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

[Win Heger]

James, I can see 'em, not sure why they're not working for you?

 

[Doug C]

I can see them just fine, Win, NICE ! :thumbup:
Great thread, Joe !

Doug

 

[sparrow75]

Here is one of mine

 

[Storm Crow]

Ok, I can see them now. Thanks!

 

[jdm61]

Joe, you are spot on. Sheaths, even great sheaths like Paul and a handful of others make, ARE the most underrated part of the equation. For many of us more obscure makers, a sheath is considered by many buyers to be a required "freebie" that must come with the knife. The problem arises when you try to get a bit fancy with the knife. Buyers will say things like "I won't buy a collectable knife with a 'cheap' sheath' but then if you ask them if they are willing to pay extra for a REALLY nice one, they essentially say no, but tell you that they will deign to buy your knife IF it has that nice sheath. A quandary. Personally, I have bought a number of sheaths from our aforementioned crusty old mutual pal from the Hill Country of Texas and arguably lost money because I just like the darn things. Unfortunately, I can't keep them all.

 

[canineforge]

Great thread, Joe! Love your Wheeler sheath package!

Here are a couple I carry and use quite a bit:

- Joe

 

[ddd]

After so many nice and practical work/carry knife sheaths, Joe,
how about some fully embellished sheaths (by Julie Warenski-Erickson)
made to hold high-end art knives...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)


From my book in the works "The Custom Knifemaking & Knife Engraving of Julie Warenski-Erickson"

 

[erik markman]

Joe, you are spot on. Sheaths, even great sheaths like Paul and a handful of others make, ARE the most underrated part of the equation. For many of us more obscure makers, a sheath is considered by many buyers to be a required "freebie" that must come with the knife. The problem arises when you try to get a bit fancy with the knife. Buyers will say things like "I won't buy a collectable knife with a 'cheap' sheath' but then if you ask them if they are willing to pay extra for a REALLY nice one, they essentially say no, but tell you that they will deign to buy your knife IF it has that nice sheath. A quandary. Personally, I have bought a number of sheaths from our aforementioned crusty old mutual pal from the Hill Country of Texas and arguably lost money because I just like the darn things. Unfortunately, I can't keep them all.

Fully agreed, I have had the same expierience more then once.

 

[Big Rick]

Here are the most recent sheaths Paul has made for me.

Knives left to right: Ralph "Bud" Richards, Ray Laconico, Kyle Royer, Lin Rhea, Mike Quesenberry.

This one he finished for me this last week, another Bud Richards.

 

[Storm Crow]

I'm about to start working on a whole bunch of Kydex sheaths for my Blade Show stuff, but Kydex is purely utilitarian and not as purty as what's here. I like utilitarian, though.

I can't work leather, but I have made a small handful of wooden sheaths.

Here's the first one, made from mystery hardwood with braided hemp cord hangers. The blade slips out easily with a little thumb pop.

The second one I did:

One for a short bush sword, made from padouk. This one was ambidextrous in that the blade could be put in with the edge facing either direction just as easily.

Another padouk scabbard:

As woodworking is not my forte, these wooden sheaths take me longer to do than the blades to go in them! I probably won't do too many of them unless I work out a better method. I have some ideas, but they're for down the road.

 

[RogerP]

Joe - three sheaths for one knife? That's hard-core!

Here's a working grade sheath for a working grade knife that's high on my bug-out-head-for-the-hills-zombie-attack list. Paul Long / Dan Farr:

Working grade can be beautiful, too. Dave Kelly / Dave Kelly:

It's frontier-style and it not lacking for decorative elements, but this knife and sheath by John Cohea are both ready to rock:

Knife and sheath pared down to the bare essentials, by Russ Andrews:

Matt Gregory says he struggles with leather, but for a simple working sheath this leaves little to be desired:

This pair has seen a lot og use - and the sheaths have been more than up to the task. Yours truly / Treestump:

Roger

 

[JParanee]

After so many nice and practical work/carry knife sheaths, Joe,
how about some fully embellished sheaths (by Julie Warenski-Erickson)
made to hold high-end art knives...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)


From my book in the works "The Custom Knifemaking & Knife Engraving of Julie Warenski-Erickson"

They are exquisite

I am a big fan of metal sheaths fancy or utilitarian they have a lot to offer

Phill Hartsfield was famous for his very sturdy and svelt metal lined with some type of leather skin

These carry fantastic this one is elephant skin wrapped

 

[Lorien]

Pappy Long looks like he's gettin his 'artsy side' on with this one. I like it! Let the freak out, Pappy!:thumbup:

 

[JParanee]

Joe - three sheaths for one knife? That's hard-core!

Here's a working grade sheath for a working grade knife that's high on my bug-out-head-for-the-hills-zombie-attack list. Paul Long / Dan Farr:

Working grade can be beautiful, too. Dave Kelly / Dave Kelly:

It's frontier-style and it not lacking for decorative elements, but this knife and sheath by John Cohea are both ready to rock:

Knife and sheath pared down to the bare essentials, by Russ Andrews:

Matt Gregory says he struggles with leather, but for a simple working sheath this leaves little to be desired:

This pair has seen a lot og use - and the sheaths have been more than up to the task. Yours truly / Treestump:

Roger

You are right my friend they can be beautiful and durable and unique

One thing I really like to do is send leather from animals I have harvested to add a true personal touch

I have a lot of sheaths that utilize some Cape Buffalo that I harvested in Tanzania

One that comes to mind is this great sheath fom Burt Foster for one of my favorite knives a Persian Fighting Bowie that not only has my Buff in it but some Ivory fom a Warthog I did not mount

 

[RogerP]

That Foster knife and sheath are both terrific. Here is it's Koa cousin - a slightly different take on the Persian Fighter theme:

Roger

 

[Burton Harruff]

Here are a couple that I have made.

 

[MT Damascus]

Larry Parsons deserves to be in this thread, here are two from him, second one is a worker. Larry does an incredible job, as does Mike.

 

[P. McKinley]

What wonderful thread with some incredible leather work!

When I make a sheath it has to maintain the material and design theme of the knife.
Occasionally I'll do a few wooden sheaths.

Sheath for "Fingal" made with figured redwood, leather and moose antler details.

Sheath for Saami Hunter with figured maple, birch bark welt, leather, and moose antler details:

But, I also do leather.
Sheath for "Extrinsic Motivation" with Seal skin inlay and Baldric carry option:

 

[kamagong]

Great topic Joe. I agree that a sheath is an important part of the package, especially if the knife is going to be used. Quality of construction and materials is a given of course, but I also think that the sheath and knife should complement each other. When a fancy knife comes with a utilitarian sheath or vice versa, the whole thing looks a bit off.

I like the tuppi (sheath) that came with this puukko by Joonas Kallioniemi. Usually tuppi sport some sort of tooled design on the leather. This one was kept plain, to go with the clean appearance of the puukko.

 

[MT Damascus]

Here is another, from Wade at Madison Saddlery in Ennis, MT using top grade Muir & McDonald leather, which is bark tanned. Knife is a rare Boker Leo IV Custom, 4 steels, 600 layer, corm of rosewood handles, 600 layer inlays, 925 SS pins and guard, Loveless style hunter