Rothco Nylon Sheath Compatability

Kenneth F Huls

Kenneth F Huls

Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
982
I wanted to share something new to me, though maybe this is well-known. I received a great hybrid nylon/Kydex MOLLE compatible rig along with the fantastic Hell Razor (I) I recently acquired. Love the combo and finally figured out it was an ESEE mated with an of course great BuyBrown sheath. Went to ESEE and they seem to only be selling the smaller size now.

Did some searching and came across the Rothco universal sheaths. Carries up to 7" blade. Ordered one at $19.99 given that the price was right. Threw out the folded, junky Kydex insert and tried several Kydex sheaths for 7" or under Busses. It is too narrow for an ASH-1, HR-I, or SFNO. BUT it is highly compatible with a taco style sheath for my smaller go-to's: the Pork Shank and the Sus Scrofa! Probably others of similar size as well.

IMG_0307.jpg IMG_0308.jpg IMG_0309.jpg IMG_0310.jpg IMG_0311.jpg

Attached are pics with the great BuyBrown sheaths for the two knives. They slide in and are secure, but not attached. It works well for me though. When drawing the blade, the Kydex comes up just free of the nylon carrier's mouth and then the old thumb press draws the blade cleanly. Various tie downs can be accomplished for inverted carry/jump security.

The pocket is too small for an Altoids style tin, but works well with folders, and tac lights and pens, etc.

This is a great hack, IMHO, and the price cannot be beaten.
 
Is Rothco US made? Just curious. Havent heard if them.

I did receive a us made nylon sheath that seems to work well. Came with a knife i ordered off Busse for sale
 
Might of found it. I think Korean made.
 
Makael said:
Might of found it. I think Korean made.
Click to expand...

They seem to represent themselves as a US Military supplier, but I don't know about that. The quality seems decent enough out of the box, though of course time will tell. Double stitched, though the gauge is not super thick. Utility of the design is very high, IMHO. Anyway I ordered another and am going to rough 'em up in the sticks.

Which maker was the US made nylon sheath to which you refer?
 
Kenneth F Huls said:
They seem to represent themselves as a US Military supplier, but I don't know about that. The quality seems decent enough out of the box, though of course time will tell. Double stitched, though the gauge is not super thick. Utility of the design is very high, IMHO. Anyway I ordered another and am going to rough 'em up in the sticks.

Which maker was the US made nylon sheath to which you refer?
Click to expand...
Spec ops. A nice USA made nylon sheath. Just received the knife today. Ill make a sheath in the next few days but this one will work. Heavy nylon.20200205_182758.jpg 20200205_182751.jpg
 
The spec ops sheath fits my TGULBs like they're custom made. They're great sheaths, especially if you properly mould the insert with a heat gun.

But a min sheath just had a different vibe/feel than a nice custom leather sheath or fitted kydex (love the 'click' from a kydex).
 
lmcq784 said:
The spec ops sheath fits my TGULBs like they're custom made. They're great sheaths, especially if you properly mould the insert with a heat gun.

But a min sheath just had a different vibe/feel than a nice custom leather sheath or fitted kydex (love the 'click' from a kydex).
Click to expand...

I have always heard good things. Yes, the click of a well-made Kydex gives one a great sense of security; hence my searching for options to combine them!
 
You can use pretty much any of the larger nylon/Cordura sheaths that use a Kydex or polymer liner.

Get yourself a 12" x 12" sheet of thin Kydex and some type of flat bar stock that is equal/slightly larger than the knife you intend it for (depending on how tight you want it), wrap half of the sheet (or less, depending on size) around the bar stock (or actual blade) after sitting it in your Toaster Oven, let it cool and...VOILA....you have a new liner.

If memory serves me correctly, the older Busse Combat Spec-Ops sheaths used a simple, folded (not sealed) liner to accommodate blades thicker than .22" or so.

If you want to go "super-simple" and narrower, overall, you can leave your gap in your "new" liner where the blade spine sits.
 
