OT: Gentleman's Skinner

cavetech

cavetech

Joined
Nov 25, 2005
Messages
760
Last night I was looking at a blade that finished a while ago. It was called the Gentleman's Skinner. The blade is 3-1/8" long, 6-7/8" OAL, 1" wide. Handle is tiger stripe applewood with 6 n/s pins and n/s bolsters/finger guard. I never knew quite knew what to do with little knife since I felt the handle was too small (due to it's design).

So I got the idea to make a kydex horizontal carry belt sheath for it. I had the kydex and the store bought belt loop on hand. I've used a heat gun for sheaths in the past and this is the first time I tried heating the kydex in the oven for forming. Didn't know what to expect.

After heating the kydex in the oven at 350* for few minutes it got extremly pliable. I fished it out and put it over the knife that was on a cookie sheet on my ceramic tile floor and covered it with a piece of plywood with two layers of sleeping bag matt glued to it. Then I stood on the plywood and forced the foam matt down over the kydex and knife.

Picture a grown man standing on a small piece of plywood on a cookie sheet in the kitchen til the kydex cooled!

I was delighted with the way the kydex molded and contoured perfectly to the little knife. The rest was riveting, shaping and chicago screws.

Now I have a nice small EDC that is invisible along my belt under a light shirt. It stays out of my way, too. A little adjustment with my heat gun allowed the knife to be inserted into the sheath and snap in, no rattle either. Easy draw, but it won't come out unless I want it too.

End of little knife sheath story. Thanks for looking.
 
Small handle eh ? Ibetcha its not too small for my hands . That is one great looking blade . It is indeed a Gentlemans skinning knife . I have never heard of tiger stripe apple wood . Its a great handle . Apple is supposed to be a great wood . It must be in short supply due to its size and the fact an apple tree has other commercial uses ? Iam not a big fan of manmade material sheaths . I do have one of the same material as that on my becker necker . I must admit it works great . It does not look half as good as yours . You got it right the first time . .
 
Kevin the grey said:
Small handle eh ? Ibetcha its not too small for my hands . That is one great looking blade . It is indeed a Gentlemans skinning knife . I have never heard of tiger stripe apple wood . Its a great handle . Apple is supposed to be a great wood . It must be in short supply due to its size and the fact an apple tree has other commercial uses ? Iam not a big fan of manmade material sheaths . I do have one of the same material as that on my becker necker . I must admit it works great . It does not look half as good as yours . You got it right the first time . .
Click to expand...

Thank you, Kevin!

Leather is "warmer" and smells great, but sometimes there is a place for plastic. Kydex is fun to work with. Putting the kydex in the oven allowed the material to mold to the form of the knife much better than my heat gun.
 
Super nice little rig, Steve.

I'd prefer a fixed blade EDC but can't always carry one. Like the idea of that- it came out great.


Mike
 
Steve,
that is one sweet sheath...I am getting ready to order some kydex myself...Yea I know, it will mess up my tagline of "The MOST talented and best looking Leather holster maker known to mortal's !" (err that lives in Liberty!):D

Seriously I like that rig...now that I think about it, I am gonna order some and try something like that for my Kerambit...Kinda like a "walkaround" sheath..

Good work and good post...


NOW SEND IT TO ME...muahahahahahaaa!!!<~~demented chuckle!!!:p



I have a jelly donut!
 
Great looking knife Steve.:thumbup:
Around civilized folk and civilized areas, I reluctantly tote a good slip joint folder. But in the uncivilized parts of the world, I have always favored the strength and simplicity of a small fixed blade knife for EDC utility work. Don't matter how many other blades, big or small, you've got tucked around the rest of your gear, a small fixed blade that's sharp and handy, gets put to a lot of work in a field environment.
Here's something to avoid, do not, I repeat, do not, whip that puppy out in a fancy restaurant and start carving up your steak with it. Once your friends get over their initial shock, every dayumed one of 'em will want you to make them one just like it. ;)

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Great looking knife Steve.:thumbup:
Around civilized folk and civilized areas, I reluctantly tote a good slip joint folder. But in the uncivilized parts of the world, I have always favored the strength and simplicity of a small fixed blade knife for EDC utility work. Don't matter how many other blades, big or small, you've got tucked around the rest of your gear, a small fixed blade that's sharp and handy, gets put to a lot of work in a field environment.
Here's something to avoid, do not, I repeat, do not, whip that puppy out in a fancy restaurant and start carving up your steak with it. Once your friends get over their initial shock, every dayumed one of 'em will want you to make them one just like it. ;)

Sarge
Click to expand...

Hi Sarge:

I love your way with words! But, the few folks I hang out with would not be surprised if I pulled out a chainsaw to cut my hamburger. I once had my P226 fall out of my shoulder holster in Newark, NJ airport. People backed off, but no one came to question/detain me!!
 
Leatherface said:
Steve,
that is one sweet sheath...I am getting ready to order some kydex myself...Yea I know, it will mess up my tagline of "The MOST talented and best looking Leather holster maker known to mortal's !" (err that lives in Liberty!):D

Seriously I like that rig...now that I think about it, I am gonna order some and try something like that for my Kerambit...Kinda like a "walkaround" sheath..

