Help please! Soldered screws of soft metal in Survival Sheath System

SaintWarrior

SaintWarrior

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Please somebody advise me what to do. Because I already don't know how to deal with this guy Robert from Survival Sheath System and how to respond to his "jokes".

Several months ago I ordered a Shoulder Sheath Lite for my Cold Steel Tai Pan (you know that the original sheath is not very comfortable with this blade). He made me the sheath, shipped it successfully and in general I was satisfied except for the too "downwards hanging" position that made the reach and fast draw sometimes difficult.

Yesterday I decided to adjust mounting points on Kydex (previously I was screw driving Secure-Ex from Peace Keeper I in various directions without any problems) I just wanted to attach one strap to one mounting point and another to a lower one in order to give an extra angle to sheath position under the shoulder. I am trying to take the screws out with normal screwdriver - they are not moving. I am trying the electric screwdriver - they are not moving but just the soft metal they are made of is turning into abrasive squash.

How should I understand this joke for nearly 100 dollars? He claims that his sheaths are "military grade product" fully versatile and adjustable while the soft (probably made of the worst and softest metal ever) screws are soldered into mounting points of Kydex without any possibility to extract them????? Why I can adjust Boker sheaths, Cold Steel Secure-Ex in whatever I like wearing style and here I get the sheath permanently screwed? What should I do now? Request a refund? This Robert always takes a deaf-mute communication with customers policy. The bank won't make a charge back because the sheath is too specific product and they will just not understand the problem. I am on the other part of the globe from Dallas where Mr. Robert is making his "survival sheath systems". How long this rip-off will continue??? Maybe admins and moderators of this forums may help?
 
Pictures would help immensely. Also, if the screws are so soft, why would you not apply heat or something? More torque will only mangle them.
 
RevDevil said:
Pictures would help immensely. Also, if the screws are so soft, why would you not apply heat or something? More torque will only mangle them.
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Screws are not just soft they are not turning and screwing at all. I tried injecting WD-40 and Ballistol in them but with no result at all. They are permanently attached. Though they are X shape screws but they seem to be just soldered in the mounting holes of the kydex. First time I see something like this, and it is even more awful given the fact that all sheaths are fully adjustable nowadays.
 
RevDevil said:
Can you post up a photo of the sheath?
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There is no point already to posting any photos. Screws are broken, mount points are damaged, the sheath is in the recycle bin cause sending it back will cost me half of the price moreover taking into account that the sheath maker would not like to communicate with his customers. Harness cannot be attached normally and adjusted now. The most awesome knife of mine goes back to the box. And everything is because that it is difficult to make a 1 cent worth normal screws. :(
 
If the screws are brass or aluminum, those materials sometimes show a high degree of hold when mated together. This is nothing the maker can can control other than to not use those materials. I have had brass chicago screws lock up on me that were hand tight only and I was barely able to break the hold with pliers and a screwdriver. It sucks for sure. You may want to recover the sheath from the trash and post a pic. Someone with more experiance might be able to make a suggestion to save the sheath. Worst it will cost at this time is a pic.
 
Get your sheath out of the trash.

Even though it sounds like you stripped the screw heads, you can always drill-out the screws, and then replace them with your won.

Also, he may have added Loctite thread locker to the screws. You can loosen these for removal by first applying heat to the screw head by first holding a soldering iron tip to the screw.

It really would help if you posted pictures. Seeing how the holes are laid-out in the sheath can help people make suggestions on how you may be able to re-rig the sheath.
 
Take it out of the trash and shoot some photos. I find it hard to believe things are as bad you say!!!
 
Like CWL said above. Drilling the screws out is easy enough but since they are soft you can also carefully use a file or electric grinder of some type and grind the screw head completely off on one side until flush with the kydex and then use a punch and punch it out. Get new screws and you are done. A very easy fix and I have done similar repairs many times. Throwing that expensive sheath out is stupid when the repair is so easy. If you are a mechanical klutz who can't do anything for yourself then surely you must know someone over there who can do that for you. I agree that loctite was probably used on the screws and the heads will strip easily unless heated up first to break the glue bond.
 
Loctite glued screws?

I am sorry but why the hell there is no word on his website in "Use and Care" section that damn screws are glued with Loctite and there is a special heat treatment needed to tight/loose them? Instead he says that just if the screws get loose just tighten them. And nothing more.

I think he did this by intent just as a pure mockery on me as a customer because prior to delivery we were arguing with him about the shipment time. He knew that earlier or later I will need to adjust my sheath and will destroy the screws just because he glued them and did not provide any information about this. It is a mockery and nothing else, this guy has serious issues I think given the number of complaints about his work and my occasion. :(
 
I agree with these guys, you should repair it rather than throw it out. I bet you could get your members and sell it for a profit at least. the hardware store sells "easy outs" that are made for removing messed up screws, but other than that, if you're dealing with a lot of custom stuff, you may have to do, or have someone else do some custom repairs of your own.
 
SaintWarrior said:
Loctite glued screws?

I am sorry but why the hell there is no word on his website in "Use and Care" section that damn screws are glued with Loctite and there is a special heat treatment needed to tight/loose them? Instead he says that just if the screws get loose just tighten them. And nothing more.

