Buckaroo Beltless Sheath

Horsewright

Horsewright

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
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As I'd mentioned in another thread many buckaroos don't wear belts. This has kinda cut into my sales some in my niche market as I don't make folders. So we'd been kicking around ideas for beltless sheaths for fixedblades for some time. I'd made this knife to sell around Christmas time but Nichole said it was too pretty to sell so she kept it. Its my Tapadero model, 7" overall, with a damascus blade and mammoth ivory handle. It came with a pancake sheath but she didn't really like that. She hadn't worn this knife a lot as the pancake lined the handle up so it would kinda poke her bending over etc. Also much of the time she doesn't wear a belt. So I built her a horizontal sheath to carry above her left front pocket (when she did wear a belt) in a cross draw fashion. That didn't work either. The knife at 7" long was long enough it stuck out past her hip and she was catching it on things. "Awkward" as she said. So we came up with this idea. Tentatively its called the Buckaroo Beltless Sheath. It was a difficult build and design process. This is actually prototype number 5. Its a little rough but it works. Yesterday afternoon was its maiden voyage.

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The sheath provided easy access to the knife with either hand. It rode rock steady and didn't move around when drawing the knife.

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Didn't bother her while bending over while she was hobbling her horse.

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Didn't get in the way of her leggings which was a concern of mine.

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Worked fine climbing on her horse and while she was in the saddle too. Might be onto something here.

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After our little photo shoot, we worked around the place, did some chores, fed the horses and dogs and then went out to dinner with a buddy that had stopped by. She wore it throughout and I asked her several times and she said she simply forgot she had it on. So I think we got the comfort down. She didn't take it off till we got back late that night.

Whadya think? Anybody seen something similar?
 
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Very cool and interesting solution. I second the notion that I sometimes don't want a sheath attached to my belt or don't wear a belt at all, while at the same time not wanting to carry the knife in the pocket.
This looks like an excellent alternative.
Thank you for sharing your work, great as always. It is a real inspiration to see your craftsmanship.
 
Pretty cool, one thing I'd think about, putting the snaps so you folded it behind the sheath, making a clean looking front and help keep the snaps from coming undone by accident, snap one side on and then fold the other end around and snap the back one on, probably not as quick to do, but maybe a safer carry too and cleaner looking lines :)

BUT, that's just the OCD in me coming out lol
G2
 
You know Gary I had the same idea. I was gonna leave the one on her right the same way it is and do the other one behind, for that very reason to accidently prevent it coming undone by catching on something. But you know what? I was emphatically over ruled on that deal. Not sure why even.
 
Ya duz what is asked sometimes, but in either case, pun intended, I think it's a clever idea !
G2
 
If that could be made to carry a generic 3 or 4 inch fixed blade, I think you'd sell more than you could make. It's a great design, and it looks good on as well...I could definitely see my wife sporting one of those with an Izula or a BlackJack 155 in it when we go hiking with the dog.

Excellent craftsmanship, I'm very impressed.
 
now that is too cool! no need for a belt, the sheath is the belt also, that is clever
beautiful work too
Gene
 
Great idea, cute knife, lovely photos and beautiful reins. But for larger production you should put studs with multiple holes, for different sizes of waist. This is why
I love this forum:):thumbup:....You can always wear a belt even with this sheat
 
I love stuff like this .
Dave , I tip my hat to you on this one :thumbup:
Man that's a brilliant idea .

Ken
 
Nicely done.
I too wondered how the fit for different people and even different styles of jeans would be. If there is a happy medium that would fit most or if this would have to be an entirely custom build every time.

Beautiful as always,
Chris
 
That reminds me of a short belt I saw somewhere. The idea was to use two loops and a cinch in the middle, although I think the jeans/pants would need to be close to the correct size to work.

As for the sheath, that's genius man. Guys like you, Ken and Gary are a huge inspiration. Thanks for sharing it Dave. I truly love how much information flows here.
 
Thanks guys for all the compliments.

Gary, the next mroning I was able to talk her into trying it with the straps going the other way. Since this was a prototype we popped the snaps off and remounted another set so we could bend the straps behind the belt loops and snap them that way underneath. She then wore the sheath all day. Did some tractoring and other chores. She had some trouble with the rear snap coming undone by itself. She asked me to snap it for her and that fixed it. She does have a bum left arm right now, separated her shoulder. That evening we were going over to friend's house for dinner. So I wore the sheath. I too noticed the rear snap coming undone. Seemed like when ya bent down or something of that nature. We meausred the belt loops and my jeans were 1/2" further apart. Next morning we moved the rear snap over about 3/8" to give it more slack. This didn't seem to help. The rear snap would still come undone. Both on my jeans and on hers. We popped the snap again and switched it back to snapping on top as it orignally was and no more coming undone. She wore it all day yesterday and didn't have any trouble with it. So right now the front strap folds under and snaps and the rear strap folds over the belt loop and snaps. Who knows but its working.

Doesn't seem like the size of the jeans makes all that much difference. Different brands have different spacing on the belt loops. Levi 501s and Wranglers are about the same as are my Cowboy Honor jeans. Nichole also has all three of these brands and the loops don't change much depending on the size. She's obviously a much smaller size than me. I also have some Cinch jeans and there is a huge variation even in the same size from jean to jean. Like 3 ". Not sure how to accomodate that.
 
@Horsewright

It sounds like you may not already be using directional/one-way snaps ... ?

A number if years ago I designed an canvas & vinyl open-sled-top "fisherman's top" for my 20' jet sled. I really did not want the typical post-snaps on the front drop screens (canvas w/ clear vinyl inserts) as I did not want those posts on the front deck because of multitude of anchor-line sets we do when fishing the Columbia River, etc. Front drop curtain attachments take a lot of loading (wind billowing, etc. when running at speed, etc.) that easily "lifts" or unlocks standard snaps when mounted horizontally with a windscreen that rises between 30° - 45° (typical).

Researching options I came across directional or one-way snaps. I gave these to my top-builder & they preformed better than I could have thought possible. I choose stainless, but they are also available in other finishes.

I believe the problem you are having with the rear snap coming undone (when reverse mounted) is related to the pull direction on the mounted snap (lifting the snap open under tension), and believe a directional snap (properly indexed/installed against the load direction) would solve this potential issue for you allowing additional mounting configurations.

The design of these snaps is very simple, and they perform their function very well.

Regards,
Christopher
 
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