First Becker & I Made It a Sheath

C

ColdDeadHand

Joined
Nov 5, 2014
Messages
141
Well I'd never heard the name "Becker" until I started crawling around this forum and learning some things. OK, I'd never really gotten past "Buck" and "Cold Steel" until I found this forum. I was happy, but then BladeForums opened my eyes to a wider world full of finer things.
I got a RAT-3 and wound up giving it to my dad. Nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't exactly the knife I wanted and I thought it looked better on him.

So the Becker Bug bit me and I had to run out and get a BK2. When I ordered the knife I was initially worried about the thickness and weight, was afraid it might handle more like a mallet than a blade. Boy was I wrong. Now, I can see why this would be a little too slow for a fighter, but as an all-around workhorse, boy this thing is the BOSS!

Here are sheath making pics. Sorry I didn't take more pics as I went along, I was just really into what I was doing.

Wet forming:
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Finished:
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And yeah, it has some "fit and finish" issues, but it's very functional. And it's the 3rd sheath I've made ever, so I'm satisfied for now, and constantly trying to improve and learn my craft.
 
And yes, I left this one natural. It wasn't perfect so I didn't feel like it was worth the dye, I just rubbed it up with a bucket of Snow-Proof and called it good.
 
ColdDeadHand said:
Well I'd never heard the name "Becker" until I started crawling around this forum and learning some things. OK, I'd never really gotten past "Buck" and "Cold Steel" until I found this forum. I was happy, but then BladeForums opened my eyes to a wider world full of finer things.
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Its funny, my experience went the other way around. First post I saw on bladeforums was about Beckers (and was led here by a google search), and since my first one, I've never really had a taste for "Buck" or "Cold Steel" yet :p.

And nice work on the sheath. I've been starting to look into making my own more recently, and yours looks great to me. Were you using any particular design as a guide for yours? Also, what tools did you use (trying to figure out which tools I need, and yes, I've been lurking in the sheathmaking forum a bit recently :p)?

And congrats on the BK2, its a beast of a blade :).
 
Looks good! I may start my third sheath this weekend, on my 15. I was hoping to start a pocket sheath for the 24 I recently ordered but since that river place has decided to not ship it yet I will have to forego that for now. Then again, there is that big holiday coming up so maybe I will put aside my little hobby until shopping is done :(
 
ocnLogan said:
Were you using any particular design as a guide for yours? Also, what tools did you use (trying to figure out which tools I need, and yes, I've been lurking in the sheathmaking forum a bit recently :p)?
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I started making sheaths because I wanted a Hedgehog but didn't want to fork out the $$$. They are totally worth it, I just don't have it.
And yes I have bought a lot of tools. I cut with a utility blade, but have a stitch groover, nylon thread, v gouge, skieve, burnisher, bone folder, edge beveler.

I learned everything from reading the awesome tutorials over in the sheath making forum. G2 especially.
 
Oh, and the one thing that is killing me is I'm using to a hand awl for my holes. Yes, using a spacer wheel, which gets the spacing even on the front, but when I'm punching more than 1 or 2 layers of leather I cannot get the holes straight on the back side. Need a hand press.
 
ColdDeadHand said:
I started making sheaths because I wanted a Hedgehog but didn't want to fork out the $$$. They are totally worth it, I just don't have it.
And yes I have bought a lot of tools. I cut with a utility blade, but have a stitch groover, nylon thread, v gouge, skieve, burnisher, bone folder, edge beveler.

I learned everything from reading the awesome tutorials over in the sheath making forum. G2 especially.
Click to expand...

ColdDeadHand said:
Oh, and the one thing that is killing me is I'm using to a hand awl for my holes. Yes, using a spacer wheel, which gets the spacing even on the front, but when I'm punching more than 1 or 2 layers of leather I cannot get the holes straight on the back side. Need a hand press.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the list, that does help a lot actually :D.
 
