What can you do with sheaths to make them more unique or special?
UNIQUENESS: Make it to satisfy your prefered personal requirements. That may sound daftly obvious but I've never bought any sheathed edged tool that I felt couldn't be modified to serve me better.
When I started out in the 1980s (and before I had any idea or blade experience), I'd buy those horrible cheaply made, mass-produced "survival knives" popular because of their features. Sheath modification would usually be removing the gimmicks and junk before ending up seeking out a more usable knife.
What I learned (eventually!) was that a good sheath knife sells on its quality and simplicity. A well made bare sheath allows you to notice the superior build of the tool itself. Then I found that I'd want to add features to the simple sheath...
SPECIALNESS: Make it
yourself. Tailor it to
your way of working. Make it to be reliable. For me, making it by my own hands makes it extra sentimental.
And any other sheath based recommends?
How do you carry your knife? Are there variations to your carry method? Do you want to keep a sharpening stone on the sheath? And a ferro rod?
I'm sure that's the truth mountainm, but time and leather work skill are something I seem to have in short supply.
I have made a functional sheath for a knife before but it just looks a little crap compared to most if I'm honest.
Everyone starts somewhere. Unless you're really gifted, your first attempts won't be great. Skill comes through practice. Patience and a desire to learn are probably the most valuable "resources".
In my experience, the first of any new type takes
AGES. I actually spend at least three times as long as the production process thinking out the design, considering the creation process, etc. I tinker around with bits to see what might work best and mull over ideas. When I feel that I've (over)exhausted every consideration, I'll make a start. I work at a slow, deliberate pace and I won't do too much in a day.
I'll add pics of the last sheath that I made. It was for a Frost Mora that I'd bought from a Car Boot Sale for £4 - with no sheath at all.
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