Kydex...Behind the Back Cross Draw Sheath

[tippit]

Last summer at Denton Hill I met a guy with a cool behind the back cross draw knife sheath. I even took a tracing of it...but I was never comfortable with the security in leather. When I'm drawing the knife sight unseen, I want to make sure it is fitting very tight, wouldn't fall out especially if you sit down, and is easy to put the knife back in.

Backing up a bit...
My knives are not the fancy type that you would have a hard time taking them off the display shelf. They are meant to be used even abused. So Kydex has become a favorite way to keep them secure in the field for me.

The cool thing about Kydex and Chicago screws is that if you drill the same spacing on each side of the sheath...you can switch the belt loop to either side with the blade edge up or down. Now you have an off side cross carry or a behind the back cross carry in either RH or LH.

   

   

   

Right hand behind the back carry, my right hand thump pushes against the top opening of the Kydex sheath to start the knife out and my left hand holds onto the sheath...quick, easy, safe, and out of the way to draw my knife. Also easy to put the knife back in the sheath as it can only go in one way plus you won't cut through the Kydex like what could happen with leather...tippit

   

[just_a_hunter]

I like that. Do you bother with the eyelets or just use the screws? I've only built the one but over done it on eyelets and also made a couple more leather straps to cary this way if the desire arises.

I have also used a few layers (three to be exact) of 2" painters tape on the blade trimmed perfectly to the scales and spine so it grows the blade thickness a few thousands but maintains its flat and bevel shape to help keep the blade purty during the sheathing process.

Thanks for sharing.

Todd

[tippit]

Todd,
I do use eyelets.  You can get small Chicago screws to go in the eyelets too.  The pressure on the blade depends upon where you put your eyelet/screw.  Too high makes it very tight.  You can fine tune the tightness of a sheath with shims between the two Kydex layers like a very thin leather washer...therefor the screws are much more flexible for tuning. Kydex is fun to play with kinda like forging a blade...if you don't like it, throw it back in the oven & start all over    

PS:  The nice thing about Kydex is you can't push the blade through it as you can with too much pressure on leather.  My worse cut in making blades came from force fitting a leather sheath  

[D.Ellis]

That's a better way to do horizontal carry than leather in my mind.............and I am no fan of kydex, so that's as close to high praise as you'll hear from me on the matter. In other words, you nailed it tippit    

Darcy  

[tomsm44]

Originally posted by D.Ellis:
That's a better way to do horizontal carry than leather in my mind.............and I am no fan of kydex, so that's as close to high praise as you'll hear from me on the matter. In other words, you nailed it tippit        

Yeah
Matt Toms

[Roughcountry]

That's a nice sheath Jeff. Because of my trying to get function first I think there is a real need to use materials like kydex. I have plans to do a diving sheath in the future and have the kydex in stock. Just gotta build a press and start playing.

[tippit]

Robin,
You don't need much.  Press is real easy.  I just took an old foam tree stand seat, cut in 1/2, and glued them to two boards.  I use two ratchet clamps.  Nothing fancy!

[Roughcountry]

Thanks Jeff, That info will help a bunch.

[rbcorbitt]

Really like this, Jeff!!  

[Ray Hammond]

nice!