You might have a future in sheath making ��. Congrats on the Becker too, it definitely won't be your last!
 
That sheath looks really well executed. I like the natural, FWIW. It'll patina most excellently, I'd guess. Do you find the carry pretty comfortable? Looks like it would be. Thanks for the pics and the parts list....I've been dabbling a little (like, micro) with leather. So far, only a little mask for my 'hawk.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Do you find the carry pretty comfortable?
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Yes, I'd say pretty darned comfy. With the pouch and everything it does have some bulk, so NOT incognito at all.
It printed way to much to wear around town so I did a "down n' dirty" on the kydex sheath that came with it and this is a lot slimmer.
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And yeah, the stitching was a major PITA on this, but what can I do, I'm out of snaps?
But it is very low-profile and since we're having Florida "winter weather" I can wear a hoodie a little bit and it covers fine.

I will see if I can load up a pack and get out to a wilderness area sometime this weekend and use the new scout sheath. I think I'm gonna like it a lot, but you never know till you try it.


Here's the 2nd sheath I made, also a scout for a RAT-3 I got Dad for Christmas. It was made from Michael's "farmer's scraps" or whatever due to supply problems with my leather, so it was tough to work with and it didn't burnish right either, I'm pretty sure it was not veg-tan.
It came out ok, but the tinder pouch and straps and everything was SUPER CRAMPED because the RAT-3 is just a small knife.
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I did want him to have that setup since he lives in Colorado and treks a lot.
 
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And what the H is with snaps? It just seems like they randomly deform when you're banging them in. Another reason to get a press...Harbor Freight, here I come.
 
ColdDeadHand said:
Yes, I'd say pretty darned comfy. With the pouch and everything it does have some bulk, so NOT incognito at all.
It printed way to much to wear around town so I did a "down n' dirty" on the kydex sheath that came with it and this is a lot slimmer.
temporary-66.jpg


And yeah, the stitching was a major PITA on this, but what can I do, I'm out of snaps?
But it is very low-profile and since we're having Florida "winter weather" I can wear a hoodie a little bit and it covers fine.

I will see if I can load up a pack and get out to a wilderness area sometime this weekend and use the new scout sheath. I think I'm gonna like it a lot, but you never know till you try it.


Here's the 2nd sheath I made, also a scout for a RAT-3 I got Dad for Christmas. It was made from Michael's "farmer's scraps" or whatever due to supply problems with my leather, so it was tough to work with and it didn't burnish right either, I'm pretty sure it was not veg-tan.
It came out ok, but the tinder pouch and straps and everything was SUPER CRAMPED because the RAT-3 is just a small knife.
temporary-67.jpg


I did want him to have that setup since he lives in Colorado and treks a lot.
Click to expand...


So, I'm noticing that you're having the same issue I had for a while with my BK2 in scout/crossdraw carry. The handle is so heavy it tilts it down.

I figured out a way to make it carry flat with some paracord though. I might be able to post some photos of it sometime later today.
 
ocnLogan said:
So, I'm noticing that you're having the same issue I had for a while with my BK2 in scout/crossdraw carry. The handle is so heavy it tilts it down.

I figured out a way to make it carry flat with some paracord though. I might be able to post some photos of it sometime later today.
Click to expand...

I have found that the key when making scout carry setups for large or bulky knives like the BK-2 is to get first strap closest to the handle in a place that balances the knife best as possible.

Most of my BK-2 sheaths can be balanced almost perfectly on the belt with just the one strap. The second strap just keeps it in place but the center of gravity I guess you could say is on the first strap.
 
I'm thinking of getting a BK7 and have it mounted horizontally using a kydex sheath as i aint sure how to work on leather yet.

I'm gonna try doing it for my 16 and 17 first and see how from there.

As for the knife tilting due to the weight, i would recommend spacing out the 2 straps that holds the sheath to the belt rather then having so close together or even having a 3rd strap.
 
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