Is there a way to tighten up an old sheath?

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farmboy

Joined
Aug 31, 1999
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I purchased a used, but still very nice Chris Reeve Shadow III from a fellow member on this board. While I like the sheath, it has been work-worn to the point of being a little "loose". Can I soak this thing in hot water and allow it to air dry to tighten it up a little?

A lot of you guys gave me good suggestions for a different sheath on another post, but I'm just trying to review all my options with this excellent little blade.

Any leather workers out there?
 
Wetting the sheath and wet forming around the knife is one option. You can also restitch the sheath. Over time the stitching tends to stretch. you need not remove the original stitches. Using a heavy needle and thread, you can stitch it tighter over the original ones.
Scott
 
Water soaking has worked well for me with hide-lined wooden scabbards; I soak them in warm water for a half hour or so, wrap them fairly (but not too) tightly in surgical tubing, and allow them to dry. I test fit frequently during drying. When the fit's to my liking, I remove the wrap. Make sure that the sheath has a few days to dry before you stick the knife in it to be safe.

Another trick I use that's quicker and easier than soaking is to just fashion a leather shim; a small strip cut from an old belt works fine for this. Glue it to the inside of the sheath just out of sight with superglue and allow it to dry. Epoxy would probably be more permanent but it's too messy for my taste and the superglue seems to work fine.

You might want to ask this question again in the Himalayan Imports section of these forums; scabbard/sheath adjustment is a fine art over there.
 
I use rubbing alcohol not water and a hairdryer to shape my gun holsters works well. (cover the knife with shrink rap first) The alcohol evaperates quickly.
 
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