How about a home-made solution, in the spirit of field expedient problem-solving-
The army sere school instructors website once had a lot of words about improvising sheaths, using available materials like conveyor belting and duct tape, which words I can no longer find.
I have become disenchanted with leather sheaths after a randall #1 was corroded by acids in the material. Kydex seems clunky, nylon wears quickly. So I decided to try wood, with blade retention by imbedded magnets. Woodcraft seems more forgiving than leather craft-I use a chisel to gouge out a pocket for the knife in a piece of oak or cedar, epoxy a neodymium magnet in a shallow indentation near the throat of the scabbard, cut a channel from the blade pocket to the toe for drainage, and glue another piece of wood to the first, shaping the exterior on a belt sander and with a draw knife. In extremis, I can shave tinder off my scabbard, not possible with kydex.

Sounds like a great project. If possible PLEASE post pics!

[img]http://s1357.photobucket.com/albums/q749/nursemike44/[/img]

Photos courtesy of MFocazio's lucid instructions on using photobucket.

Bowie style blade was forged from a discarded file, handle is fashioned from a broken axe handle, brass guard from the hardware store: sheath is cedar.

Tomahawk was fashioned by stock reduction from a shingle hatchet.

Smaller blades were fashioned from a discarded carpenter saw blade, handles from cedar and scrap oak.

All blades were annealed, heat-treated in forge, quenched in safflower oil, tempered in a toaster oven.

Homemade forge, homemade anvil. Pictures to follow.

Now that's a pretty cool idea! I'll have to try the wood sheath and magnet trick! Quite a few handmade Scandinavian knives use wood sheaths but don't use the magnets.

thanks, v-harbor freight and american science and surplus carry little neodymium magnets for cheap. A more skilled wood worker than I could sculpt storage space for a fire steel or such on the surface of the sheath.

Thanks Nursemike for the pics and info.
It looks like you have a fun DYI project using around the house tools. I'll look forward to your additional pictures.

How strongly does the magnet hold? Are you able to turn the sheath upside-down with the knife staying stationary?

The bowie stays in the sheath inverted. I have reservations about inverted carry for bfk's: everyone's knife book suggests its useful in combat, iirc, but also recommends wiring the knife into the sheath for safety. I generally put the bigger blade in a possibles bag (preferred terminology for 'man purse') or rucksack rather than wear it in the belt or necklace. I am working on a baldric sheath for a puma white hunter-not sure why.

the smaller knives will be neckers in inverted configuration with one or two magnets, or fixed blade pocket knives, very lightweight blades and grip.

[img]http://s1357.photobucket.com/albums/q749/nursemike44/portable%20forge%20and%20shop/[/img]

photos of portable forge, shop, and boneless breast of chicken.

Thinking of the bartering thread, how about an old file for some of that grilled chicken?
If anyone else would like a file too bring mashed potatoes.

Thanks for the additional pictures Nursemike.
Great looking set-up. You have a amazing looking homebrew forge.

It is hard to tell from the pictures but is that duct work to bring in more oxygen?
Are there plans available for the forge?

I wasn't thinking of hanging the knife inverted but wondering how strong the magnets would hold so that I wouldn't have to worry about it falling out. It looks like I wouldn't have to worry.

Thanks again for your answers. There are many threads on the latest gadget but as always knowledge is more important then any gadget.

I was worried about the magnets, too, and will probably add a backup loop of some sort. There are lots of blacksmith resources on the internet, anvilfire being my favorite. You can find lots of forge plans there. My version was focused on portability, cuz I was living nomadic for a bit. The aluminum foil dryer vent is attached to the axle hole in the tire rim, and feeds air from a hairdryer to the base of the fire pit. Truth is, I can hold the dryer in my hand and achieve forging heat in a charcoal grill, campfire on the ground, or cast iron stove.

In time, I will build a masonry forge with a longer firebox with air feed from the side, so I can work with longer pieces of steel. I get my steel from home depot, flea markets, scrap metal dealers, roadside finds, and by bartering for chicken

Thanks for your interest. Metalwork has freed me from the lust to purchase other guys knives, and opened up a potential income stream doing light ornamental work for friends.