I have posted this before, but I figure some of the newer folks would like it and things are a little slow here.

I dig odd sheaths and this one is that. This is a later 1950's knife.... and looking at the front, it's a dead ringer for a Heiser. But flip it over and the deal is off. It's made like an early 1990's smooth back Johnson sheath. It is stamped "Country Leathers". It is very well made and I assume it was a sample by a sheath maker that was bidding for the Randall business.

I like it !

tune -

what I see as "different" from a Heiser:

1)no back stitch at throat
2)stitching is much "looser" than the typical Heiser
3)belt loop cut completely different
4)indistinct or totally lacking in "tooled" edge
5)appears a bit narrow at the toe

my .02

Thanks for your input Joe..... You are very technically correct as usual. I'll parse my words more carefully if you are going to begin commenting again.

Only offering my opinion on the sheath. Pretty cool item as it is the only one I have seen by this maker. For the time being the only example, it is good work and was obviously patterned after a Heiser. Makes you wonder why no others have shown up. You wouldn't think only one was made.

Joe, It is very well made.... the double thickness of the smooth back really adds heft.

I assume it was a sample during the time that Heiser was having issues and Bo was looking for a new maker.

The knife is near the age of the one I bought from you a few years back. Another "one of a kind" .......as far as we know. This one is unmarked.

Mitchell,

This is probably nothing and certainly a long shot, but for the sake of discussion, below is a vintage Country Leathers postcard. According to the description, they were a retail store in New York. Looks like they sold the kind of stuff that would be in line with Randall knives. Could Country Leathers have been a Randall dealer and perhaps had a special arrangement to have the sheaths stamped with their store's name? Similar to the way Heiser holsters were stamped Abercrombie & Fitch, VL&A (Von Lengerke & Antoine), Greenblatt and Evaluators, Ltd. as discussed in this thread: Link

Could those be Randall knives laying on the table?



"A sampling of the offerings of 'Country Leathers', apparently a retail outlet specializing in leather goods, originally located in Chadwicks, New York."

Damn Tom, I googled it several times and never found anything. Where did you find that????? VERY Cool.

I would say anything is possible and yes, those "could" be Randalls, but it's impossible to confirm from that picture.

Here is a close up of the stamp.

Just did a variety of different searchers. The post card was on eBay.

Interestingly, the Country Leathers font on both the postcard and the sheath are similar.

Mitch you have some really cool stuff! Kudos.........:)