SpudFiles

Over the weekend, I picked up a rather nice Gerber. The only bad thing about it is the crappy sheath that came with it. Besides the fact that it is designed for a right handed person (which warrants me wanting another all by itself), it is made of nylon and the threads are already coming off of it.

So, the alternative is to construct a knife sheath. I want it durable, so I've opted to use PVC pipe for the construction. Does anyone have any experience making a sheath of any sort using PVC? Google showed me a couple, but these were pretty much just leather sheath liners (and I ain't looking for a liner - I'm looking for the whole thing).

The ultimate goal is to be able to carry the knife (from the left side) standard or horizontal. I want to be able to strap it to my leg or a belt. It will be equipped with its own locking mechanism (such as internal magnets) to prevent me having to fiddle with a strap or anything.

Suggestions are open.

You could look into heating and bending PVC. (Wear gloves)
I'd say, just try it and see what you end up with!

That's what I was going to do. I've found that bending and shaping PVC is much easier with a heat gun (Home Depot: $25: 750-1000F). I plan on starting with PVC sheet, making a pattern, then going from there. But I've never made a hard sheath before and I was just wondering if anyone has ever done it.

Be careful with the design. Make sure nothing will snag on your knife. My el-cheapo fixed blade has ribs on the back, for use as a stabbing weapon (yeah right) but it looks pretty cool. Anyway, the nylon sheath catches on this every time I go to pull it out.

I am right handed, and I prefer to put the knife on my left. Then again, I am a freak in that I wear my watch watch on my right, wear my belt backwards, cut my food with my left hand, fork in right, etc.

i've seen many sheathes made out of wood before, perhaps try researching those

JDP12 wrote:i've seen many sheathes made out of wood before, perhaps try researching those

I've considered it, but I think plastic would be better. It is more suited for damp environments, more durable, and lighter. Plus, I would think it would be more difficult making a wooden sheath rather than one from PVC.

And, for the record, here is a picture of the knife I purchased:

Just heat up some PVC (from the pic, 1: looks good) put the kinfe in, and squish the PVC down onto the blade. let it cool a little, then pull the knife out.
when soft, PVC cuts very easily with an exacto knife, use one to shape it.

have you considered calling Gerber and seeing if they have a left handed sheath available?

I agree with D_Hall. a PVC sheath would, frankly, suck.

rp181 wrote:I agree with D_Hall. a PVC sheath would, frankly, suck.

Reason?

As far as me calling Gerber to find out, no. If anything, I would expect them to charge me for another nylon sheath.

Hubb wrote:If anything, I would expect them to charge me for another nylon sheath.

Maybe. Maybe not. But more to the point... Is the PVC that you're going to be making your sheath from free?

D_Hall wrote:...Is the PVC that you're going to be making your sheath from free?

You know it Won't cost me nothin' but time.

I'm rather interested to see what you come up with. I too, recently got this knife but the sheath is already falling apart.

I started cutting some 1" Sch40 yesterday. I plan on making it very similar to the one pictured below:


I may or may not mould the PVC around the blade. Will have to see...

Almost the pic he meant to post. Imageshack messed up the bottom section, but I don't care enough to try again.

You could make a kydex sheath. There's tons of tutorials for it on the internet, but you'd probably have to buy the material online. If there's a plastic supplier near you, maybe you could get some from them.

Or here's an off the wall idea:

It's possible to fuse* plastic bags together with an iron to form a thicker plastic sheet. You could do this, and then use a leather knife sheath pattern with the plastic sheet. There are patterns that don't require sewing, even.

Or, it might be possible to fuse the plastic sheet around the knife or a knife shaped pattern.

*I like the word "laminate" better, but you won't find anything with google using that word, and all of the various tutorials and crafts refer to it as fusing anyways.