Good work and good post...


NOW SEND IT TO ME...muahahahahahaaa!!!<~~demented chuckle!!!:p



I have a jelly donut!
Click to expand...

Hi LF:

About kydex. I've worked with both the .60 and .90 (think I'm missing an 0 in there someplace). I like the .60 best for most projects. It forms easier and closer to the knife shape and kydex rivets fold over through it real nice.

I have only found one length kydex rivet and it only goes through two layers. If only I could find some that go through three layers and roll over I could add pouches, fire steel holders, etc. Even integrated belt loops. If anybody knows where I can get longer rivets it would be great.

Kydex rivets also come in two diameters. I also use small solid brass rivets, colored black, like used in leather work.

I've seen your leather work. Your talent on kydex should be outstanding.
 
I have a buddy who gave me a kydex sheath with attached belt loop . I seem to remember he used some kind of brass machine screws . If its rivets I,ll get back to you . I think a fire striker kit integrated into the sheath is a good idea . Especially in such a secure sheath .

A question for you >what would happen if you put hot kydex around a form and the kydex had two lips you could clamp together . Would the lips weld/meld together ?
 
Kevin the grey said:
I,m still looking for that "civilized part of the world" that you mentioned .
Click to expand...

Kevin, God bless you, if you never have to traipse through a sorry mess like New York or Los Angeles, you won't have missed a dadburn thing. :grumpy:
Apparently, my entire home state of Florida falls under the classification of being civilized (said sort of tongue-in-cheek, since I have done Combat Search and Rescue training with PJs in the everglades, and that there weren't too civilized at all), because in Florida, a "legal knife" is defined by Florida law as an "ordinary pocketknife" (no kidding, you can look it up if you like). Gotta love Texas, where a "legal knife" has a 5 1/2" blade that'll handily butcher a deer. :D

Sarge
 
Steve,
Thanks for that...Kydex is something that I have wanted to work with for a couple of years...

Do you glue the edges together just like leather?? This is really the only part I dont get


I am going with a tec-lock BTW...I wanna be able to adjust the angle I carry it...
 
Dave, I don't think it's glued or welded at the edge. The rivets and/or screws hold it together.

Steve
 
Kevin the grey said:
I have a buddy who gave me a kydex sheath with attached belt loop . I seem to remember he used some kind of brass machine screws . If its rivets I,ll get back to you . I think a fire striker kit integrated into the sheath is a good idea . Especially in such a secure sheath .

A question for you >what would happen if you put hot kydex around a form and the kydex had two lips you could clamp together . Would the lips weld/meld together ?
Click to expand...

Hi Kevin:

No. The hot kydex doesn't melt together. Common practice is to use kydex rivets that are hollow in the middle.

I've read about adhesives for kydex, but haven't tried them yet. The rivets do a nice job and allow "attachment" of things to the sheath.
 
Ferguson,
Not glued together?? hmm that complicates things a little...Gotta figure out how to hold it together for molding...

Glue I dont "think" is needed but I have been known to wiggle when I am sitting on a sheath...lol

Gonna make me a kydex sheath for my Kerambit...Have the tooled leather one for going to meetings and such:cool:

Steve,
I have some black steel rivet's if ya need a few...They are the same ones I use for my budget series of holster's and I have never had one let go...hmmm...5 sets of rivets for one of those skinner's...

<thinking>

you would have rivet's

Sister would have sweet knife...


Ok works for me!!! :thumbup:
 
Leatherface said:
Steve,
Thanks for that...Kydex is something that I have wanted to work with for a couple of years...

Do you glue the edges together just like leather?? This is really the only part I dont get


I am going with a tec-lock BTW...I wanna be able to adjust the angle I carry it...
Click to expand...

Hi LF:

Nope, no glue. But a few things to keep in mind.

A fold over pouch type sheath will be contoured on both sides so a belt loop will be challenging.

A two sided sheath is a bit bulkier (like leather) but has it's own uses. To make a two sided kydex sheath, only heat and form the top half. Form it on a flat surface other than the flat kydex back. After it cools you can join the two halves together and massage the fit with a heat gun. Be real careful because it doesn't take much heat for final fit.

I have now made sheaths using a heat gun only and an oven. By far the best fit I got was from the oven.

I made a kydex sheath press from about a 12"x12" piece of plywood and two layers of a sleeping bag matt glued to it. I stood on the plywood which pressed and molded the hot kydex around the knife. I read all this stuff on the internet and can't take credit for reinventing the wheel. But, heck it really works!

Now if only I could find longer kydex rivets I could cobble up a kuk sheath with a pouch on the outside for knives, fire steel, etc.
 
Uh, LF:

I have one or two teck-locks on hand. I haven't used them yet because I can't figure them out. They flip open, but there is a seperate plastic piece......

I don't get them.

I can now hear the laughter all the way down here in FL about this.
 
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