Belt Carry for Big Fellas

oldmanwilly said:
Horsewright Horsewright comes to mind for leather, @azwelke for kydex. I know there are many other forum members who are also exceptionally talented. Take a look here https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sheath-makers-and-such-of-blade-forums.838494/ and elsewhere on the "Sheaths & Such" forum for more options.
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Thank you sir for the shout out!

I guess I qualify at 6'3" and 220. I've been a fan of horizontal crossdraw for a couple of decades now.

y94y7sV.jpg


With the wife doing our first show in a while at our local rodeo:

7fbnmkv.jpg


eK99K23.jpg


v6fQ4kS.jpg


Done correctly a leather sheath provides plenty of retention, look close above his left front pocket:

6ML0mCN.jpg


I would add though, having built thousands of horizontal crossdraw sheaths, I think it works best with knives with a 7" oal or less. That way its not bumping into things, catching on the seat belt etc.

Kinda as a funny aside, my little brother (who has me by bout a hundred pounds), bought the domain name bigboysbelts.com some years ago. We've been building him belts for years as he says a real big guy can't find a good belt. Idea was he was gonna build a website and we'd build the belts for him to sell. Never got the website built.

isnC3Xf.jpg


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That lip on the belt loop keeps the sheath from ever coming off unintentionally. Bob Dozier's kydex is as good as it gets. So are his knives. This personal is 20+ years old now and as good as day one.

dozier kydex.jpgpersonal.jpgpersonal 2.jpgbelted personal.jpg

This little knife is a sparrow pattern made locally for me. The knife and its nest are pretty well optimal for horizontal carry as well.

Sparrow.jpgsparrow nest.jpg
 
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David Mary said:
I do this (at 6'5" and 200 lbs, I should add):

How to Belt Carry a Taco Sheath with Paracord

Horizontal carry is easy enough to explain without need of pics. Just make two loops of paracord, one for each of the first two sheath eyelets. Make sure they go through the eyelet and around the top of the sheath, and cinch them down as tight as you can while having enough room for your belt...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
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I think the OP should clarify his weight bracket :) Obviously, horizontal carry at 6'5" 200 lbs is easier than at 250 lbs. Like me in the photo below in 2019 with daughter #2. A knife >= 9" OAL, and horizontal carry is not comfortable.

tn_RnDaphneBike0219-X2.jpg


Note that I lost almost 30 lbs during the pandemic since then :), but still. If you have to sit for part of your day, forget horizontal carry, IMO.
 
Horsewright said:
Thank you sir for the shout out!

I guess I qualify at 6'3" and 220. I've been a fan of horizontal crossdraw for a couple of decades now.

y94y7sV.jpg


With the wife doing our first show in a while at our local rodeo:

7fbnmkv.jpg


eK99K23.jpg


v6fQ4kS.jpg


Done correctly a leather sheath provides plenty of retention, look close above his left front pocket:

6ML0mCN.jpg


I would add though, having built thousands of horizontal crossdraw sheaths, I think it works best with knives with a 7" oal or less. That way its not bumping into things, catching on the seat belt etc.

Kinda as a funny aside, my little brother (who has me by bout a hundred pounds), bought the domain name bigboysbelts.com some years ago. We've been building him belts for years as he says a real big guy can't find a good belt. Idea was he was gonna build a website and we'd build the belts for him to sell. Never got the website built.

isnC3Xf.jpg


7VJloiT.jpg
Click to expand...
I've been an admirer of yours for about as long as I've been here on this site. (Albeit that's only been about 4 years, still familiar nonetheless). And I can attest that you do incredible work sir, im glad I can finally tell you that myself. When it comes to comfortably carrying, especially for the big guys I truly believe you can't top a well done leather sheath. I absolutely love your horizontal sheaths and it kinda makes me wanna give front cross draw another try. I'm not sure if I like the straight horizontal more or if I'd rather have it canted handle up above the belt line. Both are attractive methods. When the time comes I may be asking you to make a few of those for me 😅. (It sounds like your brother also had a very good idea going with that website. I'd definitely buy a belt from you).

David Mary David Mary I also wanted to ask you how you dealt with the belt buckle situation. Not an oversized one but just the regular buckle on a belt. They're usually wider than the belt strap so does that affect the way you tie the loop or is there enough give in the chord to pass it through after tying? (For example is there enough room for taking the sheath on and off of your belt everyday without moving the knot)
 
ferider said:
I think the OP should clarify his weight bracket :) Obviously, horizontal carry at 6'5" 200 lbs is easier than at 250 lbs. Like me in the photo below in 2019 with daughter #2. A knife >= 9" OAL, and horizontal carry is not comfortable.

tn_RnDaphneBike0219-X2.jpg


Note that I lost almost 30 lbs during the pandemic since then :), but still. If you have to sit for part of your day, forget horizontal carry, IMO.
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I should've done that from the start. Admittedly I'm in the higher bracket, pushing 300. Struggling on a weight loss journey but that's a story in its own right lol The knives I'd carry on my belt everyday are no more than 4.5" usually. I'd go up to about a 6 inch blade but I don't have any that big as of right now. I agree that an extra 50lbs or so drastically changes how certain carry feels for each individual.
 
RyanSean97 said:
I should've done that from the start. Admittedly I'm in the higher bracket, pushing 300. Struggling on a weight loss journey but that's a story in its own right lol The knives I'd carry on my belt everyday are no more than 4.5" usually. I'd go up to about a 6 inch blade but I don't have any that big as of right now. I agree that an extra 50lbs or so drastically changes how certain carry feels for each individual.
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If you remain within 4.5" BL, there might be another solution. Us guys have big pockets, in particular with the right pants. With my Wrangler ATG, I can carry a DEK1 (4.5" BL) in the top right deep pocket, which features additional protection for an IWB clip. Note that there are similar jeans from other manufacturers (search for contractor pants), with a variety of tool pocket types.

The ATG from the Wrangler website:

i-qBpqdVP-XL.png