SPEED SHEATH: legit? Or Marketing gimmick?

F

Full Tang Clan

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Jul 22, 2000
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I came across this product while surfing and was wondering if anyone was familiar with it: http://www.a11.com/sheath/knife-sheath.html

The product discreption is a bit vague but it seems to imply that your folder will automatically deploy as you draw the knife out of this sheath.

Sounds too good to be true. Anyone know for sure?

FTC

P.S. Kinda looks too "Village People-ish" with black studded leather.
 
Yes, I have come across these on two occasions. Both claimed to be the inventers of the product. Seems they have some sorting out to do. At any rate both designs were very similar. I personally liked the second design I saw which has less metal studs than the model on this site. Both models however worked very well. The blade is always slightly open inside the leather done so by a round rubber washer that is replaceable. If they had a nylon model I would probably be interested in getting one.
 
Seems like it would be popular with bikers wanting to keep their Buck 110 but add a more tactical deployment method. Looks liek it works (check the video), but I don't know what's holding it tight when sheathed, will it jiggle loose?
 
I've never handled one like this, but several others like this were promoted some years ago. They seemed to be for lockbacks that rely on the closing bias of the spine lockbar to keep the knife in position semi-opened in the sheath. The one I looked at had significant moulding of leather around the knife and looked much more elegant, sitting horizontally on the belt. It might have been the one mentioned with the synthetic washers. That one had the option of being able to take the knife out without opening it. You could unsnap the back of it and take the knife out.

My concern is that when you draw the knife, it is ALWAYS opened. I just cringe about what's going to happen when you have to remove your knife at the request of a police officer (at gunpoint). That snap as the knife locks open is enough to make most Mr Twitch-it's pull the trigger first. Also, when you do some major gymnastics and the knife falls out - OPEN. If you get patted down, you run the risk of someone screaming "Gun !"

The space could be better saved with a nice quick opening one-handed liner locker or auto or semi-automatic.

As you can tell, I have some real concerns. There's no such thing as a bad idea, just a good idea at the time. I'm sure some people will like it and find a use for it.

Cheers.
 
Good legitimate points Jason.

In addition, the only need for deployment like that is usually for those that carry knives for self defense whether it be urban self defense, or hikers who may come across an onery cougar or, God forbid, a malicious bear.

Still, I'm interested in the various points brought up by you and the others such as how secure is your knife from plopping out while keeping it sheathed, public image, etc.

I'm sure some of the fellas here will come across one of these sheaths at a knife show and hopefully give a review on it as well. Thanks.
 
Interesting product..I'd be curious to try it...

I'm surprised no one mention that Emerson makes a kydex "rapid deployment sheath" for their Commander:

Rapid1.jpg


You can see a demo here:

http://www.emersonknives.com/videos/RAPID.mpg

RL
 
The ones I saw with the washer could not be opened without opening it. It is also only secure with certain knives. I believe it was modeled after a 110. I did try a Gerber Gator in it at the time that worked rather well. It had a slight adjustment by tightening the screw that held the washer in place. I can't recall if both the models I saw had this option or just one of them.

I would be curious if a one of the custom kydex makers would be willing to make something like this specifically molded to a specific knife.

As to the having to unsheathe it for a police officer. I would explain that it opens by unsheathing it. Seeing a blade come out of a sheath isn't uncommon especially since several people where I live carry fixed blades.
 
There's a novice knifemaker in Melbourne, Australia who showed me a similar device he made to work on his Benchmade Stryker. Its a nifty conversation getter at any guys' get-togethers, but it always deploys the blade. He's also said that it took so much adjustment to get the system to work that the Kydex is almost burnt out in spots.

I make a lot of kydex sheaths for my more tactically oriented or lower cost knives. Personally, I find the basic premise of a folder is that it gives you options. Including the option of NOT opening the knife and doing so if desired when desired. Otherwise, get a fixed blade. In the space taken up by the sheath I could carry 2 extra folders of simialr size.


I'm sure some people will like the sheath idea, but I'm not particularly convinced of the utility. But thats just me. In that way its not a gimmick in that some people I'm sure will find a use for it and will probably like it. My own test of something's usefulness is to check if you're still using it 1 or 2 months later ...

Cheers.
 
Jason,
I think that products like this appeal to a few groups:
1. People who are unaware of one-handed folders
2. People who want to speed up the presentation of their current carry folder and have no interest in changing the knife they carry daily to a fixed blade
3. People who live in jurisdictions where carrying a fixed blade is illegal but this device would be legal (I know there are certain places where even this sheath would be illegal as it 'allows a folder to be drawn in an open position')
 
Slightly OT (and because Basic members can't search):

If someone really needs to open a knife like a Buck 110 or SOG Tomcat with one hand AND does not want to alter the blade here is a possible solution:
http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...xt=&list=10&range=121&order=Default&SKU=MI129
I have 3 of these and they work well with out damaging the blades. I saw these originally in a post by Buzzbait on a Buck 560 he has.

-SB
 
I got one of these, at least pretty similar, about 9 years ago. It works very well for what it was intended to do. I don't know about the version you saw, but the one I have, the knife (a Buck 110) has never fallen out. The big thing you've got to remember is that as you're drawing it out of the sheath the blade is pivoting down and out of the sheath as it straigtens out. Had a friend who tried drawing it out while driving a cab (he was wearing it on the back of his belt as it is large and bulky) and it sliced into his car seat. Also when showing it to people if you don't stop them they'll hold their hand over the area where the blade swings down and slice their hand open. The only additional problem is that if you use the knife very often, the roller will dull a razor edge. My model also worked well with a Boker lockback. Hope this helps.
 
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