Traditionnal Bowie sheath question

[ratfrog186]

Hi guys,

Beeing into big bowies these days, I would like to find a source for the brass/ metal button (knob, stud or whatever you call it) you find on some traditionnal sheaths, avoiding the sheath to slip when tucked under your belt/sash.

See this Bagwell for example:

What is the name of such hardware? Could it be found online?
Thanks for your help,

Manu B.

 

[rayban]

They are called Sam Browne studs ....Tandy has them and you can do a search on Google for other sources.

 

[ratfrog186]

Thanks.

Looks like the studs commercialy available are not the size I had in mind.
Guess I'm now in to dress a brass drawer pull...

Manu.

 

[sheathmaker]

Manu, Bill Bagwell made the stud you showed, probably from a drawer pull or something similar. I have seen and worked with several of his. Other makers I work for and with actually turn the oversize studs on their lathe or similar shop equipment. I have looked for a long time and I have not seen anything readily available in the market. Most of the time now I or the maker's customer request a stud at the time the knife is made, particularly if a damascus stud is the order of the day.

The commercially available studs that Rick referred to are obtainable from Tandy/Leather Factory (stock number 1309-02 rivet back) They also offer a screw back version, but as you said they are much smaller by comparison. I have used literally hundreds of the 1309-02 version and they do work adequately and look good doing so, but the custom-made studs add an extra dimension.

In the photos below, the first is using the 1309-02 on each of the two sheaths, and the second shows the use of a custom made stud by the knife maker or in this case a third party as this particular stud was obtained by the knife owner.

Paul

 

[Mike Sastre]

Bill turns his down from carriage bolts.

 

[rayban]

Ohio Travel Bag (Google) has a pretty good selection, see item no. P2619, it's 3/4" dia., P2392 is 1/2" dia.

 

[Wild Rose]

Just a quick note - while such studs can be used and at times in the past were used as is for holding a sheath in place that was not their original purpose. The original purpose was to hold the leather slip on belt loop known as a frog in place. Unfortunately most frogs have been lost along the way and so are often the missing part on originals sheaths.

lots of variations in frogs - here's just one version I used based on several originals

another version both on and off the sheath: