Backpacking with knives

I like a Mora for backpacking as it's nice and light. My pack has a strap over the hip-belt for fixing stuff to, but the plastic Mora sheath will fit on a small karabiner and I usually clip mine to the bottom of the shoulder strap.
 
Old Painless said:
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?
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Yes, like almost everyone else in Finland, I carry a fixed blade when backpacking, hiking, or whatever one chooses to call it. Folders to me are more akin to toys or knife substitutes, only to be used for opening letters and minor work, where you really, absolutely cannot carry a real knife.

I don't own a Howling Rat, and I don't know how your pack is like, but what's stopping you from attaching the sheath to the pack's hip straps? I sometimes do that, or attach to the pack's shoulder straps instead. Then there's the leg and ankle options, shoulder rigs, neck sheaths... Or you could just put a smaller fixed blade on the belt, and the large ones in or on the backpack.
 
In short, I say carry a lightweight pack and ditch the hip belt. Add a fanny pack above the hipbelt and carry your fixed blade in there.
 
I carry a small knife in my cargo pocket on my shorts when backpacking. Then I'll have my main knife on my pack. I have played around with mounting a small knife to my shoulder strap too, which works pretty good. Las few backpacking trips I didn't use my sak, only my fixed blade. I know others do it, but I wouldn't want to get that deep into the wilderness with only a sak on me.
 
I carry a Bill Moran Spyderco, the belt clip opens (allows you to clip it to stationary straps) and then locks into place, I attach this to the shoulder strap of my bacpack, when I get to camp I un latch it and attach it to my belt. I also keep a Kukri strapped to my bag.

Here is the knife I mentioned
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I sometimes carry a fixed blade but for pure back packing, I would stay with just one of the SAK's with a good saw. Now that I have my silky saw, I may just carry a a SAK with a locking blade. If i carry a fixed blade but want to keep the weight down, I would put a Mora in my pack or on my belt. If I am truck camping or boat camping I might consider a big knife but in that case I would probably opt for a good hatchet and a light sharp 3-4 inch fixed blade. Like a Mora.:D
 
I could see making a shoulder sling or something for it,to me the HR is a tad to heavy to wear around your neck...or maybe a thigh rig or maybe ankle set-up ?
 
Old Painless said:
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.)
Suggestions?
Click to expand...


A good solution would be to send your knife to the Dozier shop and have them make a Wilderness kydex sheath with a thumb break. Don't know if your knife is worth the expense but these are great sheaths that incorporate nylon webbing to loop over your belt. They ride low and help keep the knife off your hip and away from your backpack hip strap. These are very well made and also keeps the butt end from poking you in the side when you sit.
This or a similar design allows you to draw the knife with your backpack on. :thumbup:

Good luck!
 
Howling Rat is a good choice for a backpackers fixed blade. Consider a horizontal drop sheath, either small of back or on one side, measure carefully for the packs waist belt. Sounds like "ADD" has experience with a similar system.

I have seen vests worn under packs modified to accept sheaths, first aid kits and survival gear, clever, but not sure how comfortable.
 
Here is a rough pic of the type of sheath I am talking about. Dozier may have a patent on this one. The nylon webbing is looped and riveted. The knife will NOT come out until you want it to. It will drop low, below your pack hip/waist strap.
Others may make something similar. Few can touch his kydex fit quality. Actually the loop is big enough for you to run the backpack hip strap through these instead of your pants belt, if you wanted to, depending on the size. Or, just have the sheath webbing customized to be larger. :thumbup:

I am right handed so this one would ride on my left side for a forward cross draw...

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Dangler sheath, like is common with scandi sheaths?

I think your best bet is with some kind of drop/dangler sheath, or a knife belt.

Otherwise you are going to have to attach it to your pack if you want it to be readily accessible.
 
Wow. Tons of great advice, love it here.
HR is too heavy for neck IMO.
HR is definitely worth the expense of a custom sheath.
I am really liking the Dozier sheath suggestion as a thigh rig might be a bit much for a small knife, again, IMO.
the sling sounds like a great option too if the custom sheath doesn't work out.

My reason for wanting it on my person is like what s couple have mentioned -- the scenario where I lost or had to ditch my pack for whatever reason. Other than that it's just a mental thing -- my trusty knife is on ME. I dunno.

Someone asked if the HR is any good with shaving wood. From my experience it's better at splitting than shaving, but unless you are looking to do detailed carving or something, it is PLENTY good for shaving, whittling, etc. The advantage is the little beast can split pry and baton like no one's business.

Thanks everyone! I will look into the Dozier (or similar set up) option.
 
Old Painless said:
I am really liking the Dozier sheath suggestion as a thigh rig might be a bit much for a small knife, again, IMO.
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Someone on the Busse forum had a pic of a Dozier Wilderness sheath made for a Game Warden, which is a small knife, it looked great and the owner liked it. :)
 
Well, not as my only knife (several different folders usually end up coming along), but I always have a Bark River North Star when backpacking.

This was last year's complement, this year might be modified a little:

KingsCanyon2007578.jpg
 
I prefer to carry a knife on my person when backpacking, instead of lashed to a pack. That doesn't mean my pack doesn't have knives in it too though.

The carry of a belt knife with a pack is definitely problematic, and my solution was to buy leather and the tools to work it and learn how to make a sheath that doesn't interfere. I am not at all fond of kydex or plastic sheaths, and prefer a stout leather one any day.
 
Old Painless said:
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?
Click to expand...

I've taken to fixing my blade to the kidney belt on my backpack. On my Gregory Shasta backpack there is a nylon strap on the outside of the kidney belt. I just pulled this strap out of its adjusting buckle, fed it through the sheath and worked the strap back into the buckle and cinched it tight. It out of the way but there if you need it quick.
Anyway, I've been carrying a Mission MPU in 440C stainless. It's everything I need and doesn't get that raised eyebrows effect from other hikers.
 
I would have a drop down sheath made for whatever blade you choose,Dangler with the large loop or and extension to lower the knife handle away from waist belt on pack....
 
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