Most Overkill Knife Sheath Ever?

[Instinctive]

My brother is a forestry silviculture-est  keeping forested land healthy by regularly inspecting it and trimming out the dead wood to give new growth a better chance.

He carries an old Gerber machete with him, worth about $20. The nylon sheath finally gave out on it so he asked if I could take some scrap leather and make a new one.

Couldn't bring myself to slap something together from scrap and I also noted he had a piece of orange tape tied to the knife so he could find it when he sets it done. Been using paracord for stitching some projects so I decided to pick up some hunter orange 550 cord and did away with the tape while I was at it.

Edited September 21, 2017 by Instinctive

[bikermutt07]

Well that is just cool. Why didn't I think of using Paracord. They have been putting it on everything for 10 years already (slaps forehead).

[kiwican]

Very cool

[Instinctive]

bikermutt07 I have been using paracord on a lot of larger project for some time now. It is great to work with and this this case was the perfect choice in that hunter orange.

[DJole]

And if he ever needs it, he has some emergency paracord right there in that sheath! ;-)
Seriously, though, that sheath looks like it'll take the beating an active forester will give it. 

[Acro]

That's a really nice story to go along with the sheath.  Very considerate that you added the neon orange . . . and it looks banging cool!

[Stetson912]

I don't know... 550 is pretty weak stuff... Hahahahaha! Just messing around. It is a really great idea. Won't ever break. The leather will tear before a stitch pops that's for sure. 

Are you familiar with micro cord? It's obviously a lot smaller, but still really strong stuff. May be worth looking into for smaller-ish projects. 

I like the sheath in all seriousness. Very good ideas. 

[Fire88]

Looks good and will take a beating the cord really pops and will make it easy to find. Nice work 

[Instinctive]

On 9/21/2017 at 2:08 AM, Stetson912 said:

I don't know... 550 is pretty weak stuff... Hahahahaha! Just messing around. It is a really great idea. Won't ever break. The leather will tear before a stitch pops that's for sure. 

Are you familiar with micro cord? It's obviously a lot smaller, but still really strong stuff. May be worth looking into for smaller-ish projects. 

I like the sheath in all seriousness. Very good ideas. 

Yes, I have some micro cord here. The trick is to find a needle to attach to it so you can stitch with it and keep the stitching hole small. As soon as I get that, I will be trying it out. It is more than strong enough and lots of colors available. I wan to use it to make bags/pouches as well.

[Stetson912]

Here's a thought I just had. Take two regular needles size 2/0 maybe? I assume they would be larger because micro cord is big cord considering...

Attach to it some regular thread like you normally would and tie a knot or secured loop in the end of the thread. Then run the needle up through the end of the micro cord or use a loop to pull it through the holes. 

If you use synthetic thread too, you may be able to join it to the micro cord. 

[JD62]

I've never tried it but I wonder if one of the three sizes of Perma-Lock needles would work for your micro cord?

Edited September 25, 2017 by JD62

[Stetson912]

That's a good point, it might work if the holes are big enough. Instinctive said he wanted to keep the hole small though. I wonder how much the permalock needle would stretch the hole?

My other thought would be some strong monofilament with a loop. Kinda like cobblers used to use for needle-less sewing of insoles. Would have to be strong enough to pass easily through the hole but flexible to bring the micro cord through too. 

[Instinctive]

I currently use the smallest permalok needle from Tandy for the 550 cord by tapering and melting the end of the cord. That needle also fits the micro cord but the end is too blunt to push though a stitch hole with cord thought he hole already. I found some needles for micro cord which are tapered to try.