Bark River Sheath

[zatch]

Quick question.

I just received a Bark River Northstar. On the Sharpshooter leather sheath (plain brown leather sheath, Bushcraft B, I believe) I can't for the life of me get my firesteel into the loop on the side of the sheath. I could have sworn I had this same firesteel in other similar barkie sheaths.

Is there a way to make the opening of the loop (or the hole itself) wider? Would doing so comprise the integrity of the loop?

If it helps, it's this firesteel

(View attachment 241724

And this sheath (this is the "A" sheath, not "B")

View attachment 241725

Thanks!

 

[mkleathers]

One thing I can think of is wetting the loop and inserting the fire steel. I don't know how water resistant those sheaths are and if they absorb water at all.

Get some water inside the loop (cover one end with a thumb and put few drops inside) wait few minutes and insert the firesteel. If you manage, dont fiddle with the firesteel to much, because it will only loosen it more and you don't want it o be too lose.

That's what I would try. But, before doing that wait a bit, maybe someone has another idea

Mat

 

[rprocter]

After wetting the loop as suggested above you could dilate the openning with a tapered cylindrical tool like an appropriate sized nail set. Once the openning is stretched just a little, the firesteel likely can be inserted with some force applied.
roland

 

[GrizzlyBear]

Once in there you can hit it with a hair dryer to accelerate the drying and forming time and give you a nice firm set.

 

[zatch]

That worked perfectly!!!

Thanks so much for the advice. Used a small container of water - opened the hole just a little bit, fit the firesteel in, then hit it with a hair dryer for a little bit (I have time to let it sit and dry as well).

Thanks for the advice!