Project I sheath concerns - need feedback

Smooth Bone

Smooth Bone

Joined
Oct 31, 1999
Messages
392
I have been considering the purchase of a Project I for the son of a close friend who is a Marine.

However, the security of the sheath concerns me. It seems to be held in by two nylon studs on either side of the guard. There is no strap.

Offers fast release, but I'm not so sure about security. Wouldn't it be possible for brush to catch the handle and pull it away from the sheath, releasing the knife from the nylon studs? This would especially be troubling if the knife were carried upside down.

It has a lanyard, but to secure it with that requires tying in which takes time.

I know this knife was developed by a Marine, but the sheath really concerns me.

------------------
Frank Norman
Frank's Page
 
It takes a deliberate motion to push the nylon stud away from the guard to draw the knife, and any really hard pull that would override the nylon stud would probably unsnap a safety strap too.

I can't quite picture an accidental snag that would pull the knife handle out both sideways, to momentarily move it away from the nylon stud, and up, to draw it from the sheath against gravity. Sounds like a freak accident to me. And in the upside-down position on a web-gear shoulder strap there would be less chance of snagging. The setup is at least as secure as all those Kydex sheaths where the knife snaps into the sheath, with no strap.


------------------
- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Frank, when drawing the blade you have to pull out to the side as well as up so that the blade can clear past the Nylon nob. It is possible to just draw straight up but it requires a lot of force as basically you have to bend the sheath so it distorts and allows the blade to clear the nob. If you tie down the bottom of the sheath using a leg strap this is not possible unless you pull hard enough to break the wrap, or make it bite into your flesh enough to give the sheath enough slack so it can distort and allow a draw.

If you were carrying the blade then most snags would tend to pull the blade sideways and this would not draw the blade. Any snag that is straight up would require a significant amount of force to dislodge the blade. Normal movement would not do this. If you jumped out of a plane it is possible and if this is something you are going to do on a regular basis I would just have a leatherworker add a retention snap across the handle.

It is possible of course to get a snag at just the right vector (up and out) so the blade will draw but I can't see that happening in normal use. The only possibility that I see aside from the plane issue is if you fell and were rolling at high speed over ground that had rocks and/or sticks to catch on the blade laynard.


Another possibility is to adjust the laynard so that it is easily removed. You then put it on when the work requires and move around with it off. With no laynard the chance of a snag drops dramatically. You probably would have a better chance to be hit by lightening. Greenjacket has had a Project for quite some time. You might want to drop him an email and ask him if he ever had anything like this happen to him.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 08-20-2000).]
 
Bin the lanyard, as its asking for trouble. Same for any knife with a lanyard.

The stud system really works, as there is no fiddling about with catches. You can sheath the knife half way through a task and know its secure. Other systems, bar kydex, you tend to put the knife on the ground, where you can loose it.

One stud was enough for me. I very occasionally tied the knife on when my kit was being thrown on and off transport by others, or when on an assault course and points were lost for any dropped kit. I never lost mine in 8/10? years as an infantry soldier. (I glued my stud, ensuring that it rotated, as it did tend to loosen.)

So long as your friends son doesn't sell it for a crate of beer or to get his leg over, you can be assured he will have a the right tool for his trade
smile.gif


[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 08-20-2000).]
 
I always thought they stud system looked unreliable, but I never found a way to accidentaly dislodge the blade. I even used to wear it upside down in a shoulder rig from time to time.

If you don't want a custom sheath done up, you can always tie a loop of paracord through the top two eyelets. When the knife is sheathed, pull all the slack out of the loop so it cinches tight onto the handle. A little extra peace of mind, and you can still draw rapidly.
 
Hi Smooth...

I'm working on some Concealex sheaths right now for the PI with the new stud system and I have to say..
From a Sheathmakers point of view,, this method is Absolutely an improvement over that strap and snap..

Very High quality leather sheath I must admit..

ttyle Eric...

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom,Quality, Concealex Sheaths.

Leading The Way In Synthetic Sheathing.
 
Eric,

You're right about the leather sheaths CRK provides. I had four Al Mar/Reeve knives pass through when I was selling knives. They were the first CRK fixed blades I had handled and I was very impressed with the quality.

Nice web page, BTW!

------------------
Frank Norman
Frank's Page
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top