A knife is only useful if it is properly protected. Luckily there are many styles of sheaths that can be used to keep your knife safe and secure.
Deep sheaths, form-fit to the blade, are a common choice. These sheaths come up over the swell of the handle, and are usually lined with felt or lambs wool for a friction fit.
Leather
The sheath is a crucial part of any knife collection. A well-made one will protect your blade and ensure you can enjoy its full potential.
There are a variety of different sheaths available in stores, but you can easily make your own. The first step is selecting the material.
Leather is a good choice because it can be molded to the knife, and will give a rich dark finish. Tooling leather tanned with oak bark is ideal, as it takes up moisture and becomes soft and easy to work.
You can also use wood, such as figured maple or curly birch. Generally these are easier to carve than a smooth-grained, bare wood like basswood.
The sheath was usually affixed to the belt by straps or thongs, and the leather was often decorated. Adding straps is a good idea, because it can add strength to the sheath.
Wood
Wooden sheaths are a popular choice for many Viking knives. They provide a protective lining that helps to prevent the blade from rusting or becoming dull.
Often, a wooden sheath can be lined with fleece or fabric to further protect the blade. The fleece can be dyed or colored to match the knife, if desired.
The sheath is usually held in place with a strap or belt loop. The belt loop should be long enough to fit over the handle of your knife.
A sheath can be made from any wood that is not prone to splitting. Curly birch is an obvious choice for Scandinavian knife sheaths, but figured maple can be used as well.
During heavy fighting, sword blades often receive significant edge damage. These nicks and burrs leave parallel striations on the severed ends of bone, which can be seen in the skeletal remains of Viking age blades.
Glue
Glue is an essential ingredient for many things, and has been used for thousands of years. Throughout history, glue has been used for everything from repairing clay pots to fastening pieces of furniture together.
Historically, glues were made with plant or animal parts, but modern adhesives are mostly synthetic. They may be a natural liquid that comes out of trees when they are cut, or they can be oil-based chemicals that people use to stick two or more things together.
In a factory, glue stock is mixed with a substance that helps the glue to bond properly to other objects. These can include starch, protein, milk or egg albumen, and other materials.
After this mixture is heated at the right temperature and duration, it forms a sticky substance known as glue liquor. This is then recooked to thicken the glue.
Traditionally, glue was made with animal parts such as horse hides. These animals have lots of collagen, a key protein found in connective tissues such as cartilage and bones.
Stitching
Stitching is a basic component of many crafts, including knitting, quilting, and embroidery. It can be used to make things more durable and to give the project a finished look.
A stitch can be a single line or a series of stitches. It can be a cross stitch or a zigzag stitch.
The word stitching is of Germanic origin and has its roots in the words stichen, sticcen, and stikjana, which means “to stab or stick” and “prick”. It’s related to a number of other English words, including sting, stick, and stickle.
The best knife sheaths are made of heavy leather that has been vegetable-tanned. Vegetable-tanned leather is more pliable than other types of leather, and it holds its shape.