Why are sheaths so expensive?

[safetyman]

the flippers do.

+1 :thumbup:

 

[mymindisamob]

I have now drank this thread funny. I used to just drink girls pretty.

 

[andynaylor]

Actually, cardboard & duct tape sheaths can be surprisingly tough. My 1st "Bussekin" knife (RatMastiff) I made one for it, and it's still in it and holding up fine. Maybe I could buy more sheaths if I quit buying knives. A little tip, I've found that the corrugated plastic signs (like cardboard but plastic) work much better than cardboard. You can see more of these sheaths I made HERE.

Oh, and if you'd like to try making a sheath, I have tutorials here: Pork Links - Busse Related Links

Two RatMastiffs

Mouth of sheath

 

[andynaylor]

Oh, and as you can see, that RM has had plenty of use in the field, as has the sheath. I've used both since 2005 or 2006.

 

[leatherman]

You don't even know what knife haha.

Well now dagnabbit, ya got me there!

I've got Google Earth trained on your house right now, nice yard btw. I Googled Skunks compound and the thing wont even fit on the screen.

 

[Tom Kanik]

There ya' go Andy!!! :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Bigfattyt]

About 6 years ago I was ready to lay out the cost for a full kydex set up. Sheath press, rivet/eylet press, etc. With all the stuff I figured I would need to get by, and do it right I think I was looking at about $400. I sure wish I had bought it all (Christmas present to self). Instead I bought a beater sword/axe set.....whikch does make for a fun viking costume).
I would have been making great sheaths by now. The set up would have paid for it's self by now.

I did buy some simple leather working tools. Just some needles, thread and groover and stitch marking wheel. I have two quite decent sheaths to show for it. And enouth leather to make 3 more big sheaths. H-strap and another with a metal pocket/boot clip.

 

[Tim-Gabz]

I did a favour for a friend, and she handed me a suitcase she had inherited, loads of punches, tooling punches, riviters, numbers/letters, cord - basically the whole shebang including original Zippo. I am way off top work but I am enjoying it.

 

[leatherman]

Tim, I wish I had friends like that! I have trouble finding tools and such at garage sales. Once I got up early to hit an estate sale of a saddle maker and it was bare an hour after opening. :grumpy: I guess South Texas is stuffed with leather crafters.

About 6 years ago I was ready to lay out the cost for a full kydex set up. Sheath press, rivet/eylet press, etc. With all the stuff I figured I would need to get by, and do it right I think I was looking at about $400. I sure wish I had bought it all (Christmas present to self). Instead I bought a beater sword/axe set.....whikch does make for a fun viking costume).
I would have been making great sheaths by now. The set up would have paid for it's self by now.

I did buy some simple leather working tools. Just some needles, thread and groover and stitch marking wheel. I have two quite decent sheaths to show for it. And enouth leather to make 3 more big sheaths. H-strap and another with a metal pocket/boot clip.

400, not too bad for a complete set up! Add a belt/disk sander and a band saw and you'd have quite the shop.

 

[Guyon]

i use bearers, yes my porky friends, female knife bearers, mostly dressed in thongs or as some call the whale tails.

Skunk, do you have a website or phone number where we can order some thong-wearing, knife-bearing females?

Sorry Dwayne... looks like you just got out-thonged!

 

[motts]

I'm happy that this thread has taken a lighter turn. Hopefully there will be no hard feelings and some of us learned a little bit.

The way I look at it is this. The sheath makers are obviously in it to make a profit. That's fine, it's their livelihood. After basic costs of materials/equipment, market and supply/demand will play a huge part in determining their costs. Busse knives themselves are not necessarily mass produced, so in turn, sheaths are going to be more expensive since they'll all be basically custom made. I'm fine buying a sheath from them as I have no desire or knowledge to make my own. I also pay somebody else to change my oil in my truck {gasp}!

I do think the OP had a valid question. He just wanted some information. I've never made a sheath so I would have no idea about what goes into them...time or costs. I learned quite a bit from this thread and I'm glad he asked the question.

As consumers we make the choice. If we like/want/need something, we buy it. If not, we don't buy it. The choice is ours. I bought a $2500 keyboard. Now, by some of your analogies...I should've spent at least $500 on a cover for it. I actually just throw an old blanket on it to keep the dust off. When I actually play the keyboard, after having removed the blanket, it's not like having the cheap cover lessens the quality or ability of my keyboard. Cheap tires on a car will lessen the performance, as will a cheap scope on a rifle. However, using a cheap gun case or gun scabbard don't lessen the performance of the gun...unless it can't protect it and it gets damaged.

Depending on the purpose and even the cost for my knives...will determine how much I'm willing to pay for a sheath. I do feel that the sheath makers who offer products for Bussekin knives do offer fair prices and I'll pay them to make me a high quality sheath. I do expect it to fit perfect and look good. Otherwise, I'd make a cheap, shotty imitation myself. I'd rather have it fit right and look good.

Bottom line...it's about choices. We choose if we want to buy something or not. Busse knives are special. Because they are super high quality and not mass produced...the sheaths are going to reflect that.

