Knife Sheaths

[Niederlander]

Okay, I've got my butcher knife, but what sort of sheath did people use?  I'm guessing the modern retaining strap with a snap wasn't in play.

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy N,

I can't supply any photos, but one prominent style had an extended edge to the blade side of the sheath with a slot. The belt went through the slot and over the part of the sheath that held the knife. Maybe some others can come up with photos.

Rev. Chase

[RattlesnakeJack]

I believe this is the type of sheath Rev. Chase is referring to ... one I made in a brass tacked native style for my "buffalo skinner" knife.



(Please excuse the rather fuzzy resolution of this image, it is a detail blown up from a layout of various items of kit ...)

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

That's exactly what I was talking about. A nice job too.

Rev. Chase

[Mogorilla]

Hello Rev,
Another medium is rawhide.  Depending on length of blade, you might get by with one of the big rawhide chews at a pet shop.   They are a crafter's warehouse.    I made a matching sheath, flap holster and shoulder parfleche bag from rawhide and they are nice because little stitching, just mainly lacing and tacks.    Go to the leather board here and search parfleche.   Here is a the sheath before and after painting

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Hey Mongorilla,

I forgot about parfleche. I've never used it, but aren't you worried that the dog chewing on you sheath?

Rev. Chase

[St. George]

Rawhide was common - it was almost a kydek of the era.

You can paint it - bead it - or bead on canvas and attach it like an applique like native americans did.

Sheaths were deep - that held and protected the blade - the commercial camp and hunting knives often had a more 'developed' sheath with a strap like you see with modern blades.

You can get a nicely-sized piece by using a well-cleaned rawhide dog bone.

Scouts Out!

[Jack Wagon]

Here is my parfleche  sheath for a big hunting knife.  Jw

[Mogorilla]

Ha Rev.  I didn't with our old dog.   He really never thought he was a dog, and we kind of treated him like he was human.    He lived to be a right grumpy 19 years old.   He was 9 lbs and at times thought he was 8 feet tall and made of steel.    Funny, as I took him with me when I bought supplies at the pet shop, as they had a treat bar you could fill a mixed bag from.   Those things he liked!   I bought one of those giant cow bones (it became a powder flask that has since been passed on in trade).  Had dog under one arm and laid the bone on the counter, it was longer than he was.    Kid at the counter asked me if I had another dog.   I replied no, just him.  He is ferocious.   kid thought I was crazy.   

Current dog is a female miniture australian labradoodle.  They are 45% lab, 45% poodle, and 10% spaniel, bred in Australia as a hypoallergenic service dog.  She is only 17 pounds, but the lab portion comes out in her love of fetch, carrying random things around in her mouth, and a HUGE INTEREST in my stash of rawhide, leather, antlers and bones for craft.   The parfleche items above are always kept in a rubbermade if not on my hips.