Sheath retention fix for my BK5 and BK15

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,468
Here are a few shots taken tonight of my BK5.

Now as we know, the sheaths have a plastic sleeve inside, the blade isn’t retained by that, it’s just for protection. So you need to rely on the restraining strap. I took some soft leather, glued some stiffer leather to one half about 4” long and used a metal ruler to push the one side of the leather down behind the sleeve and then pushed the stiffer leather side down into the sleeve. Now the knife has some friction when inserted, which provides some retention. No more rattling and if the snap comes un done it won’t be free to fall out, you can even hold it upside down without it moving out, I’d not shake it very hard but you can see it stays put.

blade dwarfs the small SAK Electrician, thanks again Ken, use that just about everyday :)

BK5_SAK_Electrician.jpg~original


Here you can see the leather as it is in the sleeve and also down behind the sleeve;

BK5_leather_insert-.jpg~original


And an upside down, snap undone shot showing the retention;

BK5_leather_insert.jpg~original


I’ll do a similar operation for my BK15 as well, both excellent knives!

and a 'glamour' shot of my BK15,

BK-15_.jpg~original


G2
 
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Thx! The rattling of my BK5 in its sheath was bothering me too.

To clarify, you took an 8" length of soft leather, glued 4" of stiffer leather to one half of the soft leather, pushed the soft leather end down behind the plastic sleeve, pushed the soft+stiff leather end down inside the sleeve. Right?
 
Yep, that's the ticket, you may need to skive down the stiffer leather if it's too thick, the softer leather allows the blade to compress it in the sheath, which is what provides the retention without being TOO tight.

actually slid the stiffer side in first and then folded the end of the soft so I could catch it with the metal ruler to be able to push it down behind the sleeve. It's handy and not a permanent thing so you can still remove and clean if you need to.
G2
 
You've got me worried Gary .
You seem to be turning all fixed blade on us :)
Just in case there's anyone who doesn't realize Gary is a leather folder sheath making Guru and comes up with design ideas that often blow my mind .
Nice knife , and the fixed blade is OK as well :)


Ken
 
Thanks Gary! I just got my BK5 earlier this week and will do the same mod. What a great tip.

What type of glue works well with leather? Will Gorilla glue work?

And isn't the 5 impressive?
 
I like it :thumbup: Looks like something to try out on my 15! Very nice mod Gary!
 
Thanks guys and Ken, you're too kind sir!

As to the glue, I use Weldwood but probably any contact cement will do, one tip would be to make the insert side just a little snug so it won't try to pull back on you.

And the BK15 worked even better :)
G2
 
Howdy, G2 . . . and welcome to Beckerland . . . we have fun over here!

Nice tip on the BK5/BK15 sheaths. You seem to have maintained your ability to be creative . . . long time since you built the Sebenza sheaths for me. I'm down to one large and one small now . . . but they date from 2009 or before. Dunno' anything about recent CRK production but from what I see, he's still doing a bang-up business.

Good to hear from you, Gary . . . and I see your photography skills continue to be right up there! Getting a good pix of a black becker is almost as challenging as a good shot of a black cat in a coal pile. :D
 
Thanks guys and howdy Ralph ! it's been a while for sure, haven't made a lot of sheaths lately due to travel and then a busted ankle, but slowly getting back to it.

As to these two knives, I must be dreaming of some catastrophy coming and I'm making prep's for it, also have an eye out for a BK2, those look like one tough knife!!! maybe Christmas will have one under the tree for me...

Both knives just cut so well and Mr Becker's handles, well, they handle so well ;) nicely done sir!

G2
 
Thanks ;) and you probably could get away with something else to saddle over that back edge of the sleeve, just the stiffer leather helps to bind against the sides to prevent it from pulling back out and of course the end that goes behind the sleeve helps prevent it from being pushed further into the sheath, kinda need both to make it work.

And thanks on the B'day I was pretty out of it that day so I don't fully recall it, but I do remember looking around for a knife ;)
G2
 
A shot of the BK5 and BK15 insert, both work very well, on the 15 I just used the thickness of the soft leather so the retention is more when the knife is fully seated, while the BK5 the blade can be part way out and still have some retention.

BK_5_sheath_insert.jpg~original


BK_15_sheath_insert.jpg~original


So, if you have some thicker soft leather, that might be all you need, this black leather is scraps from an old leather coat, so don't throw those old coats away ;)
G2

Edited to add, I sharpened up the BK15 today, NICE, and I give Ka-Bar & BK solid points as the bevels on both sides were fairly even and in the same plane, meaning no wobbles or dips as a lot of knives do, which shows up quickly when you go to put your own edge on there, nice work folks!!! And sharp, my my my ;) that does take a great edge
 
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Hey Gary.....

Thank you for the kudos and kudos are due to you for a great idea !!!!! ....... Welcome to the Becker forum.....

Ethan
 
Well deserved sir, these are fine knives!! I'm not sure on the next one, leaning towards the BK2 or the BK16, I live just south of Elmira NY so a couple hours from Olean, would love to stop in and handle them before I commit to getting one...

Again, nice workmanship, pleases pass that on to the folks that create these for us if you would!

And thank you for the kudos, it certainly took both sheaths to a level where they work a lot better plus makes the knife quieter to draw and return as well.
G2
 
Hey GWG ........

I carry and use the Sixteen now more than any other Becker other than the Eleven........ The Two is also a great choice, methinks........ The Sixteen is just so handy....

Thanks again for your business .......

E
 
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