The main reason for the thickness is because that blade is .32 thick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Although the back leather is around 10 or 11 ounce and the front is more like 8.

It's a heavy duty blade, it needs a heavy duty sheath. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />