Labrador with H.E.L.P. system

[Cloyde]

This is one I decided to enter in an Art Gallery show just for the heck of it. I ended up winning first place in the Fine Arts category and will find out Monday if I made the over all show winner.
The knife is made from 3/16” O-1 with Osage, Cocobolo and turquoise in the handle and Osage used for liners. The tang is tapered and the bolster is dove tailed. The sheath is 9-10 oz leather with Caiman skin inlay, and Got the Idea for the retaining system from blade forum member Warren Higgins. With his permission I borrowed the Idea, Thanks again. It is called the (Higgins’ Easy Linch Pen) Retention system.
Thanks for looking
Cloyde

 

[Mike Fitz]

Very nice work and congratulations! Can you explain the H.E.L.P. system a little? I think I get the idea, but it's hard to tell from the pics how it works.

 

[Cloyde]

It’s a linch pin that you can find at most hardware stores that slips through the thong-tubing hole. The pin will slide through and the retainer ring will snap back over the pin and hold it into place. I put a couple of eyelets in the top of the sheath and ran the leather through the eyelets, one so you could adjust the length if you wanted and the loop can hold the pin if you do not want to use it. Or can be removed completely. I can’t get to the knife to take more or better pics. When you see the pin you will get the idea. I would just put something around the ring so it will not scratch your handle. I used leather lace but anything would do.

 

[t1mpani]

Beautiful knife and sheath, Cloyde. :thumbup:

So far, just the plain ring hasn't done any damage to any of handles I've done this with, ranging from micarta to wood to bone. The lacing idea is probably a good one anyway, though.

Here's a series of old shots of it on one of my knives from Brian Goode (which doesn't look nearly as pristine now ). The last shot is after having held it upside down and shaken it hard several times--has about 3/4" of travel before the pin catches it.








Can't make the lanyard it's on any shorter or you don't have room to get the pin lined up with the lanyard hole. I've been doing this for years---little extra piece of mind on pouch and horizontal sheaths.

 

[JayFisher]

Hey, Cloyde!
Nice one, you're on your way.
Did you murder a poor little caiman for that inlay? Dang water lizards down there in Carlsbad... probably come from those caves!

 

[Mike Fitz]

Ahhh.... got it- looks like a neat idea, thanks!

 

[Cloyde]

Thank's guy's, Jay your right it is a lizard but it Came-in and I killed it so I called it camein skin (may of miss spelled up top). I got a long way to go. I don't have words for your last post. That sheith is a killer, someone is very lucky.