Kydexperimentation?!

[Stuart Mitchell]

Kydexperimentation, see what I did there?

I have dabbled with Kydex in the past and decided a good few weeks ago that 2023 will see me dipping my toe into the moderately hot, forming temperature, water again, so I made these knives to perform my Kydexperimentation upon.

L to R in the first photo there is an old back catalogue P1 style, the blacked out Mil-Spec Chute, an ever endearing MuntjaX, good old YDS, a not so new new pattern any more but still in need of a name knife, the Muntjac.

The P1 has Crazy Fibre Micarta over black G10, Chute in Suretouch with Cerakote coating, MuntjaX in black canvas, YDS has orange G10 over black G10 liners, green canvas over discreet green G10 liners for the not so new new (the double green looks great), the original Muntjac gets orange G10 too.

None fully finished yet but all ready to crack on.

 

[Acm]

1151 & 1145 would look good in the same sheath!

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Wednesday pencilled in as Kydexperimention day...

Feeling quite excited.

 

[TheCornishman]

Very tidy work Stuart

I dabble myself and am always interested in other peoples takes on form & function. As a butcher of 30yrs + I’ve spent more hours knife in hand than I care to remember. 1145 is my favourite from the ones there. Nice and precise for those delicate Anus removal ops

As for Kydex….took me a little while to get the hang of initially and I found results depend very much on the piece your forming it too. It is very forgiving though as if it doesn't go right it will let you rework it a couple of times if necessary. I prefer the thicker 2mm+ Kydex if I can get hold of it as I think it has a nicer feel in hand when finished

I like using it but funnily enough am actually trying to improve my leatherwork these days

Good luck with it chap…beautiful work

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Many thanks for the input and advice @TheCornishman, much appreciated.

As mentioned I have dabbled in Kydex previously but have never done my own (or any) leatherwork, I am happy to leave that to the skilled professionals of that craft, some of that might be the Sheffield in me, Sheffield makes knives, not sheaths, it never has

Good luck with your cow skin endeavours, you'll have to let us have a look as you progress.

 

[TheCornishman]

Many thanks for the input and advice @TheCornishman, much appreciated.

As mentioned I have dabbled in Kydex previously but have never done my own (or any) leatherwork, I am happy to leave that to the skilled professionals of that craft, some of that might be the Sheffield in me, Sheffield makes knives, not sheaths, it never has

Good luck with your cow skin endeavours, you'll have to let us have a look as you progress.

Cheers fella…I’ll be honest most of my leather endeavours so far have been perfectly practical put together well for someone with no training but a bit “salt n pepper”..so I’m trying to raise the bar a little. I often use old saddles for sheath material as I run a livery yard but will treat myself to some new leather soon

Really like your makers mark…elegantly done & a nice touch to add the type of steel used…plenty of SF100 of course

How are they applied?

 

[308tikka]

1105 looks to be a wonderful profile.

 

[75]

green canvas over discreet green G10 liners for the not so new new (the double green looks great),

Have you made a few "1105's" now then Stuart? I did wonder if it would become popular.

 

[Peter Eaton]

Many thanks for the input and advice @TheCornishman, much appreciated.

As mentioned I have dabbled in Kydex previously but have never done my own (or any) leatherwork, I am happy to leave that to the skilled professionals of that craft, some of that might be the Sheffield in me, Sheffield makes knives, not sheaths, it never has

Good luck with your cow skin endeavours, you'll have to let us have a look as you progress.

I’m the same Stuart, tried doing my own leather but it’s an art in itself . I do my own kydex at times but lucky enough to live 5 mins away from ’the kydex king’ Duncan Chandler who I believe you know? He make some cracking stuff from Kydex.

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

I’m the same Stuart, tried doing my own leather but it’s an art in itself . I do my own kydex at times but lucky enough to live 5 mins away from ’the kydex king’ Duncan Chandler who I believe you know? He make some cracking stuff from Kydex.

Oh yes, I know Duncan, have you never thought of moving house?

How is he? Not seen him in ages...

 

[Peter Eaton]

Have you made a few "1105's" now then Stuart? I did wonder if it would become popular.

Oh yes, I know Duncan, have you never thought of moving house?

How is he? Not seen him in ages...

. Duncan is now shooting mad and working as a butcher , he’s doing well as only saw him two weeks ago. I will let him know you were asking about him Stuart as will likely see him next week if he is working .

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Cheers fella…I’ll be honest most of my leather endeavours so far have been perfectly practical put together well for someone with no training but a bit “salt n pepper”..so I’m trying to raise the bar a little. I often use old saddles for sheath material as I run a livery yard but will treat myself to some new leather soon

Really like your makers mark…elegantly done & a nice touch to add the type of steel used…plenty of SF100 of course

How are they applied?

Decent and well presented leather work is not easy at all, it is a craft and skill the folk learn over a lifetime, kudos for sticking with it mate.

My makers marks are all laser engraved these days, I like the process very much, they are always clear and precise, it is adaptable too, I like the way I can adapt/edit the numbering.

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Have you made a few "1105's" now then Stuart? I did wonder if it would become popular.

Not loads mate, in fact that blade was made at the same time as yours, I had the blade sat around since then (no time to make it up) but handled its specifically for this Kydex practice session.

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Busy day, leads learned and loads taught to me by a good mate...

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

A few photos, been doing bits on these today and I'm excited to think how the Kydex work might evolve, as I am sure it will, a bit like passing your driving test, you don't start learning to drive until you have passed your test and you get out there

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

That's it, I promise...

A couple of them will be offered for sale later though...

 

[TheCornishman]

Busy day, leads learned and loads taught to me by a good mate...


View attachment 289304

Looking nice an clip….”C’LICK!”…

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

No rest for the wicked.

Arrived with it's owner this morning and already put to use...

 

[Mrieger27]

That's it, I promise...

A couple of them will be offered for sale later though...

Hi Stuart,

Where can I source the clips on the orange knives please.

Thanks

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hi Stuart,

Where can I source the clips on the orange knives please.

Thanks

Sorry, just seen this...

Like this? Blade-Tech Tek-Lok Small belt clip

That is a proper Tek-Lok one but there are loads on eBay and Amazon.