Where Can I Get A Custom Knife Sheath

How much can a custom knife maker earn?

Lets assume we are talking about a competent maker, with an eye that matches the market, who is putting out good work. Those things alone are not all that common.Starting off you’ll be lucky to cover materials cost, just trying to get your name out there usually on a knife forum or knife/gun shows.As recognition grows and you get more well known you may start being about to up your profit enough to pay for your time at a low rate ($5–10 an hour is pretty common). This is where most people drop off and realize its just a hobby.Say you’re exceptionally talented and have that style thats hitting at just the right time? Getting $400 for a basic titanium frame lock with a modern knife steel blade doing stock removal. Something like that is probably looking at $100 in materials, and at least 20 hours of work. Congrats you’re now making $15 an hour, but you’ll have extra costs like tooling, and what not.Very very few guys can clear $1k+ on a knife, and those knives are usually art knives that are decked out while being nearly perfectly fit. Possibly $250 in materials used, and some ungodly number of hours to fit everything together, figure 40 hours for sake of math. They’re clearing about $18 an hour.And THAT is why the vast majority of happy knife makers do it as a hobby, you quickly find it how lucky you have to be to even cover your costs. That is if you have a conscience and aren’t one of the many new instagram type marketed type selling fancy looking, thrown together in two hours crap to people who don’t know better, but thats another discussion.

What knife maker online would have the most customizable knife (sheath and such included)?

That question is a bit vague. What exactly do you want customized? Blade materials? handle materials? A completely new design of your own?There are many knifemakers from single maker shops to large semi-production companies employing dozens of craftsmen. Some are willing to entertain customer requests: changing the blade steel, handle materials or surface adornment are common requests. Making a completely unique knife from the buyer’s own design will be less likely to be entertained.

Should a knife sheath be molded from Kydex? Why or why not?

I agree with the several answers which said, in short, it is situational.I have a number of knives which have come with Kydex sheaths. I agree that they are not quiet, so if you are stalking game, etc, they can be a liabiliity. Yet, they are tough and sometimes do offer several different ways to carry them, such as ranger style horizantally behind the back or on left or right sides.On the other hand, I also own some highend custom sheaths for half a dozen of my heavier duty knives, which sheaths are so well made that there is little comparison with the “simpler” leather sheaths often sent with a knife. These sheaths hold a knife solidly and in some cases include fire starters and utility pockets. However, I tend to reserve those sheaths and knives for longer carry, heavier work situations. If I am merely working around the cabin area on a weekend, I am less concerned with what sheath I have than the capability of the knife. (Back in the big city, folding EDC knives are the limit. In the small towns, near the lake and cabin site, wearing a fixed blade in a sheath on one’s belt is not unusual.)I treasure my really good leather sheaths and maintaining them with a leather conditioner keeps them in top shape in all kinds of weather. Kydex is fine, but a good leather sheath for a good knife is a compliment each to the other and is something to be enjoyed, where a Kydex sheath is merely a carry device.

Do you prefer making the knife sheath or buying one?

I’m not a leather worker, so I prefer to buy a knife with a sheath custom made for it. If you look at A. G. Russell: Your Source for Knives & Accessories or Russell’s site for “used” or second hand knives and hand made knives Welcome to cuttingedge.com where you may find some very interesting knives in a price range that suits you — all the way up to Randalls and handmade knives from here and there in the world. You may be able to find makers of custom sheaths on there as well — I can’t remember seeing any, however, but that is probably because I had no need for one. You could send an inquiry to Russell. A Columbia River Knife and Tool Heiho has been my every day pocket carry for quite a while now, clipped into either the back or front pocket of my trousers or jeans, and I have also liked other knives from CRKT. My first pocket carry was a Cub Scout knife; after moving to Charlottesville at age 19, a I carried a slip joint Case Canoe Knife for many a long year, but these days I prefer the safety of a lockback. My current favorite knife is a Gerber Paul knife — button lock — that I bought last year to replace a knife that was purloined (I have always believed) by a friend’s teen-age son at a barbecue more than 40 years ago; Gerber’s Paul Knife is a wonderfully comfortable and unobtrusive pocket carry.Or try this link: Custom Leather Knife Sheaths

How do you shrink leather?

Although I'm not an expert in this field  but here's what Ive learnt from my uncles who were quite fond of hunting.When fresh skin/leather is pealed of an animal it is dried in the sun along with salt and some other chemicals (traditional Indian style).If you are looking forward to drying ur own leather shows which have been ruined by the monsoon rains, then first dry your shoes in direct sunlight and then use a neutral polish along with a brush and wipe with a clean and dry peace of cloth:)