Backpacking with knives

O

Old Painless

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Apr 10, 2006
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Anyone in here an avid backpacker that also carries a fixed blade as your main knife? (I don't understand the SAK-only school).
I have a SRKW Howling Rat and was about to purchase a regular kydex sheath with a teklok but then realized it can't go on my belt because my pack's hip straps are there. How else can I carry it? I want it to stay on my person (not in/on my pack, e.g.) I never had a problem with my Ratweiler bc I have a drop-leg sheath for it. But it's too heavy for serious backpacking.
Suggestions?
 
I don't know how heavy your howling rat is, but another carry option is wearing it around your neck.

You could also make yourself a knife belt, basically like a gun belt in westerns, were the belt is put on over your cloths without going through any loops, and it has your knife on it. Make it a little bigger than your waste so it kinda hangs at an angle so the knife is lower than your hip strap. Put your knife belt on before your pack and you should be set. I hope that makes sense, if your having a hard time pictureing it let me know.
 
yes, my main knife is a Kabar Kukri, with a Becker BK7 on my belt, with a Jimmy Lile small hunter and a CRKT Desert Cruiser folder. All are on a 2" surplus gun belt

Fixed blades are the cats ass!
 
Shoulder rig with a simple piece of paracord.
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How well does the SRKW Howling Rat shave wood?
 
Mt Mike will make a sheath for you that will resolve your situation.
 
Strap it to your shoulder strap. I do that with mine, and it hangs handle down so I can grab it when I need it.

Edit: Whoops, just noticed the no "on/in pack" part. You could always use a custom thigh rig or just use a nylon webbing strap to attach it to your thigh. I have done that as well, and it works well with pants. With shorts, it is kind of a pain.
 
I think a lot of us like to carry a fixed blade in the woods. Things seem to kind of go in cycles around here. Lately there's been a lot of talk about SAKs and the like, but stick around long enough and I'm sure you'll see the discussions turn back around to fixed blades again.

I know you said you didn't want it in or on your pack, but keep in mind that with a tek-lok you should be able to attach your knife to either the belt of your pack or to one of the shoulder straps, and then when you stop and take off the pack the knife can be very quickly and easily moved onto your regular belt. If that doesn't suit you then a merc harness type rig like what bearthedog suggested would be my next recommendation. You may also be able to use a length of paracord drop your sheath down to hang below the belt of your pack. Lastly, if I'm carrying a knife with a fairly flat handle and I don't have a lot of weight in my pack I've been known to just leave a fixed blade on my belt under the hip belt of the pack. It's not really convenient to use that way, but it's there in case I have to ditch my pack in a hurry. I usually also have something a bit more convenient in my pocket or attached to one of the straps of my pack.
 
Usually I clip mine to my hip belt. Lately I have been going lighter so my backpack has changed and I dont have the same style hip belt. Now I go with the paracord sling setup.
 
Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems a drop leg sheath for the Howling Rat would do the trick.
 
How about a calf attachement? I had a f.b with a sheath for calf attachement and liked it alot.
 
Anyone in here an avid backpacker that also carries a fixed blade as your main knife?
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Yes, I carry a fixed blade knife when backpacking or hiking. I think it's safer and more practical than a folder. Lighter weight too since there are no bolsters, springs, liners, locks, mechanisms etc.

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I wear the lanyard tied around my belt or belt loop, with the knife slipped into my pocket.
 
This TOPS pasayten is going with me on my next trip. It is unbelievably light for its size, comes with an orange handle, and the clips clip on just about anything, including my arcteryz pack.

Tops_Pasayten-lg.jpg
 
Bob, what model A.G. Russell is that? I really like it!
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It's the Hunters Scalpel. Some specs favorable for backpacking: 0.8 oz, AUS8 steel, locking sheath, $20.

Unfortunately, it's been discontinued. But I have a reliable source ;) who tells me there's an updated version on the way. It'll be a bit longer, AUS10 steel, and at a similar price.

In the meantime you might investigate the Bird and Trout - it's larger and a tad more expensive, but it has the same great locking sheath:
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...s/a_g_russell_bird_trout_with_vg10_blade.html
 
If you can keep your pack weight around 20 lbs or less you don't have to use a pack belt:thumbup:

You could also have JRE Industries make you a sheath with a clip on the front and put it in your pocket, or a clip on the back and put it on the loop on the shoulder that the hydration tube goes under:thumbup:

You could also have them make it with a clip

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JRE makes some good leather sheaths that can use an removeable drop-belt attachment that carryies your knife on your pants belt, but is dropped below the hip belt of a pack. When I drop the pack, I can remove the knife and place in on the higher belt loop of the knife sheath.

My Skookum Bush Tool is carried on a 550-cord shoulder harness and rides well under my pack's shoulder harness and belt, but is still easy to access. The figure-eight harness is another good option.

ROCK6

Edited to add that Hollowdweller just posted a picture of what I was talking about:)
 
Carry your knife on your person. Modify your sheath or have a custom one made to accomodate belt carry. Neck carry is also a good second choice. But make sure it has a breakaway connector. Never strap your knife on your pack. If you have to ditch your pack you will be SOL.
 
I carry a Fallkniven F1 on my belt and a SAK Huntsman in my pack while backpacking. The F1 is nice and manageable and doesn't weigh a ton either.
 
I loved my hunter's scalpel in ats -34,but the plastic that the sheath and handle are made of, are DEET soluble. Bark River made sheaths for a "baldric carry" I am not sure how that worked,but I get the idea it was under the shoulder. I think I saw Ray Mears use a version of that on TV. He was showing how to cross a creek safely and had his knife and firesteel tucked up under his jacket.
 
Either a Frosts Mora Clipper or my 33 year old Buck Pathfinder for me. :thumbup:
 
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