Clay's IWB sheath! pics and mini-review

N

NaTeDoGG

Joined
Jun 30, 2000
Messages
369
Just got it today, very sweet! :D I'm using it with my BM43BLK... it has made slight rubbing marks on the BLK finish between the pins and the first skeleton hole. But I have no other BM bali to but in it. :( So far they are very faint and only noticeable at certain angles, even if you are looking for them. Ah well, my 43 is a user and I like it a lot. I want it to be my EDC and it matches in color very nicely with the IWB sheath... so I'm sacrificing some little marks on the handles. :)

One thing about the sheath, it seems to want to come up with the knife when I pull it out. The hook doesn't catch my belt. :( I think this is because my belt is not very wide. I'm going to talk to Clay and see if I can't heat this stuff up and bend that hook a little more so the problem goes away.

Other than that I find the sheath to be made very well and it looks great (especially with the 43BLK :D)! The knife locks in nicely and won't fall out. Positioned on the side of my hip it is not uncomfortable at all. Sitting, walking, and standing -- it isn't annoying. Totally worth getting!

Here's some pics, sorry they aren't the best.

sheath1.jpg

sheath2.jpg

sheath3.jpg


Not sure if ya'll want to see this, if not, avert your eyes. ;)

sheathfit.jpg
 
I used a hairdryer, set on high/heat, to adjust the 'hook' on my IWB sheath. If you have enough material, I'd suggest using your belt for a guide and turning the end of the 'hook' up, making it like a 'u'. Heat the kydex up slowly and carefully use a flat object, like the side of a meat cleaver (eh, Clay;)) to bend the kydex hook around your belt. Hold it there until it cools and you should be in business. By the way, very nice 'smooth' contours on the sheath Clay; you da man!!!:D
 
That's a beaut' Nate! I'm very glad to hear yet another good review on Clay's sheaths. And thanks for the tip on bending Kydex Dawkind. That'll come in handy.

Side note... do all blk BM's come with a plain Ti latch like that? It looks nice.
 
Dawkin is right about the heat and bend. Just make sure you shield the rest of the sheath from the heat. It only takes a second to turn the whole thing into a pile of melted plastic.

When I originally posted pics of that sheath, I mentioned that they were for clipping inside the pocket. I figured most people would use them that way and maybe IWB once in awhile.

I didn't think the IWB carry would be as popular as it turned out to be.

I've already started on the next batch and they will have the clip turned up for better IWB use.
 
Thanks for the tips guys! I heated it up and bent it... let me tell you, it was a pain in the ass! :eek: I heated it with a hair dryer (shielding the rest of the sheath) and tried to bend it like 4 times - no luck. Finally I heated it from about an inch away for 3 and a half minutes straight then (and even still it wasn't easy!) bent it up where I wanted it. It cracked a little bit at each edge, probably because it wasn't hot enough, but that didn't make it any weaker. Also, it didn't want to stay at such an extreme U shape like I wanted. I had to put the hair dryer on cool, hold it there, and cool it down so it would stay.

As it is, I'm very happy with the results and now I have a great EDC sheath! :D I'll post some pics of my bending soon.

As a side note, heating it for 3 and 1/2 minutes, I got board and was flipping my 43. Just when I was ready to bend it I shaving the skin off my ring finger on my right hand. Got blood everywhere trying to bend it while it was still hot. :D It was great. :)
 
Looks like I'm gonna be contacting Clay soon ;) I think it's the only one I don't have....plus I have another "project" in mind :)

Geeeesh Nate :) ...sounds like we should all chip in and get you a new hairdryer for Christmas ;) ...can't have you slicing yourself on every modification project. Glad it worked out!!
"Hunters seek what they [WANT]..., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
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The IWB is one GREAT sheath. I carry mine in my front right pocket like my 42s has a clip on it. It works real well this way and it alway leaves the sheath in my pocket when I draw.
 
For the life of me I'm unable to take a good pic of the cracks in the sheath. They are small and only on the edges where I bent it. They don't comprimise the strength of the sheath at all.

crack.jpg


Here's the sheath after my bending. Works great! :D

bent.jpg


Here's a cool pic. :)

dragon.jpg
 
What Clay did not explain to you is that this sheath was originally made in the Indonesian style in which the knife is supposed to be drawn with the sheath still attached. The first blow is struck to the opponent with the sheathed knife, then one hand (usually the left) grasps the sheath and pulls it free from the knife. The sheath itself can then be used as an impact weapon to complement the knife.
 
Thanks Dawkind! :)

Originally posted by Gollnick
What Clay did not explain to you is that this sheath was originally made in the Indonesian style in which the knife is supposed to be drawn with the sheath still attached.
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Ya well, it works better now! :)
 
WOW!!! I can't wait till I get mine. I hope I get the new and improved model. That looks perfect. Imay have to buy another. Thanks for the pics guys.
 
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