Early 1940s sheath production was standardized at least by trade name after HH Heiser of Denver Co. became a supplier. The transition period during late 1942 to mid 1944, witnessed several other makers in the mix, the most prominent being Clarence Moore and to a lesser degree Southern Saddlery. It’s helpful to identify with the former maker as his design styles can be seen in the modifications of subsequent Heiser production. For the purpose of this article, we have selected four examples of sheaths manufactured by Heiser, all exhibiting their logo, but each differing from the next as the sheath line evolved.
It’s important to remember that none of the sheath makers used by RKM were in the business of supplying scabbards for knives prior to their association with Bo. That is not to say that individual examples may not have been produced. This being the case, a design had to evolve which would incorporate all the desired features required by RMK. The earliest examples of finished sheaths that are identifiable as to their maker were produced by Clarence Moore, in spite of the fact that Moore did not affix a trade mark on the sheaths. This can be explained by the large number of extant examples which have his “stamp” on them, without bearing his stamp.
What followed during these early days of experimentation was that other sheath manufacturers, which were reportedly used by RMK from time to time, did not trade mark their sheaths either. This extends to Heiser themselves, who in the beginning and like the others, made a few sheaths only when called upon and it wasn’t until knife production demanded a full time sheath manufacturer that we begin to see the various design variations become less identifiable and the sheath become more standardized.
There is still some speculation about whom and how many sheath makers were used on a “trial basis” before Heiser took the bulk of the work. Similarities of design and style as well as levels of quality and quantity make the aforementioned Moore and Southern easily identifiable. Moore was and remains the most characteristic of the early makers due to his high level of workmanship and the innovations that he used while producing sheaths which were for the most part, at least in the early examples, custom made for each knife that it accompanied. Southern on the other hand, was certainly a Moore copy, as was Heiser and both carried Moore’s characteristic original design features on their early production examples. Recognizing Moore’s innovations and why they were incorporated provide us with a better understanding of the various and subtle changes that took place after Heiser committed to full production. Therefore references are made to Moore’s work, as it provided the “blueprint” for all the sheath work that followed.
(Click image for larger picture.)
This commentary supports four examples of Heiser “fighter” sheaths produced from early to mid decade, 1940’s. The first, (#1) is an early version, which accompanies an example of a 1943 fighter with 8 inch blade. Carry-over (Moore) characteristics can be seen in the length of the stone pocket, shape of the pocket flap, style of buttons and lack of rivets at the throat. Note the Heiser logo stamp beneath the handle keeper. Additionally, the stitching design on the rear, (not shown but consistent from sheath to sheath) which served to attach the belt loop, is clearly in the Moore design.
Example #2 was made for a fighter with 6-inch blade and is so marked on the belt loop in front. Note the keeper placement which has been dropped so that one rivet can both hold the keeper and serve to reinforce the stitching on the rear as well, as it passes completely through the belt loop. The makers mark has been stamped on the back. Other differences in these two examples of obviously early production include the length of the stone pocket as well as the shape of the pocket flat which has dropped the “Moore contour” seen in the first example, perhaps dictated in part by blade length. That the snaps remain the same is probably the result of availability; RMK was the supplier.
Example #3 reveals a much more stylized sheath and one that has incorporated changes which were to become universally recognized during the next half-decade. First, the logo and the blade stamping have been removed from the front and placed on the back. The location of the handle keeper, partly because of the aforementioned has been located centrally. The stone pocket flap has been contoured and the edge is highlighted in a border trim that also appears of the face of the belt loop. This was a Clarence Moore feature which served to upgrade the appearance of the Heiser sheath, as it did for its predecessors. Another change is the addition of rivets to strengthen the sheath at its throat. Finally, the snap type has changed, the sheath carrying a brown button logo.
The final example depicts a sheath very similar to #3, but differs in that it shows red translucent snaps. This is the “logo” button that Bo designed and is a departure from all of the earlier examples, none of which were manufactured to his specifications. The date of sheath production would be 1946 or later and represents the culmination of significant changes and “upgrades” to the Heiser fighter line, from its inception to that date and beyond.
This article and its images do not exhaust the subject, but rather serve to focus on a narrow but revealing time frame in the early production of Heiser sheaths for Randall Made Knives.
