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

^^^ Lots of correct answers. In fact, all of them.

STeven has educated me, and I agree, that the knife is not complete until it has a sheath. That I don't have ANY intention of housing or carrying it is irrelevant to me. The knife must be functionally sharp, the steel must be HT'd properly, and a fitted sheath to be ready for action.

If a maker has created a good looking sheath with his knife, I tend to want to include that in their photographs. It is part and parcel of the package.

I firmly believe that a knife with a Paul Long sheath will be even more desireable upon resale (read: collectible). Kenny Rowe and Chris Kravitt will also elevate a great knife into an extraordinary knife.

Good thread.

Coop
 
Good question Mike.A fixed blade without a sheath is just half of the equation, in my opinion.Whether it is made by the maker or outsourced to someone else, a fixed blade should have a quality sheath to make it servicable, whether it will ever be used or not.
In the case of my work, many people want the sheath as much or more than the knife, so me trying to sell a fixed blade without a sheath is like trying to sell a car without tires, it just ain't happening!
 
John M Cohea said:
Good question Mike.A fixed blade without a sheath is just half of the equation, in my opinion.Whether it is made by the maker or outsourced to someone else, a fixed blade should have a quality sheath to make it servicable, whether it will ever be used or not.
In the case of my work, many people want the sheath as much or more than the knife, so me trying to sell a fixed blade without a sheath is like trying to sell a car without tires, it just ain't happening!
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For period pieces like yours or Dan Winkler's, this is even more true than in the general cutlery field - GOT to have a sheath and it HAS to be an integral part of the overall package.

By the way - if anyone wants an invaluable education on the subject of sheaths, I HIGHLY recommend the videos by John Cohea and by Paul Long. Well worth it even if you don't plan to make them on your own, and more or less essential if you do.

Roger
 
Thanks Mike! I'm honoured by your feedback to my post. I can't wait to these new "blue collar" models come to fruition.

It's kinda ironic replying to this thread, just 2 hours ago I was at my local bricks & mortar knife store checking out a Snody/BM Activator...

Czechmate
 
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For me a sheath is quite important. Do you chance it by walking around with a sharp knife and no pants? I doubt it. In the wilderness, you want a safe place to keep your blade when not in use. A good, strong sheath is a must for a fixed blade. Paul Long is just about tops...the sole drawback with him is that he won't do a sheath for any Busse product. Yes, leather or kydex is important!
 
Every fixed blade knife I make comes with one of my sheaths made from quality veg-tanned leather from Wickett and Craig. It will be the best sheath that I can make at the time.

I had a fellow once who wanted to "haggle" over the price of a knife that I had up for grabs. I don't do the "haggle" thing too well. As a last-ditch effort, he said, "Well, it sounds fair, but how much without a sheath?" My response was "Same price".

Every fixed blade needs a sheath. Matters not whether it is a safe queen or an every day user.

If a customer "orders" a knife and tells me up front that he plans on getting a sheath made by Kenny or Paul, then that might be a different story. I would just feel proud that he plans on having a premier set of clothes made for one of my blades.

My .02 cents......Over and Out,

Robert
 
:D
Stubai said:
Off topic for a short time. Correction............. I will make sheaths for Busse products, and have done so in the past, but.............I always recommend that the buyer at least take a look at sheaths coming out of the shops of "Leatherman" and/or "Chuddy Bear". Both these guys make absolutely great leather sheaths for the Busse product and I feel it is a dis-service to the buyer not to mention it. I think most of the buyers for Busse sheaths agree with me.

Thanks for your time and now back to your regularly scheduled thread.:D

Paul
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Robert Dark said:
Every fixed blade knife I make comes with one of my sheaths made from quality veg-tanned leather from Wickett and Craig. It will be the best sheath that I can make at the time.

I had a fellow once who wanted to "haggle" over the price of a knife that I had up for grabs. I don't do the "haggle" thing too well. As a last-ditch effort, he said, "Well, it sounds fair, but how much without a sheath?" My response was "Same price".

Every fixed blade needs a sheath. Matters not whether it is a safe queen or an every day user.

If a customer "orders" a knife and tells me up front that he plans on getting a sheath made by Kenny or Paul, then that might be a different story. I would just feel proud that he plans on having a premier set of clothes made for one of my blades.

My .02 cents......Over and Out,

Robert
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Thats a good post dude..
Thanks for sharing that..
Your leather rocks..
Very Clean..
GreenUte.jpg
 
As others have also stated, I prefer a sheath with my knives whether a user or collectible/investment grade knife. Obviously, a sheath is necessity for convenient carry and a fine sheath makes an excellent accompaniment for a beautiful knife display.

It's not overly important to me (other than for convenience sake) whether the knifemaker supplies a quality sheath of his/her making or from a sheathmaker at purchase or I commission direct from a sheathmaker. Well actually, commissioning from the sheathmaker probably gives the collector more creative input on the overall knife/sheath design if that's important.
The exception would be knives from knifemakers who are also accomplished sheathmakers such as Larry Fuegen, and Tim Hancock. I could name quite a few others. To take it a step further, I consider both Larry and Tim to be among the very best sheathmakers in the world and would be of the opinion that a Fuegen or Hancock knife to be de-valued to a degree without an accompanying sheath of their making.

I would strongly recommend that if a knifemaker is to supply a sheath of his/her own making to be sure it's of the same quality of manufacturer and degree of aesthetic appearance as their knife.
A few years ago, I purchased a new "MS" hunter which came inside a pouch sheath made by the maker or the maker's wife. The leather inside the sheath was hard/stiff and probably equal to about 60 grit and scratched both the guard and damascus blade. So if I were a maker, I wouldn't waste my time and/or my customer's money by providing a plain $50 sheath with a $1500+ knife or by any means a sheath which quality puts the knife at risk.

I also agree that a fine sheath adds value to a fine knife, however when selling a knife I often find buyers expect the sheath to be thrown in for free. On the other hand if a buyer is considering two equally fine knives, the one with a fine sheath will usually be the one they purchase.
Just my 2 cents on the subject!
 
Doc4570 said:
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
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jacksterp said:
I simply won't buy a fixed blade knife without a sheath - custom or otherwise.
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I'm not going to let no sheath or a poor sheath keep me from aquiring an outstanding knife.
I know where one can get an outstanding sheath made to order for about any knife in a week or less including shipping.
 
Sheaths and more importantly the way a sheath is set up to carry a blade is very important to me

A poor carrying knife is useless

I dont care if a knife comes with a sheath or not . Its a plus if a knife comes with a good sheath but if the sheath is not of a carry style I use such as a drop leg I would rather not pay for the added expense. I would rather have one made

fixed blade knife without a sheath is a sharp paper weight
 
JParanee said:
fixed blade knife without a sheath is a sharp paper weight
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I always called them letter openers-without sheaths, Joseph, but "sharp paperweight" is a good one too!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
If their is the slightest chance that the knife will be carried in the field, it should have a practical sheath, preferably made by the maker.

If the knife is going to live in a glass case, it really does NOT matter to me, if it has a sheath moldering in a nearby drawer, or not.
 
I love an incredibly well made sheath and have probably bought a goodly number from Paul and Kenny more for my own gratification than as a sales tool. That is because for a maker in my position, there is no way on God's green earth that I can recover my costs for the kinds of sheaths that I have bought in the past for my larger knives. Arguably, I even take a little bit of a beating on the $45 "off the shelf" hunter sheaths from Chris Kravitt and the Randall style sheaths that I use on field knives. A lot of makers will tell you that you should be charging X amount for this knife and that sheath, but if you can't sell them for that much, there is not much that you can do about it.
 
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I believe the sheath is an integral part of the knife but only with fixed blades..as mentioned before there are some very good sheath makers out there..another fella to put on that list is Jose Trevino..if u don't enjoy making sheaths all u have to do is send the knife off to a sheath maker and let him/her perform their art!!!
 
I can see sending a high-end piece out for a custom sheath, but, as far as I'm concerned, a "working" knife has to come with a sheath. If I'd ordered a Snody Menace Boss Edition 2011 (I really thought about, but bills to pay and all that . . .), it would have been "with sheath."
 
Mike, I have noticed on your Boss Menace you offered optional sheaths, what percentage of people wanted one?

Keep up the great work!



Oh yeah... Sheaths are important in my opinion. I make one for every knife including my personal knives.

As an exception I offered my last knife for sale with the sheath optional in case the buyer wanted leather. Currently I only use Kydex or Concealex.
 
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I geuss I'm just echoing whT many have said, but you save allot of time effort and money if a good quality sheath is provided. So if I'm looking at 2 knives to purchase, the one with a sheath looks more apealing
 
For me this quote from John Bladwin, author of several books on frontier gear pretty much says it all

"The beautiful sheaths created for storing the knife elevate the knife one step higher. It celebrates the knife it houses...."

but then again that only goes for good, well made sheaths no matter what type they be.......plain and simple of highly decorated it's the basic quality of the item that comes first and foremost the rest is frosting on the cake so to speak........
 
Slider817 said:
I geuss I'm just echoing whT many have said, but you save allot of time effort and money if a good quality sheath is provided. So if I'm looking at 2 knives to purchase, the one with a sheath looks more apealing
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I don't know about saving alot of money as the price of a knifemaker's good quality sheath is built into his knife price.
 
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