sticky sheath

[SVanderkolff]

I made a nice little sheath for a pocket fixed blade. The blade slides in nicely, but it will not slide out again without a major effort. I can't see it being air tight and forming a vaccuum so it must be just the leather grabbing the ironwood handle. Is there something I can use on the inside of the sheath to make it easier for the knife to be pulled out? Or any other suggestions would be welcome as well.
Thanks
Steve

[TexasJack]

I don't know what you used for a finish, but it could be sticky inside.

You can smooth the inside leather with a little gum tragacanth, though it may be hard to get something in there to work it down.

I use Aussie Wax on some things - it's a mix of wax and some lighter stuff. It tends to leave the leather fairly slippery. (That's NOT always the right thing to do, as I found out when I used it on a bicycle seat.)

[Crex]

Try putting a heavy coat of wax on the knife where it meets the interior leather then hand massage the outside a bit with the knife in place. It should "loosen" somewhat, which it will eventually do with use anyway.

This may sound a bit condecending, no insult intended, but I have sold a few with good tight fits that customers had trouble with......simple fix - don't hold (pinch) the blade area of the sheath when trying to extract the knife (believe it or not, this has happened with more than one customer). When hanging from the belt the knives were easily extracted with two fingers.

I do prefer a tight "pop-in pop-out" fit for most user knives. They stay put in the woods when you sprint after the dogs, or wade a slippery trout stream.

[Mike T.]

I make all my sheaths "very tight". Sometimes I wonder if they will ever come out after their first insertion. Do this - insert knife and wiggle it back & forth and sideways slightly to stretch the leather. Watch TV while rapidly inserting and removing the knife, maybe just the 1/2" needed to free it. In a just a couple of minutes you can do this 200x easily. Then that's the break-in that 200 removals and insertions would provide. Repeat until the fit is perfect. Better a perfect fit than too sloppy! Ahhhh!

[Doug Lester]

Within limits, I would consider this a plus on a sheath. I would prefer that the sheath hold the knife well enough that I can turn it upside down and shake it without the knife falling out.

Doug Lester

[SharpByCoop]

For protection and added dimension, you might try wrapping the knife in cellophane food wrap. Make it a tad larger to stretch it out. Then do the 200x test....?

Coop

[Sandy Morrissey]

Most of the pouch type sheaths that I make need to go through the multiple insertion/extraction of the blade process in order to be easily extracted. MikeT has the right idea about the twisting and wiggling of the knife in the sheath. If the knife can be fully inserted in the sheath it can also be withdrawn with a little help in freeing the blade and handle.