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Stock Sheath Solution: Feedback Wanted

C_Tanner

C_Tanner

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Feb 21, 2011
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Copying this from the other thread so we can get a solid list of "yay" or "nay" so we can forward to Kabar. I thought maybe we should work on a solution instead of just bitching.

Just offer a Affirmative or Negative response to the idea. This is a Cost-Neutral idea to the manufacturer, and we want to make this is SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE. Then we can at least forward the idea if most people agree to it.

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Collector makes one good point I will agree on, and since it is really cost negligible at the factory level maybe its something to consider:

How difficult would it be to form the plastic? I don't think it is the SHEATH so much that most people (myself included) have a problem with so much as the INSERT.

Let me think...OK, hows this sound?

Don't sew the insert. Make a simple sheet to put in the box explaining how to form the insert to taste. A strip of velcro, a tiny included bottle of super glue...something the secure the insert once formed could be included in the box. That way, if people LIKE rattling blades, they can leave it as is. If they like tight fit, they can form it. Or they can make their own kydex of whatever and self mod.

Even if they didn't INCLUDE anything but a sheet of paper with instruction options...NOT sewing the liner in might make more people at least satisfied with the sheath. When I had the stock sheath, It drove me nuts. I didn't mind the SHEATH...I minded the LINER. And I tried everything to get that damn thing out...destroying the sheath in the process.

So in conclusion...if the liner was not sewn in leaving you some options to self mod to taste....would everyone like the sheath more?

I ask because they used to say in the Navy, "Don't bitch about something if you can't offer a solution". The solution I just offered is cost-neutral to the manufactuer.

Thoughts?
 
How about the insert having a hole in it with a fastener similar to Spec-ops?
 
I would have to agree .....I usually go with Kydex on most of my knives..... But I just got a Tops pathfinder school knife with right handed Kydex....I am left handed....I ordered the nylon sheath... Really nice by the way.... But the insert was formed right handed....I simply removed the insert.. spun it around and heated it.. to fit the blade a little tighter..... Would be nice to custom form the insert for us lefties and have a snug fit with no rattles...
tops-pathfinder_tops-kmives_10.jpg

IMAG0176-1.jpg

BK7 pic....so I stay out of trouble... Lol
 
I think making the liner removable like Spec Ops and putting a velcro/snap on the belt loop like the new Shorts sheaths would be a HUGE improvement.

I've also wondered about the cost of using injection molded sheaths like ESEE. In my mind, it seems those sheath could be made in an automated fashion as opposed to kydex where each sheath is essentially hand fitted.
 
Just trying to come up with a simple option that does not require them to re-tool anything. All this does is take out one step (sewing in the liner) and adding a peice of paper. Cost neutral. There are lots of "they could do it like this" ideas, but thats less likely to happen.
 
Well iirc, Kabar doesn't actually make the sheaths, they are sourced elsewhere.

I am ignorant about how these kind of manufacturing contracts work, but I'd guess if their current maker didn't want to incur the cost they could find another maker who would.

However, I get what you're saying. I was just thinking about the injection molded sheaths recently, since they *seem* like they'd cost effective as well.
 
there might be a requirement for the liner to be fixed (military?)... i like the screw idea best, but that might be a "feature" that spec ops owns? there could be other ways (like tying it in, velcro, etc).

as is, the sheaths are mostly ambi-dextrous

they COULD provide a fitted plastic liner. that would cost more, even if they are just made of injection molded plastic. the liners as is are probably incredibly generic, and cheap to make.

after market people could also provide better liners - flocked even.

i personally feel on of the best mods is to insert a strip of something like velco or leather into the insert, fold the top over, and down the side a little. provides for that snug fit with no work.
 
I meant using injection molded as the sheath, not just the liner.

But any way they can make the liner removable would work.
 
maybe they should just sell a really shitty basic liner with everything, and then give you the option to upgrade ;)

except people would complain. they'd want them sold in combinations. or other features.

they DO upgrade the sheaths in small ways, over time, and a lot of people never notice.
 
I just want a sheath in multicam with rainbow retention straps. I don't see why that's so difficult :D

In all seriousness, I hope I wasn't coming across as complaining. Just emptying the contents of my brain onto the thread...... I'll gather them up again, sorry for the mess.
 
after boiling and reshaping my liner slightly, my BK7 doesnt' move at ALL in the sheath.

It is actually not a terrible sheath once the liner is shaped, but i REALLY wish it wasn't so oversized. It's 3" longer than necessary.

i have given some thought to cutting off the bottom (floppy part) and melting the nylon to seal the bottom, but I am concerned that it might damage something i can't predict
 
BePrepared said:
after boiling and reshaping my liner slightly, my BK7 doesnt' move at ALL in the sheath.
Click to expand...

Thats my point. I don't want to make this another "how would you do it thread"...we've beaten that dead horse into mush. I'm just saying DON'T sew the liner in. I couldn't get mine out, and destroyed the sheath. If I could have easily removed it (like spec ops) and molded it myself...I would probably still be using it. Oh, I'd re-sheath anyway, but I would not have pitched the sheath, I would have kept it. It's not THAT bad. I liked mine with a 1/2 rope through the belt loop and I just slung it over my shoulder. All it would take is a small request to the sheath manufacturer...."Hey! Don't sew in the liner". Done. 100% of customers at least MORE happy. I know you cant please anyone, but the NUMBER ONE complaint on those sheaths is rattle. Take away a few inches of thread, and more people are happy.
 
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Me in the background, BK9 in hand, stock sheath slung over my shoulder. (owner of goinggear dot com in the front) Pathfinder School, May 2011.

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I think this is very good idea and think someone should immediately email Toooj to see if he would consider participating im this discussion.

I don't know nothing, so the stock sheaths are working fine for me. I understand the complaints, mind you.
 
SaturatedShadow said:
But then people would bitch about the liner not being attached.
Click to expand...

I doubt that would happen. Most aren't. People pay almost $50 for Spec Ops sheaths that aren't attached. And I've never seen a comment in a review that says "I LOVE the way the knife rattles in my sheath!".

As they say in the GEICO commercials: "It's such a simple solution, even a caveman could do it". It really requires no special effort at all. Maybe the sheath-tab-sewing-guy at the factory in Mexico (or whereever) loses his job, but maybe he can sweep up the shop or something.
 
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