Importance of a Good welted Knife Sheath

One of the main things when it comes to knife sheaths,
in my mind, is not only making a sheath that looks great
but is also functional. The most important aspect is a full
solid welt.

For all of you that already know what a welt is on a
sheath this may be a little redundant.  This is for new
readers, frequent readers of my blog, and visitors to
my website that are looking for information and tips.

A decent knife sheath shouldn't be a single piece
of light weight plastic or leather. Simply folding
over a piece of material, with a  few rivets or a
 small light weight line of stitching, can be risky.

This will only make the sheath and knife more
dangerous inside the sheath especially if your in
some back country, climbing a tree stand or
any outdoor venture.

A sharp knife blade can easily come through the
side of a sheath that has no welt. A sharp knife can
cut into flesh before you would even know it.

So basically a welt almost acts like a guard for
the blade.  The pic below shows the side shot of
one of my hand stitched sheaths with solid
8 to 9 ounce leather.  All of my sheaths have a full
welt.

Also posted below is some custom work recently completed.
This is one of my H7 Hand Jigged Hunting Skinner's.
This knife has hand jigged horn with large brass pins.
The sheath is in the process of being worked on.

Thank you very much for everything,
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Belt Knife custom

Below is a custom order belt knife made with a frontier look and feel.

The blade on this knife is about 6 inches long with a patina aged
finish.  The forward clip/Swedge has been tapered a bit as well.
The spine has been file worked.

The handle is aged black walnut with custom hatching on the
forward haft.

Belt sheath has been antiqued and hand stitched.  This has been
set up to wear high on the belt and cross draw the knife.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Vintage style hunting and field knife

Recently completed custom work below.

This is one of my Vintage style hunting and field knives.
The blade on this is about 3 3/4" long that has been patina
aged.

The handle is antiqued elk stag with brass pins.

Sheath was hand stitched with and has an antiqued darker
brown color.

Also something else you may enjoy reading is some of my writing.  You may have
seen some of my knife articles.  But I also invite you to have a look at some of
my short story work.  A link to one below to segment of one.

Wilderness Survival Short Story: 
The Back Country Journey

I want to wish you all and your Family's a great Thanksgiving.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Kephart Fisher custom and tooled Eagle Sheath

The Custom order Kephart fisher below was completed recently

with a very nice antiqued Osage handle. 

A lanyard hole was added to the rear of the handle, and the 

hand stitched sheath was set up to wear high on the belt.

Also, some recent leather tooling and carved eagle custom sheath detail pic below.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Custom Spear Point Knife

Recent custom knife work, of a beautiful spear point.

This knife was special ordered with a beefed up 3/16" spine
stag and (white liners).

The blade is pattern and patina aged and is about 5 inches
long with some nice file work.

Sheath was hand stitched.

I have a good collection of photos I have taken on hikes and woods
journeys here is another one.

Also If you would like to know or get a heads up when new knives are available
for sale in one of the available knife galleries It will not only be posted on the website
but will post it on twitter.   Will also post info and sneak peaks of in works photos
available leather pieces and more as I can.  The picture below will bring you to
the page.

thank you
Matt ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Crown Stag Antler Knife Custom and Woods and Bush Knife Video

The knife posted below is a custom I did awhile ago.  The Antler
was a special piece to the gentleman that wanted the knife made.

I aged the antler and made him a special custom knife.

A blade of this style and shape has been around for many years
and can handle many tasks from hunting and skinning large
game to a use full tool around the cook pot!

The blade is over 4 inches long and forged 1095 high carbon
steel.

The handle is whitetail antler and the transition piece between
the handle and blade is hard sealed leather.

The sheath was hand stitched and aged a darker brown.

I also had been wanting to make a small video for awhile now of the woods and bush
knife I make in hand so It's posted below.  You are seeing it before the sheath and
custom hand braided leather lanyard.

Thank you Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Custom Bowie Knife

This week I am posting a custom bowie I recently completed. Some of the info on this bowie. Blade is about 6 inches long with pattern and patina aging. File worked thumb stops on the spine. Handle is tiger maple with 7 brass pins and a lanyard hole. The guard I made and shaped by hand from brass. Sheath was antiqued and hand stitched.

I would also like to thank you all for everything, Following my work and website, me an my family appreciate everything. You and your family's all have a great Christmas and New Year.

