- Joined
- Jan 1, 2011
- Messages
- 953
Hey guys, figured I'd share a few pictures and first impressions of the new sheath I picked up recently for my BK7. I just wasn't happy with the Chinese-made stock sheath, but tried to make it work a little better by re-molding the inner liner to better fit the knife.In a hastily carried out and botched liner-heating attempt, I turned the tube into a plastic omelet.
Soon afterwards, I went ahead and started looking for another cheap sheath option. I had come across the Texas Hunt co Fieldmaster a while ago when I was looking at the Spec Ops Combat Master, and was happy to see they still had some in stock, albeit in very few choices, on the clearance price. I think it was about 25 bucks, compared to the Spec Ops version which goes for over twice that. Although I was hoping to find the all-chestnut brown version they only had Mossy Oak and Black left in the Long 8" style sheath. I'm usually not a mossy-oak/hunting camo type of guy, but it atleast had the chestnut brown trim and edging, so Mossy Oak it was.
I picked it up from my PO box a few days ago, and gotta say it is a sweet pair of pants for my 7 indeed. The entire construction is built to last, with very well designed features. The split belt loop system allows you to weave it into Molle webbing for pack or vest carry, and features a column of Molle loops on the backside. The split belt loops can be a little tricky to attach, as they feature both velcro and snap closures, and are designed to fold out and around your belt, and then be velcro'd and snapped shut. The nice thing about the two loops rather than one big folded over belt loop, such as on the stock sheath, is that you have alot more room of movement, so the knife seems to lie more comfortably against your leg.
Though I'm Canadian, I appreciate and support quality, North-American made products...Especially if they're made in Texas lol.
Although it is advertised as coming with "550-cord" leg rigging, mine didn't have the true 7-strand Paracord, but rather another type of heavy duty nylon-braided cord. It was similar, but with a thicker outer weave, less defined inner strands and an overall stiffer, rougher look. I replaced it with some OD Paracord, and finished with a few figure 8 knots. I originally re-tied the same coil that it originally came with, but found it was just too cumbersome.
Which leads me to my favorite difference between the stock sheath and the Fieldmaster; Size and efficiency of space. Where the stock sheath is wider than it needs to be and has that extra rounded flap of nylon hanging at the bottom, the Field Master uses a slim, insert-fitting design and a simple nylon loop for a leg-tie option. The width of the stock sheath is 3.5", The Field Master comes in at 2.75", while the BK7 blade, at it's widest, is about 1.5" at the thumbramp. The stock sheath is nearly 16" long, and will fit a 7" knife, the Field Master is 15" long (minus the tie-down loop) and will fit an up to 8" blade. Go figure.
The front pouch is quite a bit smaller than the stock one, but is much better designed. The front velcro flap is rigid, and provides an added layer of protection to whatever you're carrying in there, be it a flashlight, compass etc. I personally like keeping my Victorinox Swiss Tool in there, and fits perfectly without adding too much bulk. the pouch will expand a bit, but not too much larger. It will not hold a BK14 in sheath the way the stock one will, which was a bit of a bummer to be honest, Also, there is no mini-liner for a Remora or other sidekick knife.
While the opening to the insert looks huge and oval, it actually flares out at the top, and then tapers down to a much flatter, thinner size. The flare makes it much easier to sheath the knife without having to play around with it. Even though the liner fit much better than the stock one, I still removed it, and heated the bottom portion in boiling water, and pressed it together a bit to create a much better fit. The knife will now stay in the sheath while upside down, with the handle clasp undone, but is still easy and smooth to remove and replace. The handle clasp is made of a velcro loop, and allows you to resize it to fit pretty much any diameter handle or grips. Also, the large overhanging tab allows you to open and close the clasp with gloves on...or frost-numbed fingers.
All in all, I'm very impressed with the product, even the Mossy Oak has grown on me...(wow, that sounds deep and hippie-ish)...And I'm really glad I went for it over the stock, plain black. I can really see this getting alot of time on my belt, until I eventually pony up some cash for a nice cowboy leather number. As far as the Nylon sheath goes...there's not alot that can be improved upon in this Field Master. Now as much as I've downed the stock sheath, If it's all you have, it is a serviceable means to carry your knife around safely. But if you're looking for something a little slimmer, better made and nicer looking and feeling, the Texas Hunt co Field Master is definitely a superb option, and at the price the last few are at, you really couldn't do any better.
