bayonetman Posted June 3, 2015 Share #1 Posted June 3, 2015 I recently purchased this sheath at an estate sale of a long time USAF helicopter crewman. It had a Camillus JPK in it dated 1968, but that is not to say that the sheath dates to that time. As he served for 22 years (1965-1987) it could have came from anytime in that period. It does show normal signs of use. It is obvious that it is not an issue sheath, but my question is has anyone seen another one like it? It runs in my mind that I have seen one or two on ebay over the years, and I am wondering if it is possible that more than one was made by someone either in or out of the military, or if this is a purely "one off". The leather is very heavy, more so than the issue sheath. It is a good but tight fit for the knife. The belt loop is the early loop style, and is much shorter than the issue item. The grip retaining strap is quite low. The sharpening stone pocket is also heavy leather. Overall reasonably well made, especially the care taken to provide a holder for the stone. Just does not appear to be "homemade". Comments please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted June 3, 2015 Share #2 Posted June 3, 2015 Gary I don't think your imagining things. The first thing I thought when I opened this thread is "I've seen that style sheath before", with JPSK's, on Ebay, and I believe more than once before. Just never paid close enough attention to the details before since I knew it wasn't original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted June 3, 2015 Share #3 Posted June 3, 2015 Here's another current auction on the bay with what appears to be a similar sheath. It comes with a Western brand knife, 4.5" blade, date coded from 1979. I don't believe this is a sheath that Western originally provided with any of their knives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted June 3, 2015 Share #4 Posted June 3, 2015 Looks like a sheath for a Randal knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted June 3, 2015 Share #5 Posted June 3, 2015 It does resemble a Randall but most I have seen are marked for model and lenth on the backs.Early brown button scabbard made by Heiser have the Heiser embossed buttons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonetman Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted June 4, 2015 The one on the ebay sale certainly appears to be the same one, so it is not one of a kind. Now if I can figure out who made them and for what knife. It does resemble a Randall except for the retaining strap and the quality of the workmanship is not up to Randall standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted June 4, 2015 Share #7 Posted June 4, 2015 I agree with y'all--seen the style before. When I get a chance, I need to look through my collection; I may even have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byf41 Posted June 4, 2015 Share #8 Posted June 4, 2015 My first thought was a Randall sheath also . Maybe Johnson or Heiser ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted June 4, 2015 Share #9 Posted June 4, 2015 My first thought is it looks just like the sheath for a Schrade Uncle Hendry 153 hunting knife like I had back in the 70's just my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Swigart Posted June 4, 2015 Share #10 Posted June 4, 2015 I recently purchased this sheath at an estate sale of a long time USAF helicopter crewman. It had a Camillus JPK in it dated 1968, but that is not to say that the sheath dates to that time. As he served for 22 years (1965-1987) it could have came from anytime in that period. It does show normal signs of use. It is obvious that it is not an issue sheath, but my question is has anyone seen another one like it? It runs in my mind that I have seen one or two on ebay over the years, and I am wondering if it is possible that more than one was made by someone either in or out of the military, or if this is a purely "one off". The leather is very heavy, more so than the issue sheath. It is a good but tight fit for the knife. The belt loop is the early loop style, and is much shorter than the issue item. The grip retaining strap is quite low. The sharpening stone pocket is also heavy leather. Overall reasonably well made, especially the care taken to provide a holder for the stone. Just does not appear to be "homemade". Comments please. Sheath Pair small.jpg It looks hand sewn, not done on a machine. It is double stitch that is done with a needle on both ends of the thread. The thread is a thicker type that is typical of machine sewing. Could have been re sewn by hand after the original machine sewing came out. It definitely looks hand made but I guess that does not mean "homemade". I make holsters and sheaths. Hand sewing one like this takes a long time. Really impossible to do on a commercial level but who knows in past times labor was cheap and technology was expense instead of the opposite being true now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted June 4, 2015 Share #11 Posted June 4, 2015 It does look familiar, at first I was thinking Randall, but Schrade made similar ones too. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonetman Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted June 4, 2015 My first thought is it looks just like the sheath for a Schrade Uncle Hendry 153 hunting knife like I had back in the 70's just my opinion We may have a winner here. The photo is from a web search, and the sheath does look very much like the one I have. Looks like the aircrewman may have re purposed a commercial sheath he had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted June 5, 2015 Share #13 Posted June 5, 2015 Way to go, Bill & Skip!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted June 5, 2015 Share #14 Posted June 5, 2015 Excellent ID work gentlemen. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted June 5, 2015 Share #15 Posted June 5, 2015 I wish more mysteries could be resolved like this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonetman Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted June 8, 2015 Found another very similar one on the loose on ebay, the seller doesn't know what it is either. Not identical but close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillus Posted June 28, 2015 Share #17 Posted June 28, 2015 I just found this listing can it be Garys sheath, just a thought Mike http://www.ebay.com/itm/121683659579?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonetman Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share #18 Posted June 28, 2015 I just found this listing can it be Garys sheath, just a thought Mike http://www.ebay.com/itm/121683659579?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Similar but not identical. Possibly copied by Schrade for their Uncle Henry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillus Posted June 28, 2015 Share #19 Posted June 28, 2015 ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 4, 2015 Share #20 Posted July 4, 2015 Definitely not a Randall Sheath! Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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