Making Nylon "Stiffer?"

R

RedLynx

Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
11,445
Hi guys,

I am quite sure that nylon is about the last material anyone wants to discuss when talking sheaths (or in this case, pouches for folding knives). But bear with me as I'd welcome any help.

I have a few cheap folders that came with of course cheap nylon pouches. I like to carry the cheapies at times, and I like belt pouches in general, but the softer nylon vs. what I assume the industry calls "ballistic nylon" (the nylon that is much stiffer, which I assume is what they refer to as "ballistic" but I have no idea. Maybe all nylon pouches are "ballistic.")

Anyway, some of these pouches are the softer nylon, and I was wondering if there was a DIY way to make them stiffer, like some pouches are. I hope I am explaining things well enough.

Thing is, I often like to carry these knives but their price point doesn't justify making a custom leather pouch, really. So I'm trying to look at this option, and any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
 
How about making your own leather pouch? Its really not that hard or expensive. Can't think of anyway of stiffening an existing nylon pouch.
 
Horsewright said:
How about making your own leather pouch? Its really not that hard or expensive. Can't think of anyway of stiffening an existing nylon pouch.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea although I know nothing about leather-craft. I have a great slip case for a slipjoint made by awesome user philll here on the forums and I'd gladly pay for more, but in that case the sheath/pouch would be worth more than the knife itself, so I'm reluctant. Although he does amazing work and I'm hoping to use him again on more expensive knives.
 
Tell you what, I am fairly new to leather working and am having a ball learning. I have made at least one sheath for every knife I own and am looking for more learning projects. If you aren't looking for anything terribly elaborate send me a knife or two and I'll make you sheaths for the cost of material. I'm guessing $10 to $15 bucks.
If you are interested PM me and we can discuss. I'd post a couple pics here but cant quite figure out the process so... I'll email you pics if interested
Wood
 
Scorpion Wood said:
Tell you what, I am fairly new to leather working and am having a ball learning. I have made at least one sheath for every knife I own and am looking for more learning projects. If you aren't looking for anything terribly elaborate send me a knife or two and I'll make you sheaths for the cost of material. I'm guessing $10 to $15 bucks.
If you are interested PM me and we can discuss. I'd post a couple pics here but cant quite figure out the process so... I'll email you pics if interested
Wood
Click to expand...

That's a great offer Wood.

It's gonna take me a few days to try and get the post and everything together... I'll try to touch base with you during the weekend?

-Lynx
 
I second the idea of making it yourself. We (well, I can only speak for myself) would be happy to help walk you through it. As Horsewright mentioned, it's really not that hard. Just takes a little effort and materials. You may end up really enjoying it. I would guess that a lot of us got started because we had a need.

I also cannot think of way to stiffen your material. If it was disassembled you might be able to glue a plastic liner to the inside, but that's probably impractical and may not work anyway.
 
@ Strig,
That's how I got started. My son had given me a very nice knife that didn't come with a sheath and he was on my back about never carrying it so......
 
Have you ever heard of a "Buckaroo pouch" that might be easy and simple deal for you to do for a first try. Works good on folders if that is what you are talking about. Not much in materials or tools needed. Lots of help here you need only ask. I too made my first sheath out of necessity. I was given a cool little knife as a birthday present. It came with a sheath that looked like it was made out of a tire riveted together. Couldn't carry the knife in that sheath so had to build one. It was easier for me though as I'd had an extensive leather working background, just hadn't made a sheath before.
 
I had to look that up Dave. I've seen em before, just didn't know they had a name. That's about as simple as they come. A little patch of tooling leather from the fabric store, a drill, some thread and bam. Buckaroo sheath. :)
 
Strigamort said:
I had to look that up Dave. I've seen em before, just didn't know they had a name. That's about as simple as they come. A little patch of tooling leather from the fabric store, a drill, some thread and bam. Buckaroo sheath. :)
Click to expand...

I'll look that one up as well, sounds simple enough. ;) Thanks to all so far for suggestions and more importantly offers of assistance, I appreciate it. :)
 
Heck don't even need tooling leather. Little piece of chap leather, a thong attached and an ice pick to make your stitching holes. Just a sleeve for the knife with a thong to attach to a belt loop.
 
Red, here's some pics from Horsewright. They look super simple, but smart too. I'm gonna have to make a few of these myself. :)

gCwxzYE.jpg


IemxoRs.jpg


ABTZUa3.jpg


gKMhJ0K.jpg


qKCynmx.jpg


Hey Dave, how thick is that leather? I have some 4oz W&C that looks about the same.
 
Yeah very simple and easy to make. The pattern is basically a rectangle with the bottom rounded off a bit. Slit one end of the strap so the sheath can pass back on itself. Sew the other end to your cut out piece of leather then sew the edges together and you are done. I generally use a soft chap leather in the 4 to 5 oz range. I've never made one out of veg tan but have seen em. Many buckaroos from the Great Basin area (eastern Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, parts of Wyoming, Montana, Utah and parts of Cali) use one of these to carry a knife. Many buckaroos don't wear belts so this little deal allows a guy to pull his folding knife out pretty darn quick if he needs it. It also allows easy access when wearing some kind of leggings too, just pull on the strap and it comes out of your pocket. Even guys that wear a belt will generally have one of these tucked into a pocket as well as a small belt knife. A buckaroo is a distinct kind of cowboy by the way, mostly geographical but with definite differences in horse gear, style, saddles, clothing, riding and how cattle are worked etc. Paul would probably smile and call me a "Flat Hatter", I'd smile and say better than wearing a "taco hat". There's good hands on both sides of the cowboy buckaroo fence.
 
Lots of friendly joshing between the two groups. My hat brims are flat thus a flat hatter. Lot of cowboys from Tx and Az, Ok etc turn the sides of their hat brims up, kinda like a taco shell... So taco hats.
 
Strigamort said:
Red, here's some pics from Horsewright. They look super simple, but smart too. I'm gonna have to make a few of these myself. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics, and thanks Horsewright for the explanation as well! I will need to try this soon.

If either of you fine chaps could make up or point me toward any diagrams, that might help as well... I should be able to get it with your description but, I can't say for sure. ;)
 
Horsewright said:
Lots of friendly joshing between the two groups. My hat brims are flat thus a flat hatter. Lot of cowboys from Tx and Az, Ok etc turn the sides of their hat brims up, kinda like a taco shell... So taco hats.
Click to expand...


I really don't want to sidetrack this thread , but next to knives , Hats are my next biggest thrill in life :)
My wife doesn't understand that when they get dirty and smelly they are only just getting ripe .
She won't allow me to go to town in one of my work hats , so I have a rotation of at least 4 hats at various stages of decay at any one time ..

7fb5d4e3e16c9e55a97555acb0a9bb49_zpsfc72ff96.jpg


Ken
 
Love the Buckaroo Pouch Horsewright and thanks for the pics Strigamort.:thumbup:

Back on topic for Red..try spray paint,yeah,plain old spray paint,it'll stiffen it up.
It'll probably work loose after awhile though, but it's cheap enough to repeat as necessary.
The old lady's hair spray might even work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top