Joe,
You're killing me here (I'm sure I killing you as well). Yes, I read your posts. This is one of them:
Model 4-6, scribed on backside 3-11-61
I remember that knife. If that doesn't look like a Johnson front and back, I don't know what does.
The "Zealot" you mentioned was the guy who was responsible for putting this old question to bed. I for one thank the guy.
The sheaths are
Heiser first and "transitional" second in the order of importance to the community.
Best,
Yep, it does look
like a Johnson more so than what we would call the typical Heiser product like the tan 1-7 sheath I posted a photo of along with the black Johnson. That is irrefutable. Look at the stitching, very typical of Johnson and atypical of Heiser, although I have seen some Heiser marked sheaths with the thicker type of stitching.
The stone pouch cut and stitching is more reminecent of Johnson also. That is my opinion when looking at that particular sheath.
The butterfly stitching on the back also resembles a Johnson more so than the typical Heiser, to me.
Even the leather looks more like what Johnson would use versus what we would expect Heiser to use.
Who might that zealot be?
The sheaths are Heiser first and "transitional" second in the order of importance to the community.
That is a matter of opinion. You can have all the circumstantial evidence on the planet, but the theories and supposition won't hold up in court. So, while I have said prior to this thread, prior to the sample sheath auction, prior to you and most anyone but along with Hunt, that the sheaths in question are likely Heiser made, I still don't have some form of factual documentation supporting what we know to be the case.
Perhaps one day with a little luck, something will turn up.