Matt ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Deep Belly Spear Point More Pictures and Tooled leather work

Posted below are a some additional pictures of the
Deep belly Spear point recently sold from
my available  knives gallery 1

If you jumping here from an Internet search here is a
a little info on the knife.  This piece was forged from
1095 high carbon steel.  The pattern aged blade was
about 4.25 with a tiger maple handle.   The spine
has been beefed up at 3/16" thick and also was hand
(jimped) file worked.   If you click the above link and
scroll down to letter G you will see more info until a
new knife is posted in its place.  The sheath was
antiqued and hand stitched.

I also have a new page up an running on the website.  I posted the link below
the photo.

This page will be for any available leather work I have done.  Keep checking
as I will be adding new tooled and carved leather works.

Available Leather Pieces


Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Straight back Bush and Hunting knife ....Ways to carry a knife part 1

This week I have this custom set I recently completed minus a mini
strop I am working on.

The knife has a blade a little under 4 inches with pattern and patina
aging, handle is tiger maple with brass pins and lanyard hole
and is about 4 1/2" long.

Sheath is hand stitched and high aged.  You can see there is no
loop on the sheath for the ferro rod.  This steel and matching ferro
rod will be carried separate.

A new video has been posted as well.  I made this video to give some ideas for neck
knife carry.   Neck knives can be carried many more ways other than around the
neck.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Stag Hunting and field Knife More pictures

The knife posted below was available on my website
in available knives gallery 2.

Here are some more pictures of the knife.  Also some
details on size and description in case you haven't read them.
Blade was about 3 3/4" with a very nice patina.
Handle being antiqued elk stag with 3 brass pins at about
3 15/16" long.  Spine was about 1/8" and blade width
about 1 7/16"

`Belt Sheath was antiqued and  hand stitched with free hand
tooled scrolls, vines and leaves.

In one of my wood piles I had been admiring the way this log has aged.
thought I would share a picture.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

A Custom Frontier Belt knife with leather and rawhide

This frontier style knife was custom a custom.

The spear point style blade is about 6 inches long that has

been patina aged.

The handle is aged elk bone that has been hafted in elk

leather toward the forward portion of the handle and also

has tight stitched portion of leather.

The sheath has a hard core leather liner and has been wrapped

and cross stitched with aged rawhide and brain tan leather.

the brain tan lace has vintage trade beads and a antiqued tin cone

with horse hair.  This style sheath is made to be worn placed 

behind  or simply tucked behind your pants.

Also thought you would like to see a photo of some of the colors here  in
upstate NY.

Thank you
Matt
ML knives
http://www.mlknives.com

A Straight back custom knife beefed up

This is a custom I made not to long ago and found a

home from my website.

I figured you would like to see some additional pictures.

This knife if I am remembering right had about a 4 inch blade
with a beefed up 3/16" spine.  At the forward point of the blade
there is a tapered swedge clip.   The spine has also been
hand file worked with jimping.

The handle is aged black walnut and the sheath was hand stitched.
The face of the sheath was hand tooled with acorns, scrolls and vines.

 

 

 

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

 

 

Stag skinner with a nice blade shape..NEW Book Anouncement

Some recent completed work from my shop. 

A drop point custom with a blade about
3 3/4" long.  The spine has hand jimped file work.

Handle is stag with 3 brass pins.  Sheath was
hand stitched and has some custom hand tooling
along the side.

Also I am currently working on a new book that is in the mid stages.  This will

be a very nice photo journal with color photos of custom knives that I have done, 

Some pics never posted before.  This will be vol 1.

I don't know the release date or anything yet but  when I get it completed I will

post info here up on the blog, my website, facebook and more.

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com/



Free hand tooling leather sheaths

If you follow my work you know I stitch my sheaths by hand, and
I also work free hand tooling on the face of some of them depending
on what you would want.  Also if something looks or feels
right on piece I have made I will add this.

below I posted a couple more examples for you to see.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com/

Carry Skinner Knife

A past work post.  This was a custom I made I think back in 2008

A perfect sized knife to carry with you everywhere.  The blade was about
2 3/4" inches long with a bit of a belly at the forward part of the blade.
Perfect for skinning small game.

Handle is Cherry burl with steel pins.

Leather sheath was hand stitched and set up to wear on a belt.
Of course a knife this size can also easily slip into a pocket, pack
fishing or game bag as well.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson Bay Camp Knife with Stag

Awhile back I did a post on this Custom Hudson Bay Camp knife.
I thought I would put the pictures and info up here for you to see
as well as an additional picture of the spine.

This customized Knife has a blade about 7 inches long.
The handle is beautiful antiqued stag with brass pins over
brass washers.  The spine is about 3/16" thick.

The sheath is hand stitched and made to be worn high
and cross drawn right handed.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com/