generally recommended that knives should not be stored in their sheaths. I've noticed that a good few custom knives never get used. So, maybe in that case it may seem like it doesn't matter, but I present exhibit A;
IMG_4751.jpg


and exhibit B;
sgiandubh001.jpg


in my view a sheath should generally be an intrinsic part of a straight knife, whether it was meant as an Art piece or a tool intended for use. A knife maker who shows proficiency in making sheaths for their own knives usually gets my respect right off the kick, as it shows a great depth of skill. But, there are makers whose bladework speaks for itself and for them perhaps a sheath doesn't need to enter the equation. These guys are few and far between, and for them, guys like P. Long are there ready to take care of business. Or not. I mean, it's hard to imagine a Wolfgang Loerchner knife covered with anything. But then, take a guy like Larry Feugen, or Magnus, whose sheathwork is on par with their knifework, and you have a winning combination every time, imo.
 
Thanks for sharing your perspective..
Always a great read.
Respect..

RogerP said:
I buy fixed blades almost exclusively, and with very few exceptions, I'd rather have a sheath with the knife. If I can get a quality sheath from the maker, that's a significant value-added bonus. If I can't, I'll usually have one made. The less expensive the knife, the more I am looking for a sheath to be included at the point of sale, but the less fancy I am expecting the sheath itself to be. Adding a $150 custom sheath to a $1500 bowie makes a bit more sense than doing the same for a $300 hunter.

Roger
Click to expand...
 
Doc4570 said:
I've passed up on custom knives that I liked because I didn't like the sheath.
Click to expand...

jacksterp said:
I simply won't buy a fixed blade knife without a sheath - custom or otherwise.
Click to expand...

I definitely hear you guys, and I'm not saying you're wrong. But for me, if I liked the knife well enough, I wouldn't let the absence of a sheath - or the presence of a sub-par sheath - stop me from making the purchase. Particularly if the knife itself were in the "hard to get" category. If a Don Fogg bowie comes up on the secondary market tomorrow - in great condition and at a reasonable price - the sheath question wouldn't delay me for a nanosecond.

I've also occasionally bought knives where the sheath used materials that could create an importation hassle - so I have had to tell the seller to leave the sheath behind when shipping. Up to me to decide whether the knife itself is still worth having, and at what price.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
I definitely hear you guys, and I'm not saying you're wrong. But for me, if I liked the knife well enough, I wouldn't let the absence of a sheath - or the presence of a sub-par sheath - stop me from making the purchase. Particularly if the knife itself were in the "hard to get" category. If a Don Fogg bowie comes up on the secondary market tomorrow - in great condition and at a reasonable price - the sheath question wouldn't delay me for a nanosecond.

I've also occasionally bought knives where the sheath used materials that could create an importation hassle - so I have had to tell the seller to leave the sheath behind when shipping. Up to me to decide whether the knife itself is still worth having, and at what price.

Roger
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Don makes terrible sheaths. I was razzing him about that at Josh Smith's show a few years ago..he starts with leather of middling quality and it goes downhill from there....showed him a superlative Nick Wheeler sheath and Don's tongue-in-cheek response was "I hate that kid".:D

GENERALLY speaking, if a knife doesn't come with a sheath, I factor a Paul Long or Kenny Rowe sheath cost into the deal, and figure out if it is advantageous for me to purchase. All my fixed blades have a sheath, even the Japanese styled blades....and that represents a WHOLE different set of cost factors. A good sheath from Long or Rowe runs around $100.00.....scabbards for tanto START at around $400.00 when the dust settles.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I don't safe queen my knives, so I need them to be able to be carried with me. I am below amateur when it comes to sheathmaking, so the only time I can remember buying a fixed blade without a sheath is with kitchen knives as the sheath stays in the drawer. I don't expect much beyond holding the knife on the belt, but a bit of tooling goes a long way. I tend to store the knives in their sheaths as condition isn't much of a worry, and my house is so dry that stabilized wood shrinks after a day.
 
In my opinion, the sheath is just as important as the knife itself and a fixed blade should always come with a sheath! (not just a cardboard sleeve) Carry options, gear storage, overall looks, quality, blade retention and ease of use and safety being most important to me personally.

I've seen too many awesome knives that seemed like they just got paired with a sheath just so it has one with no real thought as to how well the two function together. I'd rather not have to send a knife out for a custom sheath to replace the one that came with it from the maker or factory...

I don't think I could make my own because I'm all thumbs when it comes to sewing/stitching for leatherwork so that's outta the question.

But there are exceptions as well; as some mentioned above rare knives are where it may be okay to get a blade without a sheath.

