Center-line carry ?

[Tengu Joker]

How many here carry a small fixed blade slightly off the center-line along the lines of the shivworks clinch pick? Have you had any problems deploying it or any "printing" issues in carrying? Finally what knife are you carrying in this manner?

[WindyCityKali]

Would love to carry in this manner. Haven't found a way to do it where it doesn't print while twisting, turning and bending thru normal life.

[Jarhead90]

I used to carry my Paul Moore Designed B.O.B (Back Off Blade, Clinch Pick Clone) Centerline. It never gave me issues with
printing. I wore a jacket or loose-fitting shirt for concealment. I hope to resume carrying it once I get another sheath made for it.

[psychophipps]

I carry a Spyderco Swick 2 just left of centerline OWB and have no issues with comfort or concealment. As was mentioned before, just wear an untucked shirt of some sort and you'll be fine.

[Jim D.]

Centerline carry is great, I just don't care for placement where I have to draw the knife away from the target to get it out.

I know of too many guys who've reported not clearing the sheath fully before trying to stick it in the target.

Horizontal along the waistline is still a place I frequently carry.

[Shawn.L]

Im carrying primarily a Tracker Dan Bloodshark horizontal on the belt , grip inboard, left of center. It sits flat on the belt and printing is a non issue (as in it doesnt). Its fast , easy to get to with either hand, and stable for all manner of situations.
Im also in the process of trying a Ban Tang P'kal in "clinch pick" style carry (same position but grip down) and trying that in some ECQC and other FoF training.

[oukaapie]

Are you talking about 1-2/Appendix o'clock IWB?

[HikingMano]

I carry a small fixed blade this way. I used to carry a Ban Tang pikal just left of centerline with the handle angled down for a strong draw-grip. I'm now carrying a Ban Tang 3" Mini Bowie with a sharpened swedge; it can handle utility tasks with the normal edge and function in pikal with the sharpened swedge. But with a longer handle, I have to carry it horizontal. No problem deploying from this position. It's one of my favorite ways to carry a small fixed blade, even from a utility standpoint.

Printing really depends on what you use to attach the knife and how long and thick the handle is. I use a teklok, and that puts the knife quite a bit out there (vs. using paracord or something similar for a low profile carry). The advantage to the teklok though, is having space between your body and the handle to establish a nice grip quickly. As for sizing, my BT Pikal barely printed, you'd have to look hard. But my current Mini-Bowie has a longer handle so it prints more, especially when twisting, like WCK mentioned. Also depends on clothing. T-shirt: more prone to printing. Outerwear: no problem.

[mercop]

It is my preferred method of carry for a SD fixed blade. When used in conjunction with a Tactical Tether it allows you to get a clearing cut on the way out of the sheath and transition into a stab if needed. At least for me it is also the best location for accessing from disadvantaged positions like sitting, crouching, or prone.- George

[FantastikFox]

My favorite carry method for an EDC knife is a fixed blade knife horizontally lashed along my belt-line just to the right of center.


Have you had any problems deploying it or any "printing" issues in carrying?

I dislike Tek-Loks because they put the knife so far away from my body, so I use paracord. It keeps the profile to a minimum and still allows for a blazing draw if there is sufficient handle length. I only carry this way when I wear button-up shirts, and I find that the gig-line from the shirt lies where the pommel of the knife lies (over my belt buckle), and adds concealment. What I like about this carry method is that it is completely concealable, and a target can be engaged from concealment in under a second with either hand. I haven't found any carry method this versatile or fast for EDC SD. Also, as was mentioned, it is possible to reach a knife in this position from sitting (even buckled in to a car). Wearing a knife under 8 1/2" this way with paracord under a button-up or jacket, the knife won't print.

My primary is reverse draw because the draw and hammer-stroke are fast, simple and strong. This draw also saves movement because you draw toward the target, twist and thrust. Also, using knives this length are easy to switch to forward grip if you've got 1/2 a second or so.

Finally what knife are you carrying in this manner?

The Clinch Picks are popular with some of the guys in my unit, but the knives I carry this way are:

- Gryphon M10 (8 1/2" - I wouldn't go longer than this)
- Strider WP with Bowie point (7 3/4" - Has a back-cut, so gets some of the benefits of a P'kal)
- Cold Steel Mini Tac Kiridashi and Tanto (6" and 6 3/4")

There's a balance here because the longer the handle is, the easier and faster it is to draw. The flip-side is that it doesn't conceal as well. The most importnt element to me is getting a good grip on the handle, so I typically opt for the Gryphon or Strider.

