Four Sock Knives

[beloitpiper]

Those are beautiful! Very subtle and elegant.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Nice job-- if you are concerned about the blade rusting, use heavy leather for the side next to you leg and lighter leather on top-- this will be less bulky. You can also treat the back of the sheath with silicone or a good wax to help prevent the transfer of moisture through the leather. Best of all is to wax the blade, and remove it from the scabbard the minute you take off your hose. Rinse the blade and dry it off after wearing your sgian and rust problems should be kept to a minimum. Finally, avoid putting the blade into a damp sheath-- always have a spare that is dry. This is especially useful if you are attending two-day events in the hot and humid regions.

[Mr. Woolery]

You are absolutely right about your advice on the sheath, MacMillan. The blades are 440C, which is a very good stainless steel and unlikely to rust in anything other than a corrosive salt spray. The sheaths are waxed well (and heated to melt the wax into the leather). I've been at this for a while and living in Alaska means I am familiar with a wide range of weather!

I experimented a few years back (shoot, more like a decade ago!) with Kydex sheaths. Thermoforming plastic that can make a very solid and durable sheath, though not as pretty as leather. For a while I was fond of that material because it is waterproof, sweat-proof, and very resistant to accidentally sticking a knife through it (which I did once with a leather sheath in an awkward situation). However, I try to carry a knife for a year or so with any new innovations before I make a decision about those improvements. Often, I can tell in days if there is a problem, but with Kydex it took months. When the weather got cold, my sheath actually broke at the belt loop and fell off. So, I went back to leather.

I'm really happy with the ironwood and will be making more knives with that as a handle.

Update- one of those ironwood sgians (the one with more swirly grain) has just been sent off to one of the members of this forum in exchange for a bagpipe chanter I've been wanting for over a year. The other three will be offered for trade as soon as I get around to posting a message on the trade board.

-Patrick

[ohneplo]

Very nicely done indeed!
Bruce