FAQs

• How do I maintain the retention of my leather sheath?
  
  
  Retention is determined by the force being applied by the leather on the knife handle. The force is determined by the geometry of the sheath and the temper or firmness of the leather. When we leave the knife in the sheath for long periods of time, the leather has no choice but to adapt to that shape, thereby reducing the force it can apply. A simple solution to this is to remove the knife from the sheath and squeeze the opening of the sheath to change the internal geometry. 
  
  A typical carry routine for maintaining retention on any leather sheath would involve removing the knife from the sheath at the end of the day and giving the sheath a bit of a squeeze so it can tighten up overnight. Leaving the knife in the sheath for days will inevitably begin to dry-form the leather which will impact retention.  We can't expect kydex-level retention from a soft material like leather, but we can absolutely manipulate it physically to gain retentive properties more conducive to secure carry.
  
  
• Will the [ e.g. Guardian 3 ] sheath fit a [insert different knife name]?

It might, but not in the way that we intended. All of our sheaths are designed to create a precision fit, like a custom glove, around the blade and handle of the knife they were specifically designed around. Our design process is precise to the mm, and we construct our welts to perfectly match the blade shape of the knife it was made for. This has a ton of advantages in terms of fitment and durability, and putting a different knife in the sheath is not only asking for trouble, but it just won't perform or fit in the way we intended.

• Will you make a sheath for the [insert knife name]?

Possibly! If it's a fairly popular knife, or a promising up and coming maker you found on instagram, we love working with edc friendly blades that fit that description. Often times I will do all of the design work completely for free and offer a hefty coupon if a customer sends in a knife for a custom sheath. This helps us build our pattern base and because we can't keep up with all the new trends or makers that pop up every year, helps us stay informed about some of the amazing new designs coming into the market. It doesn't hurt to reach out and ask. We'll take a look at the knife, and quickly let you know if it's something we have time to work on.

• When will I receive my order?

• What does Roäc mean, and uh...how do I pronounce it?

Roäc is the name of an ancient raven chief in J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle Earth universe. Much like in Norse mythology where a pair of ravens named Huginn & Muninn would gather secrets and information to deliver to Odin, the ravens of Middle Earth follow a similar path, but share their secrets with the “King under the Mountain”.

Although we've heard many enjoyable and admirable pronunciations, all of which only further unite us in the great mystery of the umlaut, we simply say "Ro-ik" like the latter part of heroic. 

• Why is your newsletter called “The Conspiracy”?

• Is it okay to keep my tools in my leather pocket organizer for long-term storage?

Leather can retain moisture; moisture can cause issues for carbon steels so I don’t recommend storing your knives in leather long-term. When I empty my pockets for the day, I take my carry tools out of their caddy and set them nearby.

• What is “saddle-stitching” and why does it matter?

I’m glad you asked. Saddle-stitching is the most durable form of stitching and it matters because it’s time consuming and can only be achieved by hand. No machine or automated device can create a saddle stitch. Durability aside, stitching by hand allows me to use a thicker, heavy grade, waxed thread called Tiger Thread which is quite simply overkill for the small EDC applications I use it for, but I like that about it.

• Can my leather get wet?

While I don't recommend exposing your leather to prolonged heavy rains, if you follow a couple steps, most instances can be resolved without issue. If your leather gets really wet, make an attempt to pat off moisture once inside and let air dry overnight. The main thing to remember here is don't try to speed up the drying process. This means don't lay the sheath in the sun, or on your car dash, and especially don't put it in the oven...real examples!

Once the leather is dry, recondition.

• How do I take care of my leather?

High quality full grain vegetable tanned leather is largely self-conditioning. However, if your leather is repeatedly exposed to sun and hot temperatures, applying a coat of leather conditioner once every 6 months will help keep the leather from drying out. Use products without any dye in them unless you want to change the color of the leather.