Forgot: Spec-Ops uses Velcro to hold their liners in the Cordura.

Split the Velcro at the top and push a steel desk ruler down into the sheath to split the rest of the Velcro.

If you decide to put Velcro on your new liner, use the ruler to keep the 2 sides of the Velcro apart until you have positioned it, correctly.
 
OnceBitten said:
Forgot: Spec-Ops uses Velcro to hold their liners in the Cordura.

Split the Velcro at the top and push a steel desk ruler down into the sheath to split the rest of the Velcro.

If you decide to put Velcro on your new liner, use the ruler to keep the 2 sides of the Velcro apart until you have positioned it, correctly.
Click to expand...

OnceBitten, both these posts are great! Thanks for the tips, brother! I am going to add Velcro.
 
BTW, just figured out that this Rothco makes a good "double" or "piggy back" -rig! My MMS Kydex by David fits fantastically in the pocket.
 
My pref is USA made whenever possible. There are lots of products obviously that pref doesnt work.
Cool ideas on utilizing these nylon sheaths.

49.95 About 50 bucks. Not bad considering I may of purchased a knife valued at 10 times that and is US made. I do tend to make my own but nylon sheaths have their place for sure.
iu
 
Spec-Ops makes excellent products. I have a bunch of their stuff.

Their backpacks are unreal. 1000D Cordura, massive YKK zippers, and High Visibility Yellow liners...I've never seen better.

:thumbsup:


EDIT: Here's what was inside my Regulator MO sheath

1zCpmSj.jpg



Cheap clear plastic sheet in a rectangular fold, silicone sealant to glue the overlap, flat black paint at the top opening to make it pretty/tactical, and more silicone to glue the top of the sleeve to the sheath's pouch.

This is how I received it. Really cheap, but, it works.
 
Last edited:
Makael said:
My pref is USA made whenever possible. There are lots of products obviously that pref doesnt work.
Cool ideas on utilizing these nylon sheaths.

49.95 About 50 bucks. Not bad considering I may of purchased a knife valued at 10 times that and is US made. I do tend to make my own but nylon sheaths have their place for sure.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree my preference is USA made. Will need to spring for a Spec Ops and give one a try. That said, I think these Rothcos may have their place, though pretty obviously not of quite as high of quality. That said, they seem to be a decent budget option of passable quality.

I really admire your leather craft, Makael Makael , and would like to have a sheath of yours coming up. As I just posted elsewhere, my love is for leather, but I have found that well-rendered Kydex has it place, and in fact I am finding that it is perfect to have both a great Kydex and leather sheath for my users. I am just finding that the nylon carrier systems are a nice, practical addition to the Kydex experience, and I am now really enjoying the mating of David @BuyBrown 's great Kydex sheaths with any one of several nylon systems. More and more options! Love it.
 
Rothco with Nuclear Sus Scrofa in BuyBrown for main compartment, and Mini Mean Street in BuyBrown for the pouch. (The angled ride in the pouch is both secure and rides and draws nicely like that.)

The repurposed leather snaps (by Skylar, now at Patriot) allow me to handily carry all of this scout style if desired.

IMG_0317.jpg
 
I just thought of another cheap option which could be interesting if you need an inexpensive sheath to use in a situation where the sheath will be subject to soiling from wet and/or dirty conditions and might need replacing at a fraction of the cost of a new Combat Master sheath:

Keep your eyes out for used (or unused in the case where the original was swapped out for leather/full Kydex) factory sheaths from the larger Ka-Bar/Beckers or Ontario knives.

A Becker BK9 sheath will fit blades up to around .36" thick and 9" in length. it is similar to a Rothco.

An Ontario RTAK II sheath will hold a 10.5" blade.
 
I might be mistaken, but I'm seem to recall that one of the kydex benders around here used to make extra narrow kydex liners for a few BusseKin (the TGLB being one, and maybe DSF, RMD, or BJ too?) that would fit the Spec Ops sheaths as a direct replacement for the supplied universal liner. I can't remember who was doing those though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top