My first sheath (holstex)

[Cal45]

After a bit of messing around with small pieces of kydex & holstex I decided to go for it and make a Holstex CF sheath for my Boker Rhino. I am quite happy with the result and I'm looking forward to making my next one!

Holes for large tek-lock on the top and small tek-lock on the bottom and front that can also be used for neck carry.

I noticed that when you slightly over heat the edge of a holstex sheath it start to roll a bit. I took a torch and when all around the sheath to give it a nice rolled edge. It's nice and different!

[u812]

Sweet,how do you like molding the Holstex? I find it to be very rubber like when heated.

[Cal45]

Well I don't have much experience with both but they certainly are different. Like I said I was testing with small pieces and I noticed right off the bat they don't feel and react the same way. It is indeed very rubber like when hot! It almost seems to flatten out vs kydex that shrinks.

Looking forward to making more!

[u812]

I just made two,one with kydex and one with holstex.That is when I noticed how different they are.I like taco style sheaths,the kydex folds over nicely but the holstex was a pain in the but to get it to fold over on the blade where you want it and still get the press closed on it.

[Cal45]

^ Nice, I'll be working on some kydex this week!

[Mike Sastre]

I also like fold over sheaths best - think they make a much better sheath. All your different materials (kydex,Concealex, and holstex) are going to react differently when heated. You just have to learn how each reacts, and then adjust your molding technique to the material.

[RDog]

Is one type of material "easier" to work with in general? What would be the smartest choice for someone who has not worked with any of them?

[Mike Sastre]

Kydex. It just kinda lays there when heat is applied. Easiest to work with.

[Cal45]

2nd try, with kydex this time. OD green on one side and coyote brown on the other.

I had a old cheapy remington knife laying around so I thought I would have a go with it! It has weird "finger ramps" so it was quite challenging. I really wanted to get the part close to the handle perfectly formed and I think I did quite well.

I could of taken more kydex off the top and one of the lower rivets is out of line but I got the thumb ramp and index groove perfect which is what I concentrated on lol

[Mike Sastre]

Looks nice!

[Cal45]

Thanks Mike!

[GrinderMcgee]

I like the ones you have trimmed to allow a full grip.

The kydex is easier to work for me, by which I mean Kydex is easier to evenly heat and less costly for new experiments.