Bowie Knife Sheath

[Daniel Coats]

I'm considering having a sheath made for my Bowie knife recently acquired from Frank House. I'm thinking Alamo period maybe?

What are your thoughts? Am I in the right time period?





Who does this kind of work?

[Daniel Coats]

Here's my questions?

What time period best fits the knife? Knowing that how would we match it up an appropriate sheath. I want it to look like the original sheath so some aging. The knife has engraving so maybe the sheath is a little nicer too but not so much that it detracts to much from the knife.

[Flintandsmoke]

   Daniel probably any of the knife makers that were at the CLA sho

Thanks Mike but just any sheath won't do or I would make one. I'll reply again with more information.

Talk to Lally? She could probably make up something nice. If you want it quilled.

[Daniel Coats]

Origins and the Sandbar Fight:

The Bowie knife's association with James Bowie began with the Sandbar Fight near Natchez, Mississippi, in 1827. This incident, where Bowie used a large knife in a brawl, brought the blade to national attention.

So... that answers the time period for a "Bowie"

[Daniel Coats]

Thanks Rich! Here's an idea from Chuck



He has others

[Daniel Coats]

Here's a leather covered metal sheath from the 1830s owned by Rezin P. Bowie

[whetrock]

I'm sure you've seen these in your online search. But here are two that I think are nice, and they are antiques.

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-4792790/rare-antique-american-civil-war-confederate-texas-bowie-knife-leather-sheath.html


https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/parts---ammo---accessories/knives---bowie/large-antique-bowie-knife-with-original-sheath-from-collecting-texas---found-in-matamoros--mexico.cfm?gun_id=102835903

[Daniel Coats]

Whetrock thank you! I hadn't found those but they are almost a perfect match in style.





That knife in the bottom picture in particular!  I might have enough to post a WTB now. Anyone else have thoughts?

[RobertS]

https://svalbardrepublic.org/ebay/butcher-bowie0413.htm

Check this out.  The sheath (I am pretty sure) is a thin wood core made of two thin pieces of wood that have just enough wood removed in the center to accommodate the blade of the knife and then are glued together and covered with a layer of thin leather.  The throat and tip are made of sheet metal like brass, nickel silver or coin silver.  This  throat is missing the stud, but you can see where it was.  There was originally a leather frog that slides on a belt, and has an opening in the top that the sheath can slide into, and there is a slot in the leather frog for the stud to slide into and catch at the bottom.  I'll see if I can find a better picture or video that illustrates it better. 

[RobertS]

I hope these help!

[Daniel Coats]

Yes! Very helpful

[Daniel Coats]

Never got a response from Lally so I made one. I'll post on Contemporary Accouterments with pictures here in a minute.

[Daniel Coats]

 One of a kind Bowie Knife Sheath for a one of a kind Bowie Knife. I made it out of curly ash and iron. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

[Tim Crosby]

 Well done, looks like they were made for each other.

   Tim