Need some suggestions on a sheath for a special knife

Professor Honeyfuggler · August 31, 2009, 09:12:11 PM

I bought this knife a while back and I'm a little stuck figuring out the best design for a sheath for it. Mostly I just love the design of the knife and want to see if I can come up with something a little unusual to show off more of what I like about it.

First, it's a fairly big (12" overall), heavy damascus steel bladed knife with a bone handle and an unusually shaped brass bolster. Cutting the top of the sheath down to match the outline of the bolster is obvious. I already did that with an old sheath that I'm using temporarily, and it looks good. But what about showing off that Damascus pattern a little, and maybe giving visibility to that interesting cut on the back of the blade?

One idea I had was to build a regular sheath and then cut a couple of big oval windows in the front to at least get a peek at the damascus steel. Another was to do a kind of "bikini" sheath, with just the tip and part of the bolster end of the blade covered. That might be trouble, since the hook in the blade could catch on the top part when drawing it, and the edge would mostly be out in the open. I dunno.

So that's why I just keep looking at it, instead of getting the sheath made. Any suggestions?

Arizona Cattleman · August 31, 2009, 10:09:44 PM

Do you have acess to a scrool saw, you can get a hand saw fairly cheap. Use it to cut a open pattern in the area of the blade to show off the Damascus steel.

Cattleman

Professor Honeyfuggler · August 31, 2009, 10:13:33 PM

Thanks Cattleman,

What I mean is that the Damascus pattern shows beautifully when the knife is out, it's just hidden when in the sheath. And since it is in the sheath 99.99% of the time, I'm wondering if there's a way to give a peek when it is put away.

Arizona Cattleman · August 31, 2009, 10:18:43 PM

By using the scroll saw, you can remove some of the leather above the blade in a fancy pattern to show it off. Its kind of hard to explain.

Cattleman

GunClick Rick · August 31, 2009, 10:30:48 PM

Here ya go.Sign of the comanche that Josey Wales does when he is talking to Ten Bears.Knife was made by Ned Buckshot and is my favorite and the sheath was done by Doc Disaster.Exactly the quandry i had and Doc and i came up with this.You could do a lightning bolt or similiar indian design if ya didn't want to copy that one.If you don't do leather yourself any of the fellers here would do a wonderful job.

I like to collect things from different artists as i ain't one..

Professor Honeyfuggler · September 01, 2009, 07:29:53 PM

Now that is just a slick as can be, Rick. Thanks.

Gun Butcher · September 01, 2009, 09:46:24 PM

Professor, it occurs to me that one might be led to do the cutouts in the leather to match the bolster. Maybe three or four in a graduated size down the length of the sheath. Should show off the knife and highlight the shape of the bolster at the same time.
You are right it is to pretty to be covered up all the time.

Gun Butcher

Professor Honeyfuggler · September 01, 2009, 10:04:31 PM

Doggone GB, now that is a great idea. Great.

I think I'll try some paper mockups, see if I can get something that works as well as the picture you just put in my mind.

Great idea.

Gun Butcher · September 01, 2009, 10:22:56 PM

Well, I am honored that you like the idea. I just kind of carried on with what the other pards had already started. Wish I was at the house I would draw up a few sketches and brain storm a little with you. But I won't be home for about 3 weeks.

If you are in no hurry And you could do a tracing of the knife I would be happy to do a mock up sheath with some of your ideas just for the heck of it. Its good practice and I know I got some pieces of leather that would not be good for anything else. It is just that I won't be home til about the end of the month to do it.

Slowhand Bob · September 02, 2009, 07:59:33 AM

I think I have actually seen these in the past, some using a series of punched circles, declining in size as they run to the bottom, and others that used diamond cuts, graduating in size. I have not seen them in several years but HideCrafters used to carry a whole series of filigree punches, looked like rampart, in all sorts of fancy designs and the best thing was they were offered in a variety of sizes for each design. I am just not sure if they were designed to handle 8/10oz leather??

Ace Lungger · September 02, 2009, 08:56:29 AM

Bob,
I like the Diamond cuts, small, then the larger, and then the same size as the top! Then, if you could get some dear hide and have differnt lenghts of thin strips of the deer hide around each diamond, would put it in a period style sheath

Just my 2 cents.
ACE

GunClick Rick · September 02, 2009, 02:11:54 PM

HMMM circles of life O O o o

Professor Honeyfuggler · September 03, 2009, 03:10:50 PM

Lots of good ideas, thanks.

The circles Slowhand suggested could be good, IF a person had the punches available, but hard if you didn't... maybe unless you used a scroll saw like Cattleman suggested (now that I understand what he meant.)

The slow curves in Gunclick's design could probably be done with a knife, but I don't know if Gunbutcher's more complex idea could.

Inspired by y'all, I moved this along a little by cutting up a cheapo factory sheath I had on hand, to do a try fit on the bolster, using a knife. Turned out to be harder than I thought to fit it nicely, partly because I can't get a good pattern of the curve where the bolster meets the blade. I tried tracing the flat side of the handle, but the curve is a little different by the time it gets down to the blade. TRICKY!

Oh well, it was better than whatever was on TV.

GunClick Rick · September 04, 2009, 12:02:06 PM

Wifes shower curtain rods work good for circles

Course they don't work after your done with them...Look for any hollow tubeing,take apart an ink pen for smaller circles maybe,ya have to hit them gentle though.I ain't got tools of the trade so i improvise.You should see the kitchen when i reshape old hats

Now baby don't worry i'll put it all back

FEATHERS · September 04, 2009, 12:22:10 PM

Professor,I picked this up at an office supply store for a couple of bucks,works really well as you can get the swivel knife in the slots for all the shapes.Feathers

GunClick Rick · September 09, 2009, 10:41:13 PM

Hey Feathers,that's slick right there,i'll have to go get one of those...

FEATHERS · September 15, 2009, 02:02:34 AM

G'Day Professor,How's your work going on your knife sheath??Feathers

Professor Honeyfuggler · September 15, 2009, 04:52:22 PM

Quote from: FEATHERS on September 15, 2009, 02:02:34 AM
G'Day Professor,How's your work going on your knife sheath??Feathers

T'aint, ma'am, but thanks for askin'

I was not happy with the prototype. Couldn't get a nice fit to the trim around the curved bolster, and couldn't figure any wait to get a pattern for the cut. So I've just been staring at it every once in a while as I tend to other matters.

Musta been a new thought brewing, because just as I read your message I got the idea to wet mold the leather to the knife, like you would a holster to a gun, and then trim to the countour on the dry leather. Dunno if that would work, but I'll have to scare up a suitable scrap and try a dry (wet) run on that approach.

Thank you kindly, and have a nice day.

Gun Butcher · September 15, 2009, 05:25:50 PM

Professor, great minds and so forth. I was thinking about your problem and thought you might just wet some leather and make an impression with the bolster. But, I see that you are ahead of me already. Let us know how it works.
GB