Haze240
BH#120
Soon afterwards, I went ahead and started looking for another cheap sheath option. I had come across the Texas Hunt co Fieldmaster a while ago when I was looking at the Spec Ops Combat Master, and was happy to see they still had some in stock, albeit in very few choices, on the clearance price. I think it was about 25 bucks, compared to the Spec Ops version which goes for over twice that. Although I was hoping to find the all-chestnut brown version they only had Mossy Oak and Black left in the Long 8" style sheath. I'm usually not a mossy-oak/hunting camo type of guy, but it atleast had the chestnut brown trim and edging, so Mossy Oak it was.
I picked it up from my PO box a few days ago, and gotta say it is a sweet pair of pants for my 7 indeed. The entire construction is built to last, with very well designed features. The split belt loop system allows you to weave it into Molle webbing for pack or vest carry, and features a column of Molle loops on the backside. The split belt loops can be a little tricky to attach, as they feature both velcro and snap closures, and are designed to fold out and around your belt, and then be velcro'd and snapped shut. The nice thing about the two loops rather than one big folded over belt loop, such as on the stock sheath, is that you have alot more room of movement, so the knife seems to lie more comfortably against your leg.
Though I'm Canadian, I appreciate and support quality, North-American made products...Especially if they're made in Texas lol.
Although it is advertised as coming with "550-cord" leg rigging, mine didn't have the true 7-strand Paracord, but rather another type of heavy duty nylon-braided cord. It was similar, but with a thicker outer weave, less defined inner strands and an overall stiffer, rougher look. I replaced it with some OD Paracord, and finished with a few figure 8 knots. I originally re-tied the same coil that it originally came with, but found it was just too cumbersome.
Which leads me to my favorite difference between the stock sheath and the Fieldmaster; Size and efficiency of space. Where the stock sheath is wider than it needs to be and has that extra rounded flap of nylon hanging at the bottom, the Field Master uses a slim, insert-fitting design and a simple nylon loop for a leg-tie option. The width of the stock sheath is 3.5", The Field Master comes in at 2.75", while the BK7 blade, at it's widest, is about 1.5" at the thumbramp. The stock sheath is nearly 16" long, and will fit a 7" knife, the Field Master is 15" long (minus the tie-down loop) and will fit an up to 8" blade. Go figure.
The front pouch is quite a bit smaller than the stock one, but is much better designed. The front velcro flap is rigid, and provides an added layer of protection to whatever you're carrying in there, be it a flashlight, compass etc. I personally like keeping my Victorinox Swiss Tool in there, and fits perfectly without adding too much bulk. the pouch will expand a bit, but not too much larger. It will not hold a BK14 in sheath the way the stock one will, which was a bit of a bummer to be honest, Also, there is no mini-liner for a Remora or other sidekick knife.
While the opening to the insert looks huge and oval, it actually flares out at the top, and then tapers down to a much flatter, thinner size. The flare makes it much easier to sheath the knife without having to play around with it. Even though the liner fit much better than the stock one, I still removed it, and heated the bottom portion in boiling water, and pressed it together a bit to create a much better fit. The knife will now stay in the sheath while upside down, with the handle clasp undone, but is still easy and smooth to remove and replace. The handle clasp is made of a velcro loop, and allows you to resize it to fit pretty much any diameter handle or grips. Also, the large overhanging tab allows you to open and close the clasp with gloves on...or frost-numbed fingers.
All in all, I'm very impressed with the product, even the Mossy Oak has grown on me...(wow, that sounds deep and hippie-ish)...And I'm really glad I went for it over the stock, plain black. I can really see this getting alot of time on my belt, until I eventually pony up some cash for a nice cowboy leather number. As far as the Nylon sheath goes...there's not alot that can be improved upon in this Field Master. Now as much as I've downed the stock sheath, If it's all you have, it is a serviceable means to carry your knife around safely. But if you're looking for something a little slimmer, better made and nicer looking and feeling, the Texas Hunt co Field Master is definitely a superb option, and at the price the last few are at, you really couldn't do any better.
Haze240
BH#120
Bummer!!!!