Boot Clip Help

Thomason

Thomason

Joined
Nov 28, 2002
Messages
9,375
Gentlemen,

I got this Randall triathlete and the standard issue sheath. The knife is really hard to draw and re-sheath. I had one of these years ago and it was not even close to the difficulty of using this one. I believe (?) it is not the leather but the pressure the the bottom part of the clip exerts on the knife. I realize some tension is needed to allow the clip to keep it attached but it is practically impossible to draw the knife when it is on the belt or pocket of whatever.

I don't believe this is the kind of issue that time and usage will help. Is there some way to back off the pressure of the clip to find the sweet spot?
I have a big honkin' ball peen hammer and a pair of channel-lock pliers but I was hoping for a solution with a little more finesse. :D

Any thought would be appreciated.

IMG_1454.jpg


(MODS- If this should be in the Maintenance sub-forum just let me know and I will delete this one and re-post over there)
 
I don't understand how the clip puts pressure on the knife? The clip itself (the part that actually goes over the belt) should be pressing against the leather. Behind that is the steel that is riveted to the leather.

Maybe I'm reading this wrong?
 
I was just guessing. You may be right that the clip is not the issue. So can think of any way loosen up the knife in the sheath?
Thanks
 
Hmm... I think some of the others may have better ideas. My guess as to why it's hard to remove has to do with the knife being scale-less. There's a lot of flat steel with not a lot to grab onto and no surface irregularities (like scales) to break up the hold that the leather has on it. It may just be ill fit too.

My friend Dave here suggested a light spray of silicone in a sheath that was creating too much retention. I'm not sure how well that would work for you, but I'd definitely try it. Other than that, I'd guess that with enough time the nap on the inside will smooth out and it'll get easier, but that's only a guess.
 
Looking at it, there is something a little odd about the bend in the clip, it looks like its set a little deep there. If done a certain way then yes it could be a form of retention by pressing on the knife. Visualize a wedge in there.

But, Most of, if not all the retention in a sheath like that is in two places. In the welt, if the knife has a guard that sits below the blade its a great place to put what is called a "Loveless Cam". That cam can be either very positive or very loose depending on its size. Use can loosed them somewhat with time, but its always going to have a bearing on the retention. Some poo poo the Loveless Cam saying it will wear out with use, but I have one that is nearly 15 years old and still snaps in place so no it wont wear out, but it will smooth out.

The other means of retention with a skeleton knife like this one is welt thickness. Simply make the sheath with a thinner welt than the knife and bingo! It stays put. Its not as long term as the Loveless Cam, but its smoother. The caveat of this design of a thinner welt is wear on the steel. The leather will polish the steel by the constant rubbing.

If Greg is still doing Randall sheaths, then I'd put a wager on it being with a cam inside.

I've never tried silcone so cant comment there. But it sounds like a decent idea, but spraying it inside of a thin sheath like that without spraying too much would be tricky.
 
Last night I consulted with Dr. Paul Long S.D. (sheath doctor). I described the symptoms as best I could and he asked some questions. He diagnosed the problem as possibly being the clip was set a tad to deep into the sheath. The same diagnoses that Dr. Dwayne Puckett S.D., came up with independently by noticing something amiss in the photo.

Dr. Long and I discussed several treatment options and settled on one. The sheath was soaked in water and an object slightly larger than the knife was forced into the sheath. In essence wet forming and stretching the leather the slight amount needed. I found the handle of a plastic kitchen utensil of just the correct size. I checked on the patient this morning and the progress was amazing. The knife fits perfectly, not to tight not to loose. The treatment will continue a few days until the leather sets and is completely dry. I expect a full and complete cure.

Just another example of the extremely kind and helpful members of this forum. Thanks for the input everyone.
 
Last edited:
I'd probably spray it on a q tip or something first so I could get er down in there. Needle nose pliers used judiciously can help stretch a loveless cam a bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top