Custom Leather

I am a firm believer in a carry knife is only as good as the sheath its carried in. An example of this is a couple scars I have from knife tip that stuck out from stitching that had been cut through due to there being no welt inside to protect the stitching. Another example is on a guiding trip where the horse I was riding on a narrow switchback trail fell with me on it. As I hit the ground I looked to my left and the knife that was on my belt had slide from the sheath landing blade up only inches from my shoulder. A couple inches one way or the other and Id have been skewered because the factory sheath had let the knife slip.
Lesson learned..

I have been lucky enough to have known some top end saddle makers and more importantly come to befriend two of the top sheath makers in the world, Sandy Morrissey and Chuck Burrows. Both these gentleman have decades and decades of leather work knowledge to tap into.

Sandy is a fellow who truly has seen it, done it and lived to tell,if you ever have a chance to talk to the man take my advice and just listen. He has been a Combat test pilot, Police officer and worked for several saddle companies to include being the carver for Visalia saddle company.

Chuck Burrows of Wild Rose trading company forgot more about leather then even some of the top end saddle makers I have met. He has brought to fame historical and modern techniques to great a whole genre of new "vintage" frontier style work that is copied by many and achieved by few. I consider him the greatest unknown leather man. He has put out several videos on sheaths and holsters I consider to be the best made. If you want to learn ALOT in one video do get them.
Both these fellows has taught me more about leather working then I could learn in 20 years and when I ask for their opinion I know I will be strictly critiqued which really is the only way to improve. Without these gentleman I wouldn't be able to construct a SAFE sheath much less well fitting and visually desirable and yet my work holds no candle to either of these gentleman.

For higher end fancy carving sheaths which I haven't the skill for one of these two fellows is who I trust to do the work and know the finished product is up to my standard. Well worth doing. I happen to be lucky enough that I am the only one Chuck does modern sheaths for now.
Though I don't have the skill or complete knowledge as Chuck or Sandy I have certain standards of skills for what makes a long lasting,safe sheath. I pride myself on clean straight hand stitching, hard edging and most important a custom fit to the individual knife which will not allow a knife to just fall out

Some specs of my sheaths are...
USA tanned shoulder or double shoulder leather generally 7-9 oz
5 cord linen thread
Separate double stitched belt loop in either high or low ride to stop the rig from flopping that holds the knife close to the body.
Skived welt custom fit to the individual knife to allow complete custom fit to the knife.

I do some stamping and other decoration but all carving or intricate work goes to either Sandy or Chuck depending on what it is.
Its my opinion that if the sheath looks cheap, I tend to suspect the knife as well. Its a package.

Marine Kbar replacement sheath