Inside waistband Sheath help

blgoode

blgoode

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Messages
7,145
I need to make a small inside the waistband style sheath. Does anyone have a visual reference for how these are made? I currently make pouch sheaths but I tink I can pull this aff as well. Thanks for the help fella's.

Brian
 
Leather or kydex/concealex? If it's leather then I have no idea, but I can help you with that plastic stuff.
 
I always miss some piece of info!!! I am looking at leather at the moment. Oh I had you in mind for plstic Chiro ;).
 
Chuck, I dont know why but I always forget about the sheath forum over at the other forum ;). I will read the info more tomorrow.

Thanks Guys

Chiro,
Do you have pics of your kydex stuff?
 
Chuck,

Seems like the only tricky part is having enough slack in the belt loop so it doesnt bind up when coming out the the pant area and being pulled down by the belt. Does this make since? To fit a 1.5" belt it seems like you should make the loop be about 2" total.
 
Howdy Brian - not really all that tricky - just make sure that the distance from the top of the pants to the bottom of the belt is how long the loop is as measured from the bottom of the rivet/snap to the inside curve of the loop. A little extra is not bad but you DO NOT want it so long that the sheath pulls way up before the knife disengages.
Is that clear enough? If not let me know and I'll do a quick sketch.
 
I was thinking of just sewing everything and not having a snap like the site you refered me to. Do you think that would be fine....just thread? Its for a Law Enforcement Offerce who is more concerned with security. I did menton a clip at one point and he wanted a standard belt loop.
 
Should be no problem at all - in fact if you look at Michael's finished product he used a Chicago Screw to attach the loop to the sheath body.

On the other hand the advantage to using a snap of course is that you can remove the sheath without loosening the belt. Realize that there are hundreds if not thousands of high end concelament holsters made this way to be used by LEF Officers so the security of a snap lop has been well tested. In fact the original Summer Special IWB holster was designed by an undercover DEA agent.
 
I am lucky to have a Tandy LEather place on my way home from work. Can you recomend a type of snap that wont have that basic brass color. Maybe even one I can blue? Will I need to buy a special tool to set the snaps in (I am sure I will but thought I'd ask ;) )
 
Yep -
Line 24 Snaps (The bigger size anyway) - get them in nickel plate and blue with any good cold blue. They come in a ten pack IIRC
They have a tool set for these - it's not very expensive and since you'll likely use it over and over it's worth the price
 
Thanks Partner! I'll check them out Monday of sometime next week....

HEll, it may be faster than sewing for me anyway ;)
 
One last...humm... Does the flap get sewn to the sheath then snaps attached? OR does the belt flap snap to the sheath and snap closed?

If this is hard to explain I can call you tomorrow.....Let work pay the long distance bill ;)
 
Brain - I have never made and IWB sheath with a flap so I can't help much. IMO the whole idea behind a, IWB sheath is deep concealment and that there is no need for a flap since retension is more than adequate due to the belt going over the top of the sheath. Still the sheath should be well molded to the knife for additional retension purposes.

If you are going to use a flap then my best suggestion is to do what I do - make a mock up from scrap. IMO it is particularly necessary that Law Enforcement gear be well designed and very well made since the chances of it being used in a "critical" situation are increased.
 
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