Making Sheathes from Faux Leather.

MITC

MITC

Joined
Jul 24, 2022
Messages
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I am a NOOB to making knives (I don't forge them). My customers ask me for Sheathes all the time. I do not sell nor do I work with any animal products. Please no comments on that.

I am searching for alternatives. But not sure what I will need. I can assume I would use the same tools. But, I am coming up short on material ideas. I know Kydex and that route which I am looking at and will attempt next month. I actually do not know what to ask on this topic. Any suggestions will help.

Thank you
 
the google machine is pretty handy, I searched 'leather substitute'- and you can too!
 
I would find a local sheath maker and contract him to make sheaths for you. I don't see many people wanting to have a fake leather sheath with a handmade knife.
 
How about a duck cloth / canvas ? You can get it waxed and in heavy weight. You’d be able to bond it together and stitch it. I’ve used it some for belt loops and accessories and such. But never made a sheath from it ……….. yet 🤔😎😁 Lol
 
Honest question not trying to be a smart ass or stir the pot.. as a vegan/vegetarian wouldn't you want to utilize the animal and give it the most love and respect even in its afterlife, I'd think using the hide from an animal thats naturally passed away would be a great way to honor and respect its life for years after death
 
Twoody said:
Honest question not trying to be a smart ass or stir the pot.. as a vegan/vegetarian wouldn't you want to utilize the animal and give it the most love and respect even in its afterlife, I'd think using the hide from an animal thats naturally passed away would be a great way to honor and respect its life for years after death
Click to expand...

Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.

However, I do offer a service to people to add the ashes of their pet to rings and such.
 
Sticking with your foundation beliefs are a good thing and often a hard thing to manage in todays world for sure. here's a video on wooden sheath making that might help


G2
 
Many knife manufacturers supply cordura nylon sheaths. Fixed blade knives often have plastic inserts to protect the fabric and stitching. You could do something similar. Here is an example by Buck.

AL9nZEWHZawDeip0RKeZMlrRVHp-bFBfJ2jNZoRfjn5pj4-wJbsapETaDQNlteHBEETgJvK7YaFpQ-tP-Q-C4z26gMkZjQ5XQ2mZdMWN8XOmUE1XVEI-QsC7bUJkU6MZRwrpy8nBgKDZytwCitaE-ncoybMw=w1024


O.B.
 
Your best bet is cordura or something, possibly old firehose, or just go to kydex.

Fake leather is terrible, looks bad , cracks over time, isn't as durable in general, and I'm pretty sure manufacturing it does more harm to the environment than anything involved in the acquisition processing and tanning of real leather.

at least here in the US where we have standards, those fake leathers use all kinds of chemicals and stuff that are likely much worse than those used to tan leather.
 
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Lorien said:
the google machine is pretty handy, I searched 'leather substitute'- and you can too!
Click to expand...
just in case you didn't take my suggestion, here's a link to one of the many options which appeared on the first page of my quick search
 

if you must use something other than leather you need to think of the ​

Environmental effect​

The production of the PVC used in the production of many artificial leathers requires a plasticizer called a phthalate to make it flexible and soft. PVC requires petroleum and large amounts of energy thus making it reliant on fossil fuels. During the production process carcinogenic byproducts, dioxins, are produced which are toxic to humans and animals.[6] Dioxins remain in the environment long after PVC is manufactured. When PVC ends up in a landfill it does not decompose like genuine leather and can release dangerous chemicals into the water and soil

Brand names​


Alcantara
Clarino: manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. of Japan.
Fabrikoid: A DuPont brand, cotton cloth coated with nitrocellulose
Kirza: A Russian form developed in the 1930s consisting of cotton fabric, latex, and rosin
MB-Tex: Used in many Mercedes-Benz base trims[11]
MuSkin: Made from a shelf fungus (Phellinus ellipsoideus) that is treated to become water resistant[12]
Naugahyde: An American brand introduced by Uniroyal
Piñatex: Made from pineapple leaves
Rexine: A British brand
Skai: Made by the German company Konrad Hornschuch AG
 
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