Magnetic Retention for Knife Sheaths?

[Gosut]

I was looking through knife sheath making videos on YouTube for a refresher when I found one using magnetic name badge clasps to retain the knife. The clasps were sandwiched in leather to prevent contact with the blade. It made a thicker sheath, but it might could be made thinner.

Has anyone here done this? It looks like it could be adaptable to sheaths resembling 19th Century styles (thinking Bowie knife here). Having doubts about retention strength, but wondering if I could make a mock-up with magnets on a 3 oz piece of leather with a knife on the underside and add magnets until it had good retention. Would there be any long-term adverse effects like(collecting ferrous debris over the magnets?.

[Littlef]

I've never done it on a knife sheath.  I've added a toeplug with a magnet in it to a holster, which worked well.  I can't image it would collect any more dirt than a regular sheath.

[bladegrinder]

I've thought about it over the years but never tried it. with all the available options to retain a knife in a sheath I think it actually has more negatives then positives it would provide.

for one, it will attract anything metal it can collect which would scratch the blade, which may or may not matter to the owner of the knife.

two, over time it's going to magnetize the blade over time. again, that may or may not matter to the owner.

personally....I still think about it sometimes but I just can't bring myself to doing it with one of my knives.

if you go ahead and do it, I'd recommend using rare earth magnets.

[chiefjason]

I've done several and love them.  Even carried a couple of them handle down with just the magnet for retention.  My Esse 4 has riden on the back seat of my truck, handle down, for years and never fell out.  And I have a sheath on my shoulder holster as well.  I use the small rare earth magnets.  A couple small rounds ones are usually enough.  But if you want more the rectangular ones are very strong.