Beaded Knife Sheath

[CraigC]

From the very beginning, this was the kind of work I wanted to learn how to do. So this, my first beaded knife sheath, is about three years in the making. I've drawn up patterns three times, started two other beaded panels and put it off several times. Until now. I drew up the pattern, cut it out, cleaned it up and started the beadwork months ago and just worked on it as I found time. Couple weeks ago I decided to get serious and finish it. While Chuck Burrows' videos helped me immensely with making holsters and knife sheaths, a lot of this I had to figure out on my own. There are books and videos on beadwork and knife sheaths but nobody shows you how to actually put a beaded knife sheath together. I've put more time into this sheath than full belt and holster rigs. After many hours of toil, it is finally finished. The body of the sheath is 8-9oz vegetable tanned cowhide from the most flea-bitten, scar covered hide I've ever seen, carved in a crosshatch/quilted pattern. The metal spots are antique brass. The cuff is deerskin. The stitching was all done with artificial sinew. The smaller pound beads are modern Czech made. The larger beads are a mixture of modern trade beads, crow beads and antique red padre beads. The tin cones were antiqued with muriatic acid and peroxide. The bone hair pipes were also antiqued. The fringe and tin cones are decorated with black horse hair. No less than four colors of both water and alcohol based dyes were used on the various components. All in all, I think it turned out pretty good.




Beadwork detail.


Fringe detail.


Stitching detail.




The knife in question is a 5" clip point from ML Knives.

 

[JShirley]

That is lovely. Great job.

 

[Piraticalbob]

+1 on John's comment. That is Dan Winkler/Karen Shook-quality work.

 

[nettlle]

Work of art! Remarkable attention to detail.

 

[jmr40]

Good job. I really like the sheath even without the beads. But they take it to another level.

 

[rcmodel]

Mercy!!!

You have taken it to a whole new level!!!

Beautiful work!!!

rc

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

That is a true piece of functional artwork.

 

[Double_J]

WOW!!!!! I know how much work went into that and I am impressed. Beautiful work, keep it up.

 

[hso]

Craig,

Outstanding work!

 

[red rick]

A work of art , great job .

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

One can really see the influence of Chuck Burrows in your work Craig, he was a fine Craftsman.
You are truly carrying on his tradition but with your own Craftsmanship and style.

 

[Malamute]

Well done, nice work!

Every now and then I think I should dig out my beading stuff.

 

[Kingcreek]

Stunning. Is the knife a 3/4 tang?
Any brave would be proud to carry that.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks all for the kind words, means a lot!

One can really see the influence of Chuck Burrows in your work Craig, he was a fine Craftsman.
You are truly carrying on his tradition but with your own Craftsmanship and style.

Thanks for the ultimate compliment! Still in shock over his passing far too young at 63.

That is Dan Winkler/Karen Shook-quality work.

Dang!

Is the knife a 3/4 tang?

Yep.

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

Just when I think your last holster and belt rig are the the ulitmate expression of a great artist and craftsman, you go and surpass yourself! Your Beaded Knife Sheath is truly an exquisite work of art. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Steve Cover]

Very nicely done Craig.
I'm also impressed with the cleanness of the stitching.

Steve

 

[BullRunBear]

That is simply beautiful work. It's the kind of piece that would be passed down and treasured by future generations.
Jeff

 

[bannockburn]

BullRunBear

That is simply beautiful work. It's the kind of piece that would be passed down and treasured by future generations.

That or else put in a glass display case in a museum. Either way your right: it is something that should be treasured for many generations to come.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Beautiful work!

 

[mdThanatos]

As always fantastic work.

 

[kBob]

That is a very nice set.

Put me in mind of an uncle and a cousin about halfway between Dad and I in age.

Dad's brother went for his old BSA Merit Badge in Archery and built his own bow and so got rather "Indiany" for a bit. He was Grand mother and Grand daddy's "oops, I thought we were finished" child and so was more of an older brother than uncle at times. One of the few times he got mad at me ( and then just mildly displeased) was when I upset his Ice tray full of sorted beads which he was using to build a knife sheath cover with on a little loom like affair.

Cousin Marshall was a couple of years older than him and after he left to "Fly Navy" (A6 mostly) his Mom showed me a Machete and it was in a case he had fully beaded.

I suppose the worst thing about that day she showed it to me was 14 year old -kBob not having the brains to take auntie up on her offer to "allow" me to round up all the parts to his Indian Motor Bike scattered from the attic to the back shed.

Those pre internet, streaming movies, game boy, whatever electronic annoyances days encouraged young folks to do things that produced art work of one form or another.

I was amazed at how many of the guys in their age group had little dens in their mother's attics where they build all sorts of stuff......and no doubt avoided contact with the elders. Low pyramidal roof lines may have contributed to the decline of America.

Thanks for doing and sharing this art work and for shaking those memories and ponderings loose.

-kBob