Just my 0.02 cents.
 
Kohai999 said:
GENERALLY speaking, if a knife doesn't come with a sheath, I factor a Paul Long or Kenny Rowe sheath cost into the deal, and figure out if it is advantageous for me to purchase. All my fixed blades have a sheath, even the Japanese styled blades....and that represents a WHOLE different set of cost factors. A good sheath from Long or Rowe runs around $100.00.....scabbards for tanto START at around $400.00 when the dust settles.
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I did not know the scabbards started that high, but then again, I'm not shocked by the news either.

I have made all of one sheath, ever:

orig.jpg


Not a thing of beauty, but it works well - and the process taught me a couple of things:

1) Hand stitching is a PITA.
2) If I can do it, I guarantee you most people can, and
3) There's really no excuse for failing to offer a serviceable sheath with a hunter.

Roger
 
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While I've never owned any of your custom knives, I have owned some of your collaborations. That said, I want to get a good sheath with my custom knife. I've gotten some great custom knives, with horrible sheaths. Not just a great looking custom knife with a ho-hum sheath, but actually poor sheaths. Looked like they were slapped together at the last minute. I gladly waited for a custom sheath for my J Neilson Kephart, after J sent it to the sheath maker (embarassed that I don't know who it was off the top of my head, I believe it was Paul Long, his ex-wife made great sheaths too).

Take for example Daniel Winklers knives. They are beautiful works of functional art, but the package would not be complete without Karen Shook's sheaths.

What I really don't like is when I get a knife and great, no frills, well made sheath from a maker, and then order another knife, and get a great knife and a crappy sheath.

I am not looking for ornate cross draw loops etc. and designs, just a well made leather sheath.

I do think that all custom fixed blade knives should be offered with a sheath, although I have been told by several makers that making a sheath for the knife is not a priority. I have bought knives without sheaths, but always tell myself that next time I won't.
 
Czechmate said:
In my opinion, the sheath is just as important as the knife itself and a fixed blade should always come with a sheath! (not just a cardboard sleeve) Carry options, gear storage, overall looks, quality, blade retention and ease of use and safety being most important to me personally.

I've seen too many awesome knives that seemed like they just got paired with a sheath just so it has one with no real thought as to how well the two function together. I'd rather not have to send a knife out for a custom sheath to replace the one that came with it from the maker or factory...

I don't think I could make my own because I'm all thumbs when it comes to sewing/stitching for leatherwork so that's outta the question.

But there are exceptions as well; as some mentioned above rare knives are where it may be okay to get a blade without a sheath.

Just my 0.02 cents.
Click to expand...

Thats a Great Post.
Thanks for contributing..
2011 has ushered in the Era of Extreme Blue Collar Value at SnodyKnives..
My mindset this year is to focus on the Extreme Bottom of the Custom Knife Pricing Pyramid.
I am talking $99.00 to $149.00 for a hand ground custom knife with a custom fitted sheath and Bills pouch.

Its very challenging and very rewarding at the same time..
I have to keep the retail on our leather sheaths under $40.00 to make the package come together.
My emphasis is on simplicity with clean workmanship and extreme durability
I sew everything on a Campbell Lockstitch machine and typically use 9 to 10oz leather.
Much Respect..
bosssheathlarge.jpg
 
silenthunterstudios said:
While I've never owned any of your custom knives, I have owned some of your collaborations. That said, I want to get a good sheath with my custom knife. I've gotten some great custom knives, with horrible sheaths. Not just a great looking custom knife with a ho-hum sheath, but actually poor sheaths. Looked like they were slapped together at the last minute. I gladly waited for a custom sheath for my J Neilson Kephart, after J sent it to the sheath maker (embarassed that I don't know who it was off the top of my head, I believe it was Paul Long, his ex-wife made great sheaths too).

Take for example Daniel Winklers knives. They are beautiful works of functional art, but the package would not be complete without Karen Shook's sheaths.



What I really don't like is when I get a knife and great, no frills, well made sheath from a maker, and then order another knife, and get a great knife and a crappy sheath.

I am not looking for ornate cross draw loops etc. and designs, just a well made leather sheath.

I do think that all custom fixed blade knives should be offered with a sheath, although I have been told by several makers that making a sheath for the knife is not a priority. I have bought knives without sheaths, but always tell myself that next time I won't.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking time to contribute and thanks for buying a Snody Design..
I love Karen Shook's work, I am just completely blown away with how organic and rich her sheaths are..
Her work takes my back in time, makes me want to grab a handful of levi garrett, get my blackpowder rifle and head for the woods.
I would really love to have one in my collection some day..
Much Respect from Texas
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