Ideas on belt clips for plastic knife sheaths...

Running Dog

Running Dog

Joined
Sep 17, 1999
Messages
347
Well, L6steel asked if I would post some picture I made of Concealex/Kydex knife sheath belt clips...

So here goes...

Production of Running Dog style belt clips for knife sheaths...

This album shows the production of a simple, high ride, folded over, multi-carry, ambidextrious, system belt clip...maybe not so simple at that!

Also some ideas about the "G" clip and a few notes on their function with thermoplastic sheath materials, plus some examples of their use...Just click on the first picture to get started...

This style suits our knives well, but doesn't work with all knives, especially larger ones...For this the low ride style of clip works better...

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'm no expert, but I have made a few thousands of these things...Please pay attention to the safety warnings...Pictures shown are of a prototype set-up and don't represent finished working jigs...

If this tutorial was of help, please sign the guestbook, it's always fun to read peoples comments...


Running Dog
 
Excellent tutorial RD!!! Thanks for taking the time to post the pix and the text! I have been making belt loops where the bolts only go thru one thickness of the kydex but I like your style much better.
 
Thanks, L6steel and for the lead to the on-line album...Let me know how it works out for you...

And feel free to send me royalties for each clip you make:D

Running Dog
 
Thank you for a great tutorial!
Are you willing to reveal your source for the black Torx screws and the post screws?
Also looking for Black Oxide Stainless Post Screws, preferably with a bit smaller head than the Alu post screws.

Tore
 
Yo' Tore...

Most of my hardware comes from Hardware Sales, my favorite hardware store, but the should be available from any national suppler, check your phonebook...I was going to do a hardware update to the tutorial...Let me know if you come across and good national supplers...

I got a few zillion screw posts from Blade-Tech Industries, but these too are a catalog items for large hardware supplers...sometimes called "Sex Posts" (snicker!)

If you find the coveted, "Black Oxide Stainless Post Screws", the holy grail of sheath hardware, please let me know :D

Cecil, thanks for the kind words...

Running Dog
 
Great job! Very informative and well done. Now you need to do a video on kydex sheath making and clip making. I'd buy one! :D
 
RD, thanks again for the great tutorial! I made one of your belt loops today and it is an excellent design! Ok, ya talked me into it, I'll post a pic. :D
 
Looking good L6steel :cool:

I want you to take some credit here...The credo you have on your posts is one of the reasons I gave up some of my "trade secrets"...That and all the things I've learned here from others...Keep up the good work, everybody :)

"Credo" as in:

creed, n.

Def. #2 A system of belief, principles, or opinions...

PS No, I don't mean the one about the buzzards...

Running Dog
 
Running Dog, thanks for your tutorial, very informative and clean.
That will be useful to me very soon!

I verry like your work and I wondered which technique you uses
to put a black finish on your blades? (I seen on your web site
"black moly coating" but, can you give me more info on this
process ? Do you make this coating yourself?

Thanks !
Alain M-D
 
Alain M-D...

Gun-Kote from KG Industries

I like the grey more than the black now-a-days...Also the OD green is nice...Looks great with green paracord handles...

I have some tips for using this material...if you want more information, just write me...


Running Dog
 
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This looks like my new knife. is it?
 
Hey Guys....

Thanks for the pics..
Certainly interesting to see how others make clips...

Does the trick thats for sure...

ttyle

Eric...
 
Hey Normark...Good to hear from you...

So....How do you make your belt clips? I don't think I have ever seen one up close...How about a picture?

Running Dog
 
Hey RD...

Hows it going..
Thanks...

I make roughly 3-4 different types of clips in several different sizes..

Standard G-clip, Closed dropper loop,Standard closed loop, and a dedicated horizontal loop, and several different specialy loops...

The clips blanks are all cut first then molded one at a time.. I mold slightly different then you.

I prefer to mold each loop seperately to control the quality of them. When I mold though I usually do a hundred or so at a time, they don't last long around here...:) These are usually made while I'm waiting for a knife in the press to cool..They also get drilled and ground all together as well...It can be time consuming.

For my G-clips I have custom made molding jigs that take all of the guess work out of them and mold them Exactly the same each time..

I've got a question for you though.. What is the big hole behind the Chicago post used for ??

I'll agree with you though,, Clips sometimes have more steps then the bloody sheath..:)

ttyle

Eric...
 
Normark says...

For my G-clips I have custom made molding jigs that take all of the guess work out of them and mold them Exactly the same each time..
Click to expand...

Pictures! We must have pictures!:D Unless it secret...:eek:

I've got a question for you though.. What is the big hole behind the Chicago post used for ??
Click to expand...

That so you can hold the screw post with one finger while tightening the screw with the other when using the clip in the strongside carry...Not completely nessessary but it helps...

I agree the clip needs to fit the knife and carry style...That's why I said these styles were for our small knives and work best for that...

Question: What thickness material do you use? Are you still using Concealex? I have heard reports that Blade-Tech isn't offering it anymore...I got a full case from their distributor a while back and I'm still working with that...Will I need to switch to Kydex? I don't know why I'm asking you this :), but you seem to be "in the know" on this...


How's the family, BTW? :)

Running Dog
 
Hey RD.....

As far as BT is concerned..

I got tired of bending over and taking one for the team..When Victor and Robert still worked there it was nice.. Prices were fairly decent and they were cool to deal with.. Now their pricing is out of control so I've hacked through the last straps tying me to BT and have found all of my own suppliers for Everything I need, including hardware..

Yes I still use Concealex and will continue to do so.. I prefer it over Kydex by far...

As far as pictures are concerned...

Well...Some things gotta stay secret..:)Just like my presses,, theres only a select few people who have actually seen them...
I'm on my 2nd generation press at the moment,,and next year at this time I will be into a fully automatic hydraulic press.:)

I can tell you though that there are Easily 10 different and unique steps into making one of my G-clips. I could probably knock a couple of them off if I got really motivated in doing so.I'm just too lazy..:)

The tools I use other than my grinder and drill presses are mostly all custom made, right down to the drilling jigs/templates and specialty molding jigs.. They come from almost 3 years worth of work and designing.

I just ordered a new grinder which is going to make my life a whole lot easier; nothing special about it,,just tweaked to my specs with some special features that makes grinding a sheath a snap...

No big secrets really,, just techniques I've developed mostly through trying all different ways of doing things..
I mostly make my G-clips out of 0.93 as I find it to be the most user friendly.. For certain things I will go to a .125 G clip. The other loops are mostly 0.80 and a couple are 0.60. Definately use the thickness of plastic that best works with the type of clip you are making. You want it to be strong, but without over kill.

About the hole in your clips...

Ahhh Ok,, I C,, makes perfect sense...

Everyone makes their sheaths a little differently..As long as they are well made, with the customers protection, long life usage and a good design is kept in mind, its all open to interpretation.

Make the best you can make and let your sheaths do the talking for you...Thats pretty much what i have done...


**Rant Mode**

OFF

ttyle

Eric..
 
Hey Normark...

Thanks for the update on things...

You don't have to rant at me, I wasn't trying to take anything away from your work or the nice sheaths you make...:D

I was just hoping to see more of the work that other people do...I see a lot of sheaths but few pics of the backsides!

Sorry about your experiances with BT, you and lots of others! :barf:

Thanks for taking time out of your day to respond!

Running Dog
 
Hey RD...

No problem..

Get me talking about anything about sheaths and I won't shut up..:)

I understand what you are saying about the back..Thats something I had a problem with when I first started..not shown enough...


As far as BT goes.. Ohhh Well!!!Glad thats over with..

ttyle


Eric....
 
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