New Ratweiler pic thread.

Nice! I did the same, but I think my color schemes are opposite from skinny to fatty from yours.

Thanks bud. That's the kryptek nomad pattern. I really want to do something in their typhoon pattern too.

 

Initially I didn't want the 1/4 as the old skool one is that thickness, but it popped up on a local forum at a decent price and I caved in...

 

Nomad and Banshee are cool. Is that special request? I never see any Kryptek options on his site. I have two incoming now. I'd like something in a Kryptek pattern too. Mr. Welke, please list the prices and availability for those.

 

I contacted him directly and he built it as per our conversation. I don't believe he lists any kryptek patterns, maybe just because of the extra expense?

I'll have to check out the banshee, I'm not familiar with that one. I'm thinking the typhoon would look great with any of the black g10 or canvas.

What models do you have coming?

 

I was talking about two sheaths I have coming from AZW... a fat Ratweiler sheath and a BG SFNO sheath. I squeezed the skinny RW into a molded SPECOPS Combat Master liner, but wasn't about to try that with the fat one. Knife-wise, I think all I have coming is the small grab bag and a Trash2.

 

Nice! Yeah no way is my 1/4 going into the spec ops I have, but the thin LE, no problem.

 

I can't get even the skinny one in a spec ops. It's not even close. There must be some differences in how much edge they take off in sharpening. And I've already back beveled mine, which inevitably takes a fraction of a mm more off. Still not a chance.

 

Wish mine would. Just ordered an Azwelke for my fatty; it has been using a cardboard sheath since I got my BGSFNO, which took over the sheath the fatty had taken over from an Ontario Justin Gingrich.

 

Nice pic Andy. My fat ratweiler doesn't even close to fitting into my large spec ops. Same one my Choppy lives in very comfortably.

 

Snakebreaker, I remember my first gen Ratweiler years ago. She wouldn't fit either. I heated the Kydex sleeve up a tad and with some repeated attempts, coaxed her in there. It will work if you have the patience. Does your sheath have a screw at the bottom that will allow the sleeve to come out?

 

If it doesn't have the screw, you can still get the liner out. Carefully work a thin ruler down the back side of the liner (the back being the side of the sheath with the belt straps, just to be clear). You can get between the two parts of the Velcro, and then slide the liner out past the ruler. Easier done than said, almost.

As far as heating the liner, I used a dry clothes-iron, with the liner under a layer of towel or two. Had to have the iron on the highest setting, dry, and hold it for a while. But it heated up the liner at the top so I could flatten it a little and get more room in there for my Busse HellRazor. The HR was fitting it before-hand, but it was pretty tight, and the edge was biting into the plastic there at the mouth. I just needed maybe a half-mm to get it to fit fine. Got it done, although I kinda messed up the flare at the mouth of the liner. But it works.

Then, using the ruler, you can slide the liner back down inside the sheath, pull the ruler out, and you're done.

 

Rockspyder, that sounds great. I think I used a 5 gallon paint stick that I had rounded the edges over by sanding them a tad. Then I used my electric range on a low to medium setting for my heat source. I kinda waved the insert over the heat slowly and didn't just hold it there and watch it melt. Put the stick in the insert to pass it over the heat, feel it to see if it's getting pliable, and then slowly start to work it. Then back to the heat. Like a blacksmith working a piece of steel.

Remember, the oxen are slow...but the earth is patient.

 

Never thought of the paint stick. Plus, doing it the way you say would probably heat more evenly, and make it easier. And if I could find the right size stick, I might even be able to redo this one and get it to work even a little better. For the HR, that is. With the fatty Ratweiler, I'll have the Azwelke sheath eventually. Don't know what his turnaround is.

 

He's pretty fast. Mine was like a couple weeks. Are the new spec ops all made with the velcro? I think I've only ever had the screw type, but I'm familiar with what you're saying about the velcro and popsicle sticks from pistol sheaths.

 

I think all the newer ones use Velcro -only. I've got about 6 of them, 5 of which I purchased recently (last 2 years) directly from Spec Ops. All were Velcro. The only one with a screw is one I got second hand with a SWATmandu off the exchange.

Not sure which I like best. I honestly think in this application, the Velcro might be the most secure.

 

They must have went to it then. I've got two or three, all with screws, and they're several years old.

 

So are mine. They are the older ones. I gobbled up a couple when people on here were talking about a price jump. They were right.

For the HR, just cut a 5 gal stick down. They'll give you the sticks at Lowes if you're buying something else. I just ask for extras when I get them.

They make GREAT leather strop handles. Sometimes I'll contact cement two of them together for a strop. Just sand the handle a tad so it sits in your hand nicely. You can even stain the one for the strop.