As a maker of custom knives who makes his own sheaths to go with them, I have several opinions on the leatherwork portion of my art. A custom knife may be amazing in its own right but I don't feel it's complete without a sheath that truly compliments it. Together they are a package. A sheath not only protects the knife…but more importantly it protects the user. If you are out in the woods hunting and you take a spill and your sheath doesn't fit your knife properly there is always a chance of losing the knife. However, there is an even bigger chance of you getting hurt if you were to fall on it. Security goes both ways with a proper sheath.

As you're aware already, there are as many ways of making a sheath as there are in dressing one up. I never know what type of sheath a knife will get until it's done and sitting on the design bench with me. Will the sheath be tooled in a fancy pattern? Maybe. Especially if the knife is engraved and it fits the motif. Will it have an inlay? It depends. Is the owner going to make it a daily user? Is it going to be a shelf queen and never see abuse?

All my knives come with a matching sheath. If you want an inlay, that can be arranged for a small surcharge. Let me tell you why . If I put the knife up for sale without a sheath, the person who needs it for a gift this weekend will lose out. Therefore, I make a sheath for every knife so it can be sold as a package. If the buyer wants an inlay, then I am building a totally new sheath for his knife. No big deal as the other sheath will save me time on another knife. I only charge the difference for the exotic skin inlay. It will take me a couple of weeks for me to fit it in my schedule but it won't be too long. Sometimes a knife is just so special that I make a sheath with an inlay from the beginning. Remember, I approach knife making from an artist's point of view as well as a bladesmith's.

Here are some example of sheaths and inlays...

Vintage Alligator - Burgundy with large scales from a mature animal


Here is a similar skin inlayed...

African Python (back) is a nicer skin than are the ones from South America.


An example of it inlayed in a sheath for the customer in the picture with the elephant.


Diamondback Rattlesnake


Inlayed in a "window" fashion


Blonde Teju Lizard


Chocolate Teju Lizard


Dark Brown Teju Lizard


Medium Brown Hornback Alligator


Saddle Brown Hornback Alligator


Medium Brown Alligator tail (from an immature animal)

Note: All of my alligator skin is a minimum of 50 years old, they are vintage skins harvested before any environmental bans. I have a supplier who has access to skins from a defunct shoe and boot company. They are not cheap but they are a lot finer skins than are skins from present day farm raised animals.

Note 2: Not all skins are available at all times. If you want an inlay I will let you choose from what I have on hand at the time or you can choose to wait to see if I can acquire a particular type of skin.

Note 3: All of my work, knives and sheaths, comply to strict governmental restrictions on the use or sale of animal parts that are legal in the U.S. . I am an ethical maker so don't even ask if you know it's illegal.


A basic utilitarian sheath - solid and durable


An example of a tooled sheath which matches the floral pattern engraving on the knife

All of my sheaths are sewn by hand and are available in either brown or black dye.


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