The most under rated part of the custom knife equation. The sheath ?

[JParanee]

For me there are two types of knives.

The first is a piece I will be purchasing to collect or basically put in a case. Which I enjoy doing and they even sometimes get some lite duty carry

99 % of these knives have a well made sheath that complements them. They don't live in there sheaths but to me they are an important part of the equation.

Now for my favorite class of custom, the ones i actually carry

In this case a sheath is so much a part of the equation that if it is lacking the whole package is lacking and it will not be carried or put to its intended purpose.

Just like a properly constructed firearm holster if it does not carry comfortable and securely the handgun will not be carried and therefore it will not be used.

When carrying a protection piece I am of the firm belief that a blade be carried in the same position or very close to the same position so you can try and commit its location to muscle memory

When I carry a firearm I always carry on my weak side, so i can either carry cross draw or behind my left hip. In this case I can access the blade with my left hand or in the case of cross draw my right hand.

When it comes to an outdoor carry knife where you might be walking many miles and possible packing a pack etc. then a versatile sheath is a must.

In this case I either carry cross draw or scout style or I might lash it to a pack etc.

But again versatility is a must.

You will notice a lot of my favorite carry blades have more than one sheath. That way no matter what situation I can carry a blade comfortable.

For example The Wheeler piece that has recieved so much attention was designed to be a do it all personal protection piece that can and has doubled as a reliable outdoors piece. I carried it all hunting season scout style and have packed it sash and IWB as a primary and secondary protection piece

Here is a photo of the user piece (the proto type is in a case )with three carry sheaths.

Sash IWB style

Right hand cross draw

Right hand scout

With these three sheaths I can carry in any configuration that would be required

I am fortunate to have the greatest living sheath maker on the planet as a pappy so of course these are all from the great Paul Long

I love the beautiful sheaths that are shown here and i am privilaged to have many but this thread is a tribute to the honest working sheaths out there. Not that some of the beauties aren't fully functional if they are made by Paul then they definitely are.

So post up your user sheaths pretty or ugly and give tribute to one of the most important aspects of a custom knife

Thanks Paul

 

[leon08]

Definitely not a Weeler or Paul Long, but certainly working tools ”made by an amateur knifemaker - out of nothing to count for something”. (6 inch blade, 1095 forged steel, „Turley” style convex grind, fossilized oak handle and brass rivets, black leather sheath right hand scout style, with firesteel attachement - all hand made).
Black on black too!

Thank you.

 

[JParanee]

Love scout style

Very nice

Thx for posting

 

[2knife]

Good thread idea, Joe!

These are the typical Fowler style sheaths, very rugged- stitched with a strong and durable lacing tape. Waxed harness leather is used.

Chris Amos knife & sheath, a good fit here:

David

 

[MT Damascus]

Here are two from Paul that I carry weekly. One fits a Sean O'Hare and the other a Jerry Halfrich Rounder.

 

[BenR.T.]

Here are 2 of my most recent ones

 

[Lorien]

I'm so with you on this, Joe. A knife with an unworkable sheath, or none at all, is NO GOOD! Just kidding; but seriously, what is a guy supposed to do with a fixed blade knife if he can't carry it?

Here's a beauty by Stuart Branson for a sgian dubh he made, (sorry about the blurry pic);

This sheath, I made for the forest knife that Nick made for me- not a thing of beauty, but it works good and I learned a lot making it;

Chris Moss made this cool sheath with carbon fiber inlays;

Yet another incredible Magnus Axelson creation. The man is one of the few I know of who designs and builds his sheaths as concientiously as the knives made to go in them;

I'm going to not get too carried away here, so this is the last for now. A sheath I made for a Ray Richard blank that I made into something resembling, (hopefully) a knife. Locks in there really nice.

