Need help for a fireman....

Rene E. Roy

Rene E. Roy

Joined
Oct 4, 1999
Messages
709
I have been asked by a local firefighter to make a knife for him...that's no problem...but the sheath has got me a little worried!
He needs the sheath to clip to a D ring on the outside of his firemans jacket...it needs to be able to take heat...in case of some flare ups...and it has to be able to remove and put back the knife in total darkness with his heavy gloves on. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
Doesn't want much does he.....
I'd use Dupont Spectra for the sheath. It is near impossible to melt. Use a rare earth magnet or two in the lower part of the sheath to keep the knife in place.

Charge him up the wazoo because no matter what you come up with, he will want more!
 
hate to say it Rene
but an auto tethered on a retractable key catty
would be My first option for this guy.. :)
 
Peter where would you get the Dupont Spectra? do you have any pics of what it looks like and how difficult it would be to work with? :eek:
 
Peter where would you get the Dupont Spectra? do you have any pics of what it looks like and how difficult it would be to work with?

I don't have any pictures Terry. The easiest way to get it would be to get a used spectra Bullet proof vest and cut it up. You can pick these up at the gunshows sometimes. Just make sure the Vest is made of Spectra. IMHO it resists fire better.
I think the banks are using spectra now on their lockable night deposit bags. They will sell these at a fair price.

It is just terrible to work with. It's hard to cut and if the weave is tight is difficult to sew without fraying. It is worth it for certain applications though. It may be that the newer fire coats use spectra also. You might want to ask your fireman to get you the name of the manufacturer, call them and see if they will send you a sample of the cloth. At the very least you can find out what the material is!
 
If your just chasing concepts at this stage I would use a combination of new and old tech. Metal sheaths were popular once. Make it from stainless steel. A thin sheet of stainless would work into a wooden mould to give a nice finish. A brushed finish. The back plate could be thicker for strength with the thiner sheat rolled to safe edges.

Even a bayonet style.

Magnets loose the magnetic effect with heat. But I'm not sure how hot or for how long it would take to become a problem.

I would be inclined to have a friction fit. A wider than normal sheat with a tappered section each side to guide the knife into the blade slot. If you see the fireman all rigged up in his gears and get an idea what equipment he is using may also alter you approach.

Just ideas.

A mate of mine recently made a tin plate sheath for a replica antique
bowie. He lined it with very thin leather inside to prevent scratches.
That was only because it way a collector not a user.
 
Rene

The magnets would remain magnetic to temperatures far above what you would have to worry about. A good FREE source for rare earth magnets is dead hard disk drives. Ask at a computer store (a clone shop would probably be better than Circuit City) or the IT/computer department where you work. There are a pair of flat, arc-shaped ones (about 1/8 inch thick) in the mechanism that moves the head back and forth as well as a couple of smaller ones. The ones that I salvaged were glued on. I just twisted them off with a pair of channel-lock pliers.

A heat resistant material that may work for your sheath, at least as an outside layer, is Nomex paper. It is made by Dupont (see www.dupont.com/nomex www.dupont.com/nomex/electapps/paperpress.html and www.dupont.com/nomex/electapps/electappnews.html) and is used primarily as an insulating material in industrial electronics and electrical equipment. It comes in various thicknesses, up to about 1/16 inch thick. It has flame retardant and electrical insulation properties and is designed to withstand long term exposure to high temperatures. It is very tear resistant and stiff and makes me think of rawhide. It is a light beige color. The thinner stuff can be cut with a pair of scissors. Tin snips would be needed for the thicker stuff. It can be cut with a knife or die-cut. You should be able to get enough to make or cover a sheath from a local place that rewinds electric motors or large, industrial transformers. It is expensive but the amount you would need should cost only a few dollars or a few beers. Let me know if you are having trouble finding a local supplier and I will see what I have in storage.

Phil
 
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