Tightening and what to expect from open top sheath

Z

Zerk

Joined
Dec 2, 2017
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Not sure if I am being paranoid, or expecting to much from the retention of open sheaths. I bought Rapid River kodiak, a skinning knife. They recommended oiling and wrapping with a rubber band. Done this all week, multiple oilings. Two rubber bands and spring woodworking clamp. What should I expect? What should I live with? Maybe I am worrying to much. I have only one very old open sheath. Thick leather with a strap in the middle with lace, that I have never adjusted.

While a skinning knife, I was going to try wearing it as carry knife at times, since it is short. Plus skinning. Thanks for input.
 
Open top sheaths can be made to have extreme retention. Whether the sheath that came with this knife can I can't say with the info provided. I've not heard of the method you described regarding oiling and rubber bands.
 
Zerk said:
Not sure if I am being paranoid, or expecting to much from the retention of open sheaths. I bought Rapid River kodiak, a skinning knife. They recommended oiling and wrapping with a rubber band. Done this all week, multiple oilings. Two rubber bands and spring woodworking clamp. What should I expect? What should I live with? Maybe I am worrying to much. I have only one very old open sheath. Thick leather with a strap in the middle with lace, that I have never adjusted.

While a skinning knife, I was going to try wearing it as carry knife at times, since it is short. Plus skinning. Thanks for input.
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Never heard of that method. What leather was used to make the sheath?, what type of oil are you using ?
 
I don't know what type of leather was provide from the maker of the knife. I been trying obenhauffs. Holsters get tight, but holsters also seem to be aided by pulling tighter against you by your belt.

The rubber band does seem like a good idea, the leather is just not forming enough. I have thought about wet forming. Opinions on this vary from love it to not big on it.

I got an old knife,50+ years probably that is tight. But it also has a band around the middle.
 
Zerk said:
I don't know what type of leather was provide from the maker of the knife. I been trying obenhauffs. Holsters get tight, but holsters also seem to be aided by pulling tighter against you by your belt.

The rubber band does seem like a good idea, the leather is just not forming enough. I have thought about wet forming. Opinions on this vary from love it to not big on it.

I got an old knife,50+ years probably that is tight. But it also has a band around the middle.
Click to expand...
Ya got any pics? Oiling or conditioning won't do anything to tighten the sheath. Done too much ya can actually have the opposite reaction and loosen the leather.
 
I don't see a way to attach a picture, and I don't have hosting site. I don't think the website shows it very good. The sheath is somewhat formed to the knife
rapidriverknifeworks.us

Kodiak Knife

Kodiak Skinning Knife - Choose from a Variety of Handle Materials
rapidriverknifeworks.us
 
Are you to leave the rubber bands on all the time or are they used for molding the leather?
 
To edit
Horsewright said:
Ya wanna build a real sheath? I’ll help.
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That may be way to go. I have thought leather work may be cool to try.

A good sheath can really make the knife.

I wanted to carry this knife. At the moment it is on the shelf. Can still use it for skinning

Also thinking about filing edges to make it more comfortable to use
 
Decide what kind of sheath ya want to build and where ya want to carry the knife.

Lots of info here:

Tutorial and WIP Links

In an effort to keep things tidy and still be able to keep great threads handy, I'm gonna make a link list for the detailed tutorials, ect. That way we can cut down on stickies while still being able to keep adding on. If you know of a thread that would fit well and hasn't been added, just PM/VM...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Then we can go from there.
 
Oiling will relax the fibers, so I don't know why anyone would recommend that for a loose sheath.

I recently got a previously owned "Backwoods" blade that was super loose in the pouch sheath so if you tipped it just past horizontal it would fall out, no shaking or anything.
It would just about rattle in the pouch. I wet the inside along the sewn side and lightly on the outside and reformed it so that it was more flat from the edge to the middle,
making the top opening smaller and the blade edge side narrower; let it dry overnight and it retained most of the new shape so that it stays in even if you turn it upside down and shake it hard.
Don't put the knife back in until it's fully dry.
 
What about wrapping knife in plastic, and then wetting sheath, and letting it dry?
 
I didn't use the plastic or the knife in my sheath. Putting the knife in the sheath while the sheath is wet will keep it from shrinking down as it dries.
I know some wet form using the plastic around the knife, I did not; it was already formed once ... wanted the tightest fit I could get. Adding the plastic will make it a looser fit.
 
Plastic is probaby not needed, probably not going to rust over night. Plus you can oil the knife first. But people seem to do it. But it makes sense, unless you got it real tight, it will make it looser
 
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If you want to try wet molding it here is a recent thread:

Leather Wet Forming Retention Issues

Hey everyone, Every time I try to wet form a leather pouch sheath, I end I’m completely losing retention, and I’m at a loss as to why. I put a thin layer of oil on the blade, I wrap it in a thin layer of plastic wrap, I wet the leather quickly in warm water, insert the knife, press firmly...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
I wonder if this style of sheath is going to give me what I want, or the style of knife. If I was going to buy it strictly for skinning, I would have went bigger. I though the knife was small enough to carry.

I've mixed things on wet forming. Some like it, some say it just loosens up in time.

A pancake style sheath like a gun holster, might be the way to go, with belt slots to hold it tight.
 
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I generally remake my sheaths, using the original as a pattern. I prefer latigo saddle leather, well treated with several coats of SnowSeal to keep the leather from absorbing moisture, and saddle stitch with waxed nylon thread and cobbler's needles (I get my supplies from Tandy). I drill the holes with a 1/16th" drill as I'm lousy with an awl.
 
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