How do I go about making a knife sheathe pattern for a knife I don't have?

[mrCung]

Hello, I am figuring out some if the logistics of starting a small business.  My plan as of now is to sell discounted leather sheathes because I am a novice. My only concern is making a sheath pattern without having the actual knife on hand. What would you do then? Would I have to have the customer ship out their knife to get a proper sheath made? 

Thanks a lot for all of your input!

[DieselTech]

It is best to have the knife. Or a well replicated model of the knife to make a well fitted sheath. 

[Dwight]

With a small stack of southern yellow pine (preferably 2 x 8's) . . .  a band saw . . .  or good table saw . . .  and a good bench sander . . . you can make a wooden copy of darn near any knife produced.

You then make the sheath for the knife.

Some good lessons at a local trade school or hobby shop on model making should be enough to get you started right well.

I do it both for knives and guns . . . never had a problem

May God bless,

Dwight

[chuck123wapati]

Maybe make pancakes for folders. a few sizes will fit most knives and dont need to be formed. Straight blade knife sheaths can also be made by making them for certain blade lengths and shapes. Knives usually have 3" 4" 6" blade length and certain blade shapes clip point and drop point come to mind and are most common. you can make a sheath easilly for any knife if you have the length, shape and thickness of the blade. Don't fret the handles they are all within certain parameters that have to fit the average human hand so most are very close in diameter and length. A decent picture is all you need and the blade measurments.

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by chuck123wapati
wrong pic so i deleted it.

[Handstitched]

That's what I call ' flying blind ' .

For example: A customer  asks me to make  a leatherman type case,  so I make a tracing , size, width  etc of the item,  and make template from  the dimensions  given *.  I also get as much detail  from the customer  as possble.  Same goes for sheaths etc. 

It's best to have the  knife, leatherman , or item to make a custom leather case etc.  

*over the years, I now have quite a collection  of templates for various applications. 

HS

[BlackDragon]

I've gotten orders online for knife sheaths and I don't have the knifes. There are a couple ways I go about it.

One: I offer to make a general fit sheath. I'll get basic measurements of the knife then make a sheath that will fit the knife and there will probably be play in the sheath. You could use the sheath for different knives. Its like buying something off the rack in Large, Medium, or Small. 

Two: You can get the measurements from the knife manufacturer, it's usually right on their webpage. I print a copy of the picture of the knife in the measurements they provide, then I make a wooden knife like Dwight said.

And the second way raises the price of the sheath.