Source for compasses

Sharptooth

Sharptooth

Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
34
Currently working on a kydex rig that will accomodate a firesteel, diamond rod and compass. The trouble I am having is finding a compass that can be mounted on the sheath ala Rambo style, by this I mean it screws down onto a small block of some sort to protect it. Any suggestions?
 
Dont know if I understand what you have in mind exactly but how about one of those wrist watch band compass. Mounted with a strap or a strip of kydex where the watch band goes.

Am I way off base here?

Neal
 
you are on the right track, I just want to have some way to protect the face of the compass from knocks, dings, etc.
 
Sharptooth, Since I didn't see the Rambo movies, do you have a pic of the compass on his sheath? The Rambo sheaths I found so far with a web search are the United versions, which are just plain leather sheaths. Obviously I'm missing something. BTW, I like the list of tools you're looking to incorporate into the sheath. :cool:

My $0.02 would be to make a formed kydex clip or preferably a pocket that would hold the compass and maybe the other tools as well securely on the sheath. That would allow the compass to be removed if you wanted to do so. A pocket would also add some padding for the tools.

(edited for clarity)
 
In the Rambo movies the compass was in the buttcap of his knife, just screw it off and there it is, but stays protected from all the nasties. (sorry I was not a little clearer in my description) Basically what I want to do is cut the small portion of the handle off(the part the compass screws into) and affix it to the front of the sheath.
Any suggestions?
 
The "Rambo" knife is a hollow handled knife where the compass is mounted on the inside of the cap. As for cutting apart your knife and mounting a compass inside, it's a 10 dollar answer to a one dollar question that can be answered for a quarter.

First, why must the compass be in the handle? it's not the best place to keep a compass. Knives can occasionally pick up magentic signatures which can throw the compass off, Buttcaps get used as hammers, using your compass means leaving your buttcap off the knife which can result in your stored items being lost or damaged.

You are better off with a compass that straps around your wrist... what you do is strap it across the sheath or keep it on a little pouch mounted on your sheath. As for protecting the compass, it's a fifty cent compass. It's damn near unbreakable, and you can mount it facing the sheath for an extra measure of protection.

Last but not least, when I venture into the woods, I've got two compasses and a GPS (military lensatic and large wrist compass) with me anyway so the addition mini-compass is not much help. Such a small compass is difficult to use and can only help with general navigation. Wandering into unfamiliar woods with just simple compass like that is begging for a Darwin award.
 
Mutt, maybe I did not phrase this right. But, what I am trying to do is incorporate a compass into the sheath where it will be protected. I am just trying to be creative and not put it in a pocket? I just have too many ideas running around in my head!
 
I have not worked with kydex so I dont know the limitations of what can be done. What if you make a bezel or a piece of tubing of the size that the compass just fits inside. The bezel slightly taller than the height of the compass. With the kydex molded over the top of the whole thing with a hole in the kydex just large enough to read the compass. The protruding rim of bezel/tube with the layer of kydex over it may give some protection to the face of the compass.

The strip of kydex being wide enough to reach the edges of the sheath and attached with chicago screws or some means that it can be disassembled. All attachments would need to be of metal that the compass will not react to. Same goes for the bezel.

So it would look like a mini volcano with a compass down in the mouth of the volcano. Is this too bizarre?

Just a thought.

Neal
 
Neal sounds to me like it could work. then put a flip up cover over the "volcano" to keep the grime out. I would choose a good compass to use if I were going to go through all that work though. Personally I keep my compass around my neck or in a pocket. :D
 
Better idea, imho, would be to find a soft pouch that will accommodate the stuff, then make an skeletal insert for the pouch.
 
You could try and slip a small compass into a piece of clear plastic tubing, the kind sold at most hardware stores. Sealed at the edges with hot glue for moisture proofing and screwed/sewn to your sheath just might work.
 
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