-FF

[FantastikFox]

I mistakenly posted this twice...

[Tengu Joker]

Fox: Can you post a pic of your set up?
Mercop: What fixed blade do prefer for this and can you post pics as well?

[mercop]

Polkowski Bodyguard or Mosier Kozuka

[singularity35]

I carry this Goldsworthy pakal vertically(handle up) just a bit right of center. I can draw the knife bringing my thumb knuckle to my center chest which brings the point to my center line facing forward. From there, I have a few defensive and offensive options.

[FantastikFox]

Sorry for the late reply; I've been travelling and wasn't able to get my IPad to upload some shots.

This is the Gryphon M-10 that is one of my favorite to carry. As you can see, it's pretty big for the waist-line, so I wouldn't go any larger than this. That said, it does conceal well with a button-up over it, and the significant handle length makes it easy to get a secure grip on it when drawing.

Gryphon M-10 on Belt.jpgGryphon M-10.jpg

-FF

[FantastikFox]

Here are the other knives I mentioned above. My favorite is the Strider (along with the Gryphon pictured above). The edge that came on the Strider kind of sucked when I got it, so I had John Fitzen at Razor's Edge/Skull Knives put one of his edges on it. It's awesome now (The edge on it was very obtuse, so John backed up the relief edge and it now cuts very well and is easy to sharpen.)

All of these have some sort of atachment at the pommel tht allows for a more-positive grip.

EDC Fixed Blades.jpg

-FF

[Colinz]

I am trying out 1-2/Appendix o'clock IWB after carrying 4 o'clock for a number of years.

I don´t like the clinch pick type of carry because I rarely carry a shirt outside my pants that is long enough to always cover it. (At least that is how the clinch pick was carried last time I saw a picture - correct me if I am wrong). I do carry a shirt outside of my pants but in the short moments that a knife handle could be seen there is now only a small fob and people do not notice it or doesn´t connect it with a knife.

As I mentioned I carry my Perrin neck bowie deep. I have attached a fob (JSP style) to the handle and that is what sticks out above the belt. The sheath is connected to the belt with another piece of cord. So when I want to draw my knife I just need to find the top edge of my belt and follow it with my thumb raised, in a smooth movement and when the fob touch/get hooked in the web (?) between my forefinger and thumb I close my hand and pull up. It seems to work for me. It is smooth, fast and result in a secure ice-pick grip. There was a bit of experimenting to get the fob size just right, not too big and not too small.

This type of carry also translate very well to the type of SD principles/techniques I am familiar with so I am very happy to have tried it. Soutnarc, Suarez and others seems to be on to something really good here regarding appendix carry.

It doesn´t print att all. But I have to have some kind of garment hanging loose over it (T-shirt, regular shirt, sweatshirt etc.).

However I am still searching for a good way to carry while wearing a suit in a line of work where I sometimes have to take my jacket of. I will have to make a separate post about that sometime in the future.

/C.

[HikingMano]

Do you guys prefer a forward grip or a reverse grip?

For purely SD use, I think I would prefer the reverse grip draw from a just off centerline horizontal carry, or from the shivworks side-carry / appendix carry. I feel safer pulling with the point facing away my body, rather than inside or towards my body, as it would in a forward grip. And I agree that it seems simpler/faster to draw towards your target and point. Either way the target gets the point or the edge. But I often use the edge on my fixed blade in EDC tasks, tasks which are often better suited for hammer/saber or other forward grips. So I compromise by carrying horizontal for forward grip draw. It's great for every day utility use, but will also work against a target for SD.


Still prints a little, especially with movement.


Concealment of FBs is illegal in CA however, so if I EDC this knife, I usually have to carry it open.

Shirt is already out of the way in these pics, as in open carry, but if the knife were concealed, I'd be using my left hand to clear the shirt/jacket.









Knife is the one on the left, Ban Tang Mini Bowie, 3" blade variant.



One drawback to using that knife in pikal is that the sharpened swedge doesn't go back to the handle. If I wanted the knife purely for SD, I would have wanted a full double edge.

[B. Anderson]

I carry a Ban Tang Pikal La Griffe just a bit left of centerline, inverted, using a Spyderco G-Clip.

I like it. Looks slightly phallic, however.

[Uath]

I carry a TOPS Bootlegger in such a manner habitually. I have the knife on a light nylon belt. I put it on under my clothes with just the handle of the knife sticking out. I usually wear shorts and a loose, untucked shirt, so there's never a problem with it being visible.