I think he did this by intent just as a pure mockery on me as a customer because prior to delivery we were arguing with him about the shipment time. He knew that earlier or later I will need to adjust my sheath and will destroy the screws just because he glued them and did not provide any information about this. It is a mockery and nothing else, this guy has serious issues I think given the number of complaints about his work and my occasion. :(
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I do not know the guy, but it does appear he has some past communication/delivery time issues.
It is not very clear in your post - But have you actually contacted the maker and advised him of your issues?
I think you need to post some pics.
Making all kinds of accusations/opinions without some pics and possibly not contacting the guy is not the right way to handle.
 
Gastonknife said:
I do not know the guy, but it does appear he has some past communication/delivery time issues.
It is not very clear in your post - But have you actually contacted the maker and advised him of your issues?
I think you need to post some pics.
Making all kinds of accusations/opinions without some pics and possibly not contacting the guy is not the right way to handle.
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I will contact him right now with a link to this thread and request a refund or a normal replacement (with normally adjustable screws like on SOG kydex for instance) of the sheath. So far it looks just like a mockery as there is no word about glued screws on his website, instead it is said that you can tight/loosen them as you like.

It is impossible to take any pictures now as the sheath is really lost, I have thrown it away and the recyclers did their job. Anyway it is unusable as harness cannot be normally attached, screws have been mangled, the sheath became very abrasive there and terrible looking.
 
If the sheath is gone, you have made the choice to lose your investment. No maker is going to give you a refund if you can't return the faulty(or not) product. I'd suggest thinking things through a little more next time you are frustrated with a product. You have destroyed the evidenceand have nothing to prove your story at this time.
 
Bill Siegle said:
If the sheath is gone, you have made the choice to lose your investment. No maker is going to give you a refund if you can't return the faulty(or not) product. I'd suggest thinking things through a little more next time you are frustrated with a product. You have destroyed the evidenceand have nothing to prove your story at this time.
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Bill you are correct. Every store or merchant that sells items will normally repair or replace the product deemed "defective" at their discretion. The caveat is that the product must be returned for repair or refund. Manufacturers learn by this and can see what works and what doesn't. By all appearances, raging out and throwing the product away has cost the customer the ability to obtain further service to attain satisfaction.

As to why the manufacturer/maker does not indicate the use of Loc-Tite, it's hard to say. Too many unknown variables to begin to ponder. Do we know he or she uses LocTite for a fact? Was it in fact on this particular product? What amount of force was used to attempt removal of hardware? Were the correct tools used? On and on and on it can go. It's cases like this that make it hard for manufacturers to conduct business because they have to watch absolutely everything, with a zero margin of error.
 
RevDevil said:
Were the correct tools used?
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Same screwdrivers that perfectly screwed/unscrewed various SOG kydex and Cold Steel Secure-Ex sheaths multiple times. Otherwise I would not have been tried doing this, I am not an idiot to destroy the sheath by intent. I just wanted to adjust the angle of the positioning below the shoulder, so I naturally thought that if I use one mounting point for the one harness strap and higher/lower for the other the angle the sheath was hanging will change. I started unscrewing the screws, they do not turn, ok, I thought he might have used some very powerful screwdriver to screw them in, thus I applied more force, than tried an electric screwdriver. In the result both attachment screws turned into a mesh of soft metal ant that's all.

I did this successfully on other sheaths so as a thinking human being I had all reasons to think that I will be able to do the same with this sheath. I suppose that is understandable. If attachment is permanent then he should write a warning on his website and inform his customers that screws are glued, do not touch, use this and this for tightening and loosening. Instead he says "fully versatile and adjustable" Now it looks like a pure mockery as if he wanted me to do this earlier or later, like putting a nail under the tyre of a parked car that earlier or later will move.

As for returning and repairing. Do you think it is easy to do for a foreign non-U.S. customer? I waited for the sheath for nearly 4 moths. Now shipping it back, passing it through customs, waiting until Mr. Robert does me a favor to respond because he is supplying the FBI hunting for Al-Qeda and has no time for such ordinary customers who paid him money (though I also work for similar institution in my country), then getting it back and again passing through customs. It all takes a lot of time.

I will search for another craftsman, those who are able to make an under shoulder kydex for Tai Pan PM me please or leave your contacts. Immediate payment/ Paypal/ Credit Card/ wire transfer.
 
After reading your posts again, perhaps it is a good thing that you aren't able to cc a knife on you. You seem to be willing to let your temper take control when some calm & logic would have been the better direction.

Hey, at least you recycle.
 
CWL said:
After reading your posts again, perhaps it is a good thing that you aren't able to cc a knife on you.
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Don't worry, if I need to I will be able to conceal carry any dagger I want. Need recipe? Go to the nearest gunshop, buy a cheapest nylon handgun shoulder holster and strap your sheath tight with paracord or just bootlaces in any direction to it. Other option is to attach the loop very low on the sheath and the knife gets high concealed on your belt. Third option is to buy normal factory shoulder sheath for Boker A-F Combat II.

Ok so far?
 
Still won't help with your temper. You created this post with "Help Please!..." but you threw the sheath away.

If you want real advice, put away those CS & Boker blades and look into Bud Nealy knives. His knives come with a sheath system designed for multiple methods of carry. This way, you don't have to buy aftermarket.
 
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