Need help with a sheath for a fireman!

Rene E. Roy

Rene E. Roy

Joined
Oct 4, 1999
Messages
709
I have been asked to make some knives for our local fire dept... they are looking for a knife that will hang off the front of they heavy jackets (they have a D ring on there jackets) and the knife has to be able to be drawn with there firemans gloves on in total darkness and also be put back in the same way...it also must be able to take a little heat from fire flashes...can anyone help me with what to use for this sheath.....
:) SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST!!!
 
Obviously, Kydex is right out, unless...

I was going to suggest leather, since it shouldn't have to survive more than occasional heat exposure. If it's sealed well, it ought to pull through without much extra work. With as much maintenance as a fireman has to undertake, anyway, it probably wouldn't break them to add an occasional waxing or oiling to the list.

Then I got the idea to cover Kydex WITH leather...the leather would bear the brunt of the heat, and the kydex would give a surer grip to the knife. If, however, the boys were going to be in superheated environments for prolonged periods of time (300+ degrees ambient air temperature) then this won't work, either.

Finally, it occured to me to use a magnetic sheath. Maybe set a rare-earth magnet into a carbon-fibre backing, and use another piece for the front cover--just to keep them from snagging and cutting themselves. Unless they're going into temps that will ruin the temper on a blade, anyway (and I'd have to imagine that these temps are cleanly in the "Not goin' in THERE!!" range), it shouldn't let go. Of course, it'll scratch heck outta the blade, but oh, well. As for securing it to the D-ring, I've got an idea, but I'll have to draw it out and scan it. It should be usable by touch, even with mittens on. I'll try and do that this evening.

Hope this at least gets you thinking!!

;)
 
hate to say it Rene
but an auto tethered on a retractable key catty
would be My first option for this guy..

I did this I think??:)
 
I'd have to say a lightweight metal scabbard of some sort. Maybe lined with leather or something to insulate the blade from heat as much as possible.
 
Originally posted by Kalindras
Finally, it occured to me to use a magnetic sheath. Maybe set a rare-earth magnet into a carbon-fibre backing, and use another piece for the front cover--just to keep them from snagging and cutting themselves. ... Hope this at least gets you thinking!
Click to expand...

It got me thinking. ;) Kind of a paddle sheath they could just "slap" their knife onto and not have to find the mouth of a more standard sheath, especially since one of the criteria is to operate in the dark.

I thought maybe use kevlar as the fabric to sandwich the magnets inside of. It is exremely cut-resistant, being one of the materials that packing house workers wear on their hands while wielding very sharp knives all day long. It also has a very high combustion temp, so won't be inclined to catch fire easily. Finally, it is quite managable as a fabric, coming in both weaves and knits IIRC.

It would be helpful to know how much dexterity the firemen have with their gloves on. Are the gloves really thick or are they kind of thin? How much delicacy do they allow? That answer will indicate how coarse or fine the specs on the sheath can be.

Also, what are the specs on the knives that you're making for the firemen? Materials, blade length, max thickness, weight, handle style, guard width, that sort of info? If they are skeleton knives, the magnetic sheath shown below should work more consistently than if they have scales and, especially, a guard. The more we know about the knives, the better we can envision what sort of sheath would work with them.

Lee Valley sells rare earth magnets in various shapes, linked from this page:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=42363&category=1&SID=&ccurrency=2

P.S. Normark, please forgive me. ;) :footinmou I do recall your comments on magnets in sheaths.

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I want to thank everyone for there help....the magnets seem to be the way to go....when I am finished I will post a pic....thanks again:) :) :)
 
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