Kydex sheath question from a maker

R

RobertHankins

Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
1,385
I have been making Kydex sheaths for awhile now and have always made them so they can be disassembled and cleaned. What I see is very few people who do this and have to ask myself Why:confused:

Since Leather sheaths can't be taken apart (Usually) to be cleaned of Debris Etc...Does it really matter if a Kydex sheath can?

Are Screws and posts inherantly a weak design?

Thoughts
 
Hey Robert...

Thats a very good question.. There will be several answers to this...

A big part of the reason, some people don't do eyes,, and Please, Please don't take this the wrong way anyone, because its just an observation and not said to put down anyone...

Alot of people don't know how to do eyes properly,either they can't find them, they don't know what to look for, they don't know how to install them or they don't know where to get the tools to do them.,so, the easiest was out is screws and posts...and hey, theres nothing wrong with it. Eyes can be a real pain in the a$$. Ask me about it, I just installed 400+ of them on some sheaths for Rob Simonich, and I do it with a custom setting tool and a hammer,,all by hand.

Now about posts and screws...

Anywhere you have moving parts you have a weak link. Since posts and scrws are two seperate pieces, I consider them moving parts. Sure its handy to be able to break a sheath down and clean it out, but everytime you do it,, you stress those parts even more and failure could happen.They could loosen, strip, or you could blow a post tightening it. Not to mention changing the very impotant and sometimes very fragile fit of the blade,,which could pose a risk of the knife falling out.

Eyes on the other hand are solid, proven one piece units, and if installed properly, giving the back a good solid roll, they stay tight and Never have a problem.I've blown one eyelet in my career, however have blown many posts tightening them down.

Still I think the main reason is people find them frustrationg a hell and can't be bothered with them. If not done correctly, they crack, split and just give you a migrane. I will say this,, you won't find a single split, or crack in Any of my eyelets, thats one thing I'm Super anal about.Those get cut off as soon as it happens. Also posts and screws are about 4 times the cost of a good quality eyelet...

Again,, for those of you guys using posts and screws,, please don't take this the wrong way, everyone has their reasons why things are done a particular way..

Just my .03 cents.

ttyle

Eric...
 
I figure that most people don't make them to be taken apart because it is easier. Plus how often does a kydex sheath need to be cleaned? If you put the knife away dirty then the sheath will get dirty. Just don't put the knife away dirty. Another advantage to kydex is that it is virtually indestructible. You can wash it out and leave it to dry without it losing it's shape like leather could if it is welted and fitted to the knife.
 
Eric, Striper...Good points well taken.
I was asking myself "Why I am doing it this way" after giving it some deeper thought and came to the same conclusion.
Picture this:

Middle of the Iraq desert at night after an all day trek and your stinking knife keeps falling out of it's sheath because the little screws and posts have come loose. Now cussing as you drop one of the screws or posts or both in the sand...your pissed and guess where that blade ends up:mad:
in a pile of Camel dung after being flung as hard as you can throw it.

Eyelets make sense...What about SS rivets???
 
Hey Robert....

Exactly....

Someone that uses a knife for a living could care less about scratching a blade. They'll clean out the sheath by whatever means, when it needs it....(Just don't soak it in hot water..:) )


As far as SS rivets are concerned...

Why ?

Why add the extra cost into it...It's not going to make the sheath any better... Stainless is just that Stain Less.. All brass does is turn green... Scrub it off and its back to being brass again...

Once an eyelet is set properly, even a brass eye,, if you try an pry the pieces apart, the eye will most likly blow through the material, stainless will do the same thing, so theres no real added advantage to spending more money,, and I do mean MORE money on SS...

Get a good quality eye, and not these 10 in a bag jobs,, and you'll be all set...You'll make a good quality product that will last your customer years and years, if not outlast your customer...

ttyle

Eric...
 
I think you all covered it pretty well, but there is one last reason for making the foldover sheaths that you cant dissasemble, they take up less room. I dont care for bulky sheaths, but that is personal.

Eric, thanks for bailing me out for the Vegas Show buddy! :D
 
Well, heck... I've been packing an F1 in Normark's Concealex sheath for a couple of years now, no problems. Every so often I just run some water and dish detergent through it, shake it dry and that's it. Hunting, camping, one wedding (IWB, of course), and I can't see a problem. Currently it's -37 in Whitehorse,and it hasn't cracked or showed any problems yet while x-country skiing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
Hey Guys...

Rob....

Not a problem at all. I enjoyed it..


Ed..

Thanks much for the nice comments.. Glad you are on my side..:)

ttyle

Eric....
 
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