milesofalaska
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 504
In lockdown. Bored. I see a lot of sheaths of leather, comments on plastic, thought I'd show other options. I often make sheaths of hollow fossil bone, wood or mammoth ivory bark. For my own custom knives. Not that interested in getting into custom sheaths for others knives, but do sell the raw materials to those interested in making their own. I have a few 'how to' video on my web site, want to make more. But would be glad to discuss or answer questions since this is not as common as leather. There are issues, shortcuts, such as using plastic backs that form to the knife, so the visible top need not be formed much. Anyhow, if these pictures link right.....OK so this one below is mammoth ivory bark. What is nice about this material is it commonly has a natural curve, and can be 'scrap' due to to much curve not quite right for handle material yet be sold with good colors so possible use for sheath. Metal band on top becomes an important structural component to ensure the back and front will never separate.
The above sheath is hollow fossil 60,000 year old bison rib bone. Not hard to make, basically making an end cap. The inner bone has soft marrow easy to hollow out to suite- harden with resin or CA glue. A note, I sometimes fill with fiberglass resin. Before resin sets, put wrapped blade in the hollow and let resin set. Perfect fit. No special tools needed to make this. Such fossil material can be acquired fairly cheaply if it is not considered 'specimen' Being just a part of a rib this is sold by the pound. Sheath makes nice match for fossil bone handle.
The above is stabilized wood. A little complicated to explain, but made in two parts, using spacer wood the thickness of the blade, outline cut out of the spacer. If you can picture this, there is little carving hollowing out work to do. Time involved is for me, less than leather, and cost me less to make in materials. I find and stabilize my own wood. A tip is, you can soak wood in Cactus juice, no vacuum just soak a week or a month. (I soak 5 gallons at a time)
I enjoy alternate sheath materials as it creates a unique product, and one of a kind unique is helpful in selling. Or my view is, those of us who create-and sell need to have something recognizable, different from the other guy even if it is a nitch market, "Hey I recognize that!" I think is important. Anyhow just bringing up the subject of "it doesn't have to be either leather or plastic!" My methods are out there- off the wall.. not to me, been doing it 40 years... but often get blank stares, no comment. I'm mostly bored. Came to the fossil show in Arizona, now can not get back home to Alaska.... different subject.... stay safe guys! Guessing a lot of people hold up in the shop creating! Ra ra!
The above sheath is hollow fossil 60,000 year old bison rib bone. Not hard to make, basically making an end cap. The inner bone has soft marrow easy to hollow out to suite- harden with resin or CA glue. A note, I sometimes fill with fiberglass resin. Before resin sets, put wrapped blade in the hollow and let resin set. Perfect fit. No special tools needed to make this. Such fossil material can be acquired fairly cheaply if it is not considered 'specimen' Being just a part of a rib this is sold by the pound. Sheath makes nice match for fossil bone handle.
The above is stabilized wood. A little complicated to explain, but made in two parts, using spacer wood the thickness of the blade, outline cut out of the spacer. If you can picture this, there is little carving hollowing out work to do. Time involved is for me, less than leather, and cost me less to make in materials. I find and stabilize my own wood. A tip is, you can soak wood in Cactus juice, no vacuum just soak a week or a month. (I soak 5 gallons at a time)
I enjoy alternate sheath materials as it creates a unique product, and one of a kind unique is helpful in selling. Or my view is, those of us who create-and sell need to have something recognizable, different from the other guy even if it is a nitch market, "Hey I recognize that!" I think is important. Anyhow just bringing up the subject of "it doesn't have to be either leather or plastic!" My methods are out there- off the wall.. not to me, been doing it 40 years... but often get blank stares, no comment. I'm mostly bored. Came to the fossil show in Arizona, now can not get back home to Alaska.... different subject.... stay safe guys! Guessing a lot of people hold up in the shop creating! Ra ra!
