No more RAT molded plastic or kydex for me...

P

PayetteRucker

Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
6,234
Cranked out Episode 1 of my EDC sheath last night, I need to find a pocket clip somewhere cheap but other than that it's done. I thought the HEST's kydex was low profile, well... this thing isn't even comparable.
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PS sorry for the crappy photo quality, the L100 has the worst possible screen and I can't tell what the heck is going on while operating that thing... and for the huge images-I resized them in Photobucket but they refuse to load that way once I post em.
 
OMG! That knife looks like it has seen some serious use. Seems as it went to hell and back actually....

Nice simple sheath though... ;)

Dennis
 
I went for low profile EDC pocket carry, it's pretty ideal so far. Like I said I need a pocket clip to put the icing on the cake-that way it can be used as a boot knife, belt knife or pocket EDC. Basically tried to encompass all of the shortcomings of the kydex. No more rattle when I walk :D Since there seems to be such an interest in HEST/Izula/RC3 EDC carry lately... tonight I'm making a jet black copy of this one for the RC3 RAT Pack edition with the orange G10 handles. As far as the HEST use, I guess high desert is about as close as you can come to hell :D That and spending 9 months in my pocket... I have one of the first run serial numbered HESTs that apparently had chipping issues with the powder coat as well. It's been battoned heavily and has seen some pretty brutal tip work... still a Godly slicer though. This thing really is the do it all blade. I'd ALMOST consider it to be the 'one knife', which is why I'd love to see a 4.5-5 inch DPx blade.
 
huh, no blade retention device thingy...sounds like episode 2 of dropping your knife in the middle of nowhere while out hiking with sandbags instead of water in your pack is already in the works :D
 
JV3 said:
huh, no blade retention device thingy...sounds like episode 2 of dropping your knife in the middle of nowhere while out hiking with sandbags instead of water in your pack is already in the works :D
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It's in my pocket dude! I could easily add a strap but I form fitted the leather... this thing is tight. It's not handle heavy either. I'll keep a close eye on it with EDC use this week and if it's necessary I'll add a strap.
 
Looks good. I always liked simple leather sheaths. I am sort of a nut about "losing" knives and gear so retention straps always make me feel better..

I must say though, after miles of hiking with my HEST horizontal on my belt in the stock kydex, it never came out or got loose. I made sure of that by feeling for it every two minutes while walking:foot:
 
PayetteRucker said:
It's in my pocket dude! I could easily add a strap but I form fitted the leather... this thing is tight. It's not handle heavy either. I'll keep a close eye on it with EDC use this week and if it's necessary I'll add a strap.
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you said belt knife above. gotta pay attention to details when there are programmers surfing here :o just busting your chops. it's all good.
 
I like it. a lot. but then I like the way leather wears with age and use...just like the way these knives show wear and use!

I can't pocket carry lint! Crap in my pockets really bothers me. I don't mind "clipped to my pocket"...but that's it.
but I tell ya - that's nice work there. should "age" well! :)
 
looking forward to pics of the mk II and a function report after a week in your pocket to see if it loosens up any.
gotta love that Condor KLO, too!
 
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looks nice PR. kinda ironic people generally rave about the ESEE factory sheathing, but i have custom sheaths for both my ESEE's.

maybe after some use you could post an update.
 
Looks good man. Even with the bad powder coat run their coating is tougher than most. I hate sheaths with straps. They are always in the way. Much rather have just good sheath retention like my 6. That thing will never come out unless I take it out. I want to get a hest now for pocket carry to replace my folder.
 
To each his own but I had a leather pouch sheath for a small Bark River knife during the last jungle trip. Held it extremely tight (almost too tight) until the humidity started sinking in. Sheath became useless. Now, with that said, the HEST blade length is much longer than the Barkie I had so even if the sheath loosens a bit I think the pouch will still continue to hold it better than my recent experience. I love leather but it just has too much stretch and holds too much moisture for it to be of real use in the area I travel.
 
I like everything about leather, the look and feel of it, but when fall comes and brining with it the rain, slush and snow, i switch to my kydex/plastic sheathed knives.

And then when spring comes, i go back to my leather-sheathed knives. Thats what works for me in my part of the world
 
Two things glare out at me right off.

There appears to be no welt. Welting protects the stitches from getting cut and releasing the knife very near some treasured items.

Also, the leather appears to be really thin and flexible, again, that blade is really close to stuff you probably want to keep in good working order. I'd suggest a stiffer/thicker backing to ensure the tip of the knife isn't going to wander around in your pocket looking for something to poke.

Sit down too fast or fall, and things are going to get interesting very quickly.

Take the aforementioned advice as you see fit, it comes from a few years of experience. I've also heard the stories and seen the scars from substandard equipment.
 
I owned a Brkt with the leather tube style sheath; I damn near lost it twice due to it falling out while I was running up and down sand dunes. I had to return and find it one of those two times; needless to say I use retention straps now or good Kydex. The leather work was quality and a very snug fit but the rolling around, jumping and running created enough movement, and with the sheath allowing a certain amount of flex, it just worked it way out of the sheath. I ended up taking the knife off and leaving it in my pack for the trip.
+10 PR on taking the time and putting forth the effort to make your own gear; I respect that kind of thing. If it works for you then badass, if it fails and you come out of a possible severed femoral artery alive, you will know what to do different with the next sheath you craft.
 
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Leatherman's advice should be heeded. It wouldn't be that much more work to install a welt. You're going to have to do some more stitching when you install the clip you make out of a saw blade anyway.

On the other hand, thermoplastic is everywhere, and it's pretty easy to work. Here's something I made out of a cat litter bucket and some pop rivets:
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Thanks for all the input gents, and I'll definitely take the time to make a welt on round 2. So far the stitching is holding up well. I dyed it with RIT and waxed it with Carnuba. I chose thin leather on purpose so it would conform to my pocket or a boot and be low profile. I probably could have gone an ounce heavier but so far it's done well. I understand Jeff, how living down south and working in the jungle would be a pain with trying to maintain leather. The most humid it's been in the last 2 months here was 12%, so fortunately I don't have to worry about it. The sheath got a hefty mink oil coat this morning so as long as I maintain it I'm hoping it holds up. Just picked up a UPS box with an opinel, another sodbuster and two Trams, made the most out of Smokey Mountain's free shipping last weekend. I previously couldn't justify buying some of that stuff because the shipping was more expensive than the product, but the trams are getting leather wrapped handles and baldric sheaths for dayhike bushbeating. The HI Khuk has served me so well! As nice as a genuine HI khukri would be, this is no doubt a superb working man's tool. The balance feels like a tomahawk and it bites real deep, again with Condor's super slicing edge. The handle is also probably my favorite machete grip thus far.
 
leatherman said:
...Welting protects the stitches from getting cut and releasing the knife very near some treasured items.

...the tip of the knife isn't going to wander around in your pocket looking for something to poke.

I've... seen the scars from substandard equipment.
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Yikes. Don't think I want to know the details of that show and tell! ;)
 
Ok, STOP IT!
12% humidity?
less people in your state than most good sized cities,
world class fishing, hunting, pure air, and 4 seasons...
can you TURN THE KNIFE anymore, man? :)
 
solocanoe said:
Ok, STOP IT!
12% humidity?
less people in your state than most good sized cities,
world class fishing, hunting, pure air, and 4 seasons...
can you TURN THE KNIFE anymore, man? :)
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Idaho is great country; I loved living out there.
 
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