New project: nylon holders/pouches

[dave_in_delaware]

Well, with the partial disintegration of my favorite nylon knife holder/pouch (the bottom fell out of it), I decided it was time for me to put my design skills to good use and just make a new one. I ripped the stitching out of the "broken" one, opened it up, and am using that as a template for a new one. I'll also be improving on the old one's design (wider belt loop, more edge reinforcing, etc), and probably coming up w/ a different closure system (it had noisy velcro).

I already bought some black outdoor nylon (I couldn't find ballistic nylon locally), and some polyester thread. And I've been doing "visual" research on the 'Net and in my Gall's catalog.... The next step is to put the template into AutoCAD and design the improvements. Once the design is finalized, I'll print out the template onto paper and cut-n-fold-n-staple a paper version for testing of sizes. If that's good, I'll cut out the design in nylon and have my fiancee sew it up for me (she already offered her services).

If it works, and is durable enough for everyday, I plan on making a cell phone holder, a mini-flashlight pouch, and a single (or double) mag pouch, too! I should be able to do all of them with the same "sheet" of nylon I bought (the 1/2 yard should go pretty far).

I've even considered taking orders and selling them to the public, assuming the quality, durability, and wear and tear life is good enough.

So, what do you guys/girls think?

Has anyone made their own nylon holders/pouches before? Do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share?

Thanks in advance for any comments or help you can give me.

[stroker]

If it's real durable , you can get your girlfriend to sew you a new pair of underwear! They will be the last ones you will ever need, that way you can buy more weapons!

[dave_in_delaware]

well, despite the lack of interest in this thread (which is cool by me), I started my project tonight.

I decided to begin with a single mag pouch for my XD-9 service's 10-round mags. I measured a magazine (to the nearest 32nd of an inch) and input the dimensions into AutoCAD.

I'm redesigning parts of the knife holder pouch that fell apart on me and sparked my interest in making my own nylon gear. In my "new" design, I'll be enlarging the width of the belt loop, reinforcing the bottom of the pouch a little better, and using a "silent" over-sized flap tucked into a loop closure system.

My design will have the mag sticking out of the pouch maybe 1"-1.5" ... with a flap closing around the front and back only (sides open). This system, if I've thought it out properly, will enable a silent and single-motion draw of a fresh mag from the pouch. There won't be any noisy Velcro to give your position away (if silence is needed). There won't be a two-step draw (open pouch, then pull out mag), which would only increase the time it takes you to grab a fresh mag. The flap-n-loop closure system will provide the (hopefully) necessary friction to keep the pouch closed during semi-normal movements, and yet allow for a quick removal of the mag in one swift "grab by the sides and pull" motion. The flap will be slightly larger in width than the loop, hopefully providing the necessary friction.

Hopefully all my thoughts and scribbling on paper and online and catalog research will pay off.

we'll see what transpires during the next few days. I do hope to have this project (single mag pouch) complete for "field testing" on June 9th.

[oklawall]

Dave

Sounds good how about posting some pics when you are done

[SpringfieldXD.40]

Sounds nice, Dave! I am always interested in any project of yours. Keep us posted, pics would be great!!!

[Krackels]

Sounds good Dave. Keep us informed of the project.

[dave_in_delaware]

Well, thanks guys. I was beginning to think this wasn't gun-related or something...

Here's what I did last night. I measured my mag and transferred it into AutoCAD. Now that I have the basic shape/size of it, I'll start designing the template in CAD. Sorry it's not super-detailed, but for my purposes, I don't need that much detail - just enough to get accurate dimensions.


(Screen capture of XD-9 service magazine drawing)

[SpringfieldXD.40]

Originally Posted by dave_in_delaware

Well, thanks guys. I was beginning to think this wasn't gun-related or something...

Here's what I did last night. I measured my mag and transferred it into AutoCAD. Now that I have the basic shape/size of it, I'll start designing the template in CAD. Sorry it's not super-detailed, but for my purposes, I don't need that much detail - just enough to get accurate dimensions.


(Screen capture of XD-9 service magazine drawing)

Loooks good to me DAVE- keep up the good work and keep us posted!!!!

[gsh341]

I have a pouch that I used the entire time I was in Iraq that had a rather interesting style of belt loop. The pouch is designed to hold a mini-mag light, knife/leatherman and a pen/pencil. It is a drop style pouch so it would fit on your belt and you could wear body armor and still reach it easily, but the belt loop idea would work on any style pouch.

The loop is the full width of the pouch and is composed of 2 flaps with Velcro on it. During wear the Velcro holds the loop together and is between the belt and the pants. This ensures the loop will not come apart accidentally. The cool part is that you can remove the pouch without removing your belt. Just loosen your belt and peel the Velcro apart to remove.

[dave_in_delaware]

Originally Posted by gsh341

The loop is the full width of the pouch and is composed of 2 flaps with Velcro on it. During wear the Velcro holds the loop together and is between the belt and the pants. This ensures the loop will not come apart accidentally. The cool part is that you can remove the pouch without removing your belt. Just loosen your belt and peel the Velcro apart to remove.

That's a cool idea. I might incorporate that type of belt loop into my "new and improved" design. This version will have a basic belt loop, but will be the entire width of the pouch (not just 1/2" like my old knife pouch had). I'm hoping that will hold it more stable on your belt and not flop around easily. Additionally, I might incorporate a small piece of rubberized material on the belt loop so that the loop (and therefore the pouch) will sort of "stick" to your pants/shorts and not "walk" along your belt.

The closure system I'm going to attempt to design is something I felt would be the best solution between "silent closures" (i.e. no snaps or Velcro), "friction closures", and flap-through-loop closures. It will basically be a horizontal loop on the front of the pouch, where the slightly-wider-than-the-loop flap of the pouch will pass through the loop, creating friction (from the size difference) and [hopefully] holding it closed.

If designed properly, I'm hoping that when the pouch is in the proper position for your free hand, you'll be able to reach down, grasp the SIDES of your mag (which are exposed already) and just pull the mag out. The flap should easily open with the mag simply from the force of you pulling the mag out. That way it'll be a single flowing motion. You won't have to first open the pouch (snap, velcro, whatever), and then pull the mag out. I was going for speed of mag removal first here. Secondary is the frictional closure preventing the mag from falling or working its way out of the pouch from normal movement or running or whatever.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm hoping my "design dreams" I had pan out into a successful product. I'll keep everyone updated w/ pictures.

Thanks!