Evolution of a Smatchet Sheath.

[David Brown]

Hello Everyone,

Well as I thought this Smatchet sheath was going to be a tough one.

A little history, (go get a drink as this is a bit long)

Many many years ago (at least 20) I had a customer come to me with another brands Kukri knife.

Making sheaths for bolo and kukri style sheaths was a challenge as the wider tip of the blade had to drag through the narrower "wrist" part of the sheath.
I tried making the sheath by forming it to the blade and then heating small sections of the sheath then slowly reforming the area behind the wide tip as the knife was pulled out.
I style I developed while making holster for pistols with the "new" tac lights that had become popular at the time. Only 20 or so years ago. it sure seems longer ago than that.

I had also made "break out" sheaths where there were no eyelets on the spine of the sheath and the blade would break out of the sheaths formed spine part.

This worked pretty well and there had been pistol shoulder holsters that kind of work this way for some time.

A couple problems with this "Break out sheath" as far as a large kukri goes.

1-It could get inadvertently knocked out of the sheath while doing dynamic things

No problem add a secondary retention strap

2-As the knife is "broken out of the sheath" the formed back kydex will rub on the finish.


Solution was my exposed spine sheath.

With opening the back of the sheath you can use the secondary retention strap to hold the blade in there securely

Secondly the molding of the kydex to the handle with help hold it in if the strap is undone ( I would not totally rely on the friction fit of the handle though as the same thing that happens with the break out sheath could happen.

So no problem just make exposed spine sheaths for the Smatchet right ?
They look really cool and function great.

Yes they do........................but,..............continued in next post

pics of the Buy Brown Original Exposed Spine sheath.

 

[David Brown]

Well Jerry and the Folks at Busse threw a wrench in the works !!

I think it went like this;

Jerry; " Wowsers, this smatchet is awesome, I think it is just what the HOGs want and need. let's drink "

Garth; "Sure is bossman,"

Jerry: " sheathing may be a bit hard but I am sure kydex fingers Brown can figure it out "

Garth ; "yep" (Garth a man of few words)

Jerry ; "I wonder what we can do to really challenge Buy Bacon ?"

Garth ; "Sharpen the spine ?"

Jerry ; "Muhaha, Perfectoroonie Idea, lets offer both sharpened and un-sharpened"

At least that is my guess.

I love those guys.

So with any double edged bolo style blade an exposed spine is just out too dangerous period.
For those of you opted out of the "band breaker" exposed spine is a cool way to go and I will offer them for you.
The Exposed Spine is sleeker and sexy looking

Breakout sheaths have been done for double edged Bolo style blades or even more dangerous

while the material covers the sharpend top edge so that you do not inadvertently bump the exposed edge, when you unsheath it is a potential problem.

I have made them for an Old Hossum Knife I have and since it was my knife I had no problem because I knew it was double edge and knew how to unsheath it.

The problem came when I handed it off to a buddy and did not tell him the blade was double edged and a razor blade was just about to come out of the sheath.
Luckily I warned him and he kept his fingers.

Over the years I have owned and seen a few breakout sheaths that were pretty dangerous

There was a fighter made by another knife company and the breakout edge has a small laser engraved warning on the breakout edge of the sheath

The problem is not when wearing these sheaths it is when you are holding the sheathed knife as you normally do by griping the body of the sheath and pulling the blade out.

when mounted on your body or pack it is a really nice option and can work great

There was a Kerambit that was designed specifically to break out the front
But I have personally been at a get together where we were all looking at each others knives and someone pulled the Kerambit out and dragged the edge on this little razor blade across his inner tendons of his left hands fingers............It was bad.

So how do we fix this ?

About 9 or 10 years ago I had a few customers want Machete sheaths.

I could do my exposed spine design, no problem but......one problem with that way to go is if you are going where Machetes usually go, is, That debris can get in the sheath where the spine is exposed.

So I put my thinking cap on and made a Molding blade that was the same shape as the Machete except the widest part of the blade went all the way back to the scales creating a negative space for the blade to slide through.

But the machete could wiggle a but back and forth

solve that problem by putting a retention strap holding the handle to spine.

Also one benefit of making the sheath this way is it is truly ambidextrous

All good right ?

Machete's yes and even for the Smatchet too

It is an option.

but Some folks do not like straps
they can get in the way

what to do ?..................................next post


Pics

 

[David Brown]

Now good readers we come to a new design for this wonderful knife.

Molded to the handle where you do not need a strap.
***unless carrying inverted, I always recommend secondary retention if any knife is carried inverted***

The knife snaps in.

No exposed sharp edges

Truly ambidextrous

It was a challenge but I think I have it down

Available in all the colors and camos I have
Even Leather or Canvas covered Mutants.

You can order whatever suits you

Thank you for reading

 

[The Knife Life]

"Buy Bacon" That killed me, good one!

Great job on those sheaths! I like the iterative design and innovation.

Good, clean designs with no excess material hanging out around the edges. Top quality components, many lashing points, just good stuff all around.

 

[Boss1911]

Makes me regret not ordering a Smatchet, that is a great looking sheath. I wish you had something like that for my full size Huck Fin.

 

[Cloetus]

David to the rescue..... again.

 

[nerv102]

Hello Everyone,

Well as I thought this Smatchet sheath was going to be a tough one.

A little history, (go get a drink as this is a bit long)

Many many years ago (at least 20) I had a customer come to me with another brands Kukri knife.

Making sheaths for bolo and kukri style sheaths was a challenge as the wider tip of the blade had to drag through the narrower "wrist" part of the sheath.
I tried making the sheath by forming it to the blade and then heating small sections of the sheath then slowly reforming the area behind the wide tip as the knife was pulled out.
I style I developed while making holster for pistols with the "new" tac lights that had become popular at the time. Only 20 or so years ago. it sure seems longer ago than that.

I had also made "break out" sheaths where there were no eyelets on the spine of the sheath and the blade would break out of the sheaths formed spine part.

This worked pretty well and there had been pistol shoulder holsters that kind of work this way for some time.

A couple problems with this "Break out sheath" as far as a large kukri goes.

1-It could get inadvertently knocked out of the sheath while doing dynamic things

No problem add a secondary retention strap

2-As the knife is "broken out of the sheath" the formed back kydex will rub on the finish.


Solution was my exposed spine sheath.

With opening the back of the sheath you can use the secondary retention strap to hold the blade in there securely

Secondly the molding of the kydex to the handle with help hold it in if the strap is undone ( I would not totally rely on the friction fit of the handle though as the same thing that happens with the break out sheath could happen.

So no problem just make exposed spine sheaths for the Smatchet right ?
They look really cool and function great.

Yes they do........................but,..............continued in next post

pics of the Buy Brown Original Exposed Spine sheath.


View attachment 2587288View attachment 2587289

Hey David I sent you an email. I'm interested in getting a smatchet sheath. Just seeing if you got my email?

 

[David Brown]

Hey David I sent you an email. I'm interested in getting a smatchet sheath. Just seeing if you got my email?

Yes sir, got the e-mail last night and replied this morning

 

[Rescue Mike]

Great looking sheath! Guess I’m asking for an early allowance and heading over to the for sale page to see what’s available…