Knife Sheath Help - Snaps

[wild musk]

Hello,

Looking for some help with my sheaths. I want to be able to take them on and off quickly without having to take off my belt. I can put a snap in the bottom of the belt loop, but I'm pretty sure the snap inside the sheath would scratch up the blade - not good for expensive damascus steel. Does anyone have a good solution? Should I just use a clip?

thanks

[packersfan117]

Have you tried lining your sheaths? Using very thin veg-tan glued to the exterior of the sheath, you'd have a liner covering the snap body that could gouge your knife, Also, check out Norwegian/Swedish/Finnish style backstitched sheaths. They have a unique and removable belt loop. Here's a link to the Scandinavian sheaths.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?22249-Scandi-Sheaths-My-Way

[wild musk]

Nope, I haven't lined anything before. What's a good liner material? Tandy has several kinds I see. I have always used 8-9oz double shoulders, but could I also get some kind of 4-5 oz leather and glue together? I've heard of that method for gun sheaths...

The scandi tutorial was great. But I want the knife to be stationary on the belt, so a hanging loop is kind of out. Truthfully, most people I know don't actually wear their knives on a belt. Either they put them in a back pocket or stow in a backpack or bag.

[electrathon]

I would be afraid of loosing the knife if the snap popped open. Easy way to loose a nice knife. Line the sheath and imbed the snap between the layers if you are going to do it.

[camano ridge]

I make lined sheaths and do just what you said use double layer of lighter leather sandwiching the snap inbetween. Ther is another way to. High desert leather sells plastic caps that snap on the backside oof the snap to protect knife or gun from contact with the blade or gun. I would use pull the dot type snaps. I would not use a clip. You will find everytime you sit down the knife will push up and may come off the belt.

Edited July 11, 2013 by camano ridge

[Harag]

If it's too late to line, how about using a french bevel knife and sink the snap into the leather a little so it sits below the surface.

[wild musk]

Thanks for the replies -

electrathon - Bladetech and I think Galco both use a kind of directional snap - not sure what they are called - anyway they work really well for 1911 mag holders and similar equipment. 8 rounds of 1911 ammo is not as heavy as some of my knives, but I think it's a good proof of concept for the design - I've used them many years without issue. I may have trouble finding a source, I don't know yet.

I'll have to try a liner, as you and camano suggest - I had never heard of the covers, I'll check those out also.

Harag, I have tried that on one sheath for a personal knife, so I'm not an expert, but it did not work for me. It lessened the scratching, but would have still ruined a damascus or acid etched blade.

thanks again for your time

[malabar]

You have to go with the liners. It's not just about scratching, either. If moisture gets onto the snap, you can have an ugly reaction between the snap and the knife blade.

[Jaymack]

+1 on what malabar said. No metal on my knife sheaths ever touch the knives I make them for, not even the handles.

[silverwingit]

You might be able to "countersink" your snaps deep enough to avoid contact with the blade using a French skiver. Put one "leg" of the skiver in the hole and rotate your work as you gouge a circular hole. You may have to make more than one pass to get the depth you need. If you are clever and good with your knives, you may just be able to make a little filler "puck" that would cover the resulting hole completely.

[Fonzarellis]

On your next sheath you may also want to consider a 'dangler' set up. Use a stitching groover to recess the stitches on the inside of the sheath where the sheath loop attaches thereby eliminating the snap and reducing the chance of slicing through your stitching. The secondary belt loop is the only place you have a snap, a rivet and a ring. The dangler set up makes it easy to take on and off your belt but knife retention relies on a wet formed fit. It also allows the knife to ride a bit lower right where your hand is. Just google up dangler sheath if you are interested.

[rawcustom]

A common method is to use a secondary loop around your sheath that your belt loop snaps to. I advise securing the secondary loop with stitching or a rivet otherwise they tend to fall off and get lost. If you're worried about retention than build it to use 2 snaps rather than one.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. Although you don't see the back side, you can see what I mean with the second loop around the sheath.

[vwaltman]

This is very similar to what I did as well on this sheath and I used 2 snaps on the cross strap

Vern