I'm posting here to show you my cheap sheath, and to praise cheap sheaths.

Here's my Cheap-ASH-Sheath:



Is it not beautiful, in its no-nonsense ugliness? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've taken a crappy cell phone picture of it, and mis-sized the edge framing of the picture in post-production, in keeping with the feel of a cheap sheath.

My sheath started out as one of these (and then I modified it):

http://www.majorsurplus.com/British-Bayonet-Frog-Set-of-2-P13305.aspx

I mean no disrespect to the superb sheath makers around here (Jeff, Dwayne, etc.) – I am in awe of your beautiful craftsmanship – but, for user knives, I'm finding that I really like cheap, crappy sheaths, too.

Why? What are the good points to a sheath which costs less than $1.50?

To begin with, it's light. Really light. I think that my cheap army surplus sheath for my NMSFNO weighs less than my kydex sheath for my Dumpster Mutt or my leather sheath for my Scrapper 4.

It's also more comfortable than leather or kydex, when you sleep with your knife in your sleeping bag, next to you.

It's easily modified, with a boxcutter, a lighter, and some paracord. I like being able to customize it, this way, without hesitation.

It fits many different large knives, including really fat ones, and really wide ones.

It's quieter than leather or kydex when you rub against it, and (with a little modification) it's rattle-free.

It packs very flat, and takes up almost no space.

And, of course, it's inexpensive. You can get a durable, decent beater knife sheath for less than the cost of a bottle of water.

By all means, buy the gorgeous sheaths from Jeff, Brian, Dwayne, Normark, etc.; but don't be afraid to also plunk down a few bucks for a couple of the cheapest sheaths you can get.

You might be pleasantly surprised.