 

[sheathmaker]

I hope it will not seem presumptuous of me to post in this thread, but I have to mention how much respect I have for Magnus Axelson and his incredible ability to create sheaths which are just seamless with his knives. His use of leather and various matching metal adornments in a pattern that just flows with the given knife is just incredible.......and then He stitches the ensemble together, metal and all and comes up with nothing short of art. I envy his ability.

Ed Fowler's sheaths (and those made by the men who follow his lead) are amazing in their own right. Strictly utility, nothing fancy, some might even say nearly ugly, BUT they do the job in Spades and will probably still be here when the cockroach is extinct. My hat is off to these makers as well.

Finally, to all the guys who are just breaking into the leather end of this knife community. I have seen the over all style and quality improve so much over the past couple of years. Keep at it, because your next sheath will surely be your best.....and on and on. I have to agree with Joey, a using knife is like a one legged man without its sheath.

Paul

 

[zachtateknives]

I'm going to not get too carried away here, so this is the last for now. A sheath I made for a Ray Richard blank that I made into something resembling, (hopefully) a knife. Locks in there really nice.

I see what you did right there....

 

[JParanee]

Paul I to have noticed that the bar on great leather has been raised and I believe you are one of the main reasons .

Your body of work in a relatively short time has become what everyone considers the highest form

I know ya love when I show plain and ugly but very well made sheaths by you but I truly love them .



As for the rest of the great stuff you guys have posted all I can say is WOW what fantastic stuff to many to mention but I just love well made hard use leather.

Thx keep it coming

 

[JParanee]

A Foster with one from Burt and a Scout from Paul

Doesn't get any more utilitarian than this bad ass Baldric Rig with Shark tips for a Knight Fighting Khukuri

Long

Another Cape Buffalo and leather Baldric for a HI M 40 ( Paul hated those )

Long

And the knife with more pairs of pants than me. My old Bagwell



Bagwell

Rawhide Leather

Bottom pics Long

 

[SBranson]

Here's a few I've made. I can't thank Paul enough for his help and guidance. I'm sure his influence can be clearly seen in some of these.

 

[John M Cohea]

I have enough pride in my sheaths,and the fit that I am able to get on them,to show off a few here.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I love and hate this thread all at once.

Leather work is yet another aspect of knifemaking (and a critical one, I'll admit) that I struggle with. For me, it feels as though it's yet another drain on what little knifemaking time I have to begin with.

...then I see sheaths such as most of those displayed above, and they're so inspiring! Makes this poor turkey dream of flying with the eagles!!!!!!

 

[John White]

Just can't let this thread go by without posting up another Paul Long masterpiece.

Paul does all my leather sheaths, and such a job he does, it's hard to choose, but look at this "Ridgeback" croc. Talk about "fit and finish"!

Here it is with the knife. Note Paul's trademark "Papoose" for the take-down tool.

 

[Storm Crow]

Leatherwork is something I'll never be able to do, but fortunately I know people who do.

Noah M. Legel of Wasteland Leatherwork has done several collaborations with me, and his style of leather matches perfectly my style of blade. We call our collaboration "The Wasteland Crow Project".

And our first collaboration from several years ago:

 

[Calhoon]

Great thread Joe!
Here's a Burt Foster Military Utility that has an excellent intuitive sheath that will allow for so many variable positions for carrying including upside down.
Burt made the sheath and a lot of thought went into it... as well as the superb knife!

 

[caknives]

Thanks Sheathmaker! You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Everyone loves little red sports cars but its the work trucks that get the job done.

 

[Win Heger]

Great thread, Joe, too many sheaths are just storage scabbards. it's great to see sheaths meant to be carried.

The one I'm posting came to me with my Jimmy Fikes Parang, I'm assuming it was crafted in Europe, maker unknown. This is one HD sucker, not sure I'd want it swinging from my belt. One edge is sewn while the other is fastened to the wood liner with small brads. These are not the best pictures, sorry.

 

[Storm Crow]

Win, I'm not seeing your pictures and I'd really like to.