Thanks for everyone's comments. This has been a great and informative thread. Thanks to all the sheath makers for offering your products and services! Happy New Year to all!

 

[Tim-Gabz]

Tim, I wish I had friends like that! I have trouble finding tools and such at garage sales. Once I got up early to hit an estate sale of a saddle maker and it was bare an hour after opening. :grumpy: I guess South Texas is stuffed with leather crafters.



400, not too bad for a complete set up! Add a belt/disk sander and a band saw and you'd have quite the shop.

Over 1500 pieces, leather dies etc, normally I would not accept such a generous gift, but considering none of the kit, with exception of the box cutter and one rotary punch are availble in Botswana. Getting decent leather has been a mission on it's own and permits to export also difficult (foot and mouth).

I enjoy creating and proper leather working is extinct this end of the universe. I would also like to get into kydex work.

 

[roenman]

With the time, knowledge, effort, and materials needed, I never though of them as expensive. And considering the edge they protect......

 

[leatherman]

Over 1500 pieces, leather dies etc, normally I would not accept such a generous gift, but considering none of the kit, with exception of the box cutter and one rotary punch are availble in Botswana. Getting decent leather has been a mission on it's own and permits to export also difficult (foot and mouth).

I enjoy creating and proper leather working is extinct this end of the universe. I would also like to get into kydex work.

Wow! A grand gift indeed! Congrats! I envy both your gift and your location, paradise.

I'd love to see your work, when you get the chance visit the sheath forum and post some pics.

 

[leatherman]

Skunk, do you have a website or phone number where we can order some thong-wearing, knife-bearing females?

Sorry Dwayne... looks like you just got out-thonged!

Dang it! I will NOT let this pass un challenged! Off to make the ultimate thong!!!! whatever that is......

 

[RokJok]

I didn't read the whole thread, so excuse if someone else already mentioned OST sheaths.

The main point of my post was wishing there was a slightly cheaper alternative...

There is! On-Scene Tactical. Eric at On-Scene's price is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of what I consider to be the gold standard (Okuden) of kydex sheaths. I have owned sheaths from both On-Scene and Okuden over the years and like them both.

There are some noteworthy differences between Okuden and On-Scene:

-- Sheath Style --
On-Scene makes taco-wrap sheaths (one sheet of kydex wrapped over the spine of the knife and one row of eyelets along the edge of the knife).

Okuden usually makes double-sided sheaths (two sheets of kydex eyeletted together at both the spine and the edge of the blade).

-- Kydex Weight --
Okuden uses a heavier weight kydex than On-Scene.
IIRC Okuden is 0.093" thick and On-Scene is either 0.60" or 0.80" thick.

-- Fit 'n Finish --
While both makers finish their sheaths cleanly, Okuden's obsession with fit 'n finish (ESPECIALLY FIT OF THE KNIFE) is better than anyone else's work I've ever seen.

When you seat a knife in an Okuden sheath, you get both an audible "click" and a tactile "bump" you can feel when the knife hits home. With the On-Scene sheaths I've used over the years, the seating is less distinct -- softer or no click and a squishier feeling tactile bump.

FWIW, I've never had a knife fall out of a sheath from either maker. But I worry about it a whole lot less (like, not at all) with Okuden sheaths. Brian's lockup on his Oku-pants is rock solid.

FWIW, sheaths from both On-Scene and Okuden will take a Blade-Tech Tek-Lok to fasten it to your belt.

As others noted, the trade-off is that quality one-at-a-time custom-fitted kydex wares will cost more (due to economies of scale) than factory-jigged approximations.

Happy kydex hunting.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Tim, I wish I had friends like that! I have trouble finding tools and such at garage sales. Once I got up early to hit an estate sale of a saddle maker and it was bare an hour after opening. :grumpy: I guess South Texas is stuffed with leather crafters.





400, not too bad for a complete set up! Add a belt/disk sander and a band saw and you'd have quite the shop.

Ya, it would not have been everything I needed, but would have let me get the job done. Now I have a cheapo harbor freight combo that I bought to sharpen and shape handles.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

That's a good question. It looks like they restructured their site, and my old link isn't working. Poke around, and see if you can find them.

As I recall, they called them "frogs", not "sheaths".

I don't think they have anything that can be used as a sheath at the moment, but I did buy 2 of the italian bag packs. kinda wish I had gone for the parachute bag since the italians are in "as is" condition. Great bags, I just have no idea where to look for the snap in loops you send the chain through to keep them shut. also I need 2 straps with latches/loops

the turn around time on that website is spectacular, 3 days after my order and it was at my door.

 

[Evolute]

Great bags, I just have no idea where to look for the snap in loops you send the chain through to keep them shut. also I need 2 straps with latches/loops

Whenever I need to snaps, hooks, buckles – any kind of pack or clothes hardware – this place always seems to have it: http://www.seattlefabrics.com

 

[Last Visible Canary]

man, from forever ago. I had totally forgotten I made this... back when I was still new to sheath making and thought the logo window was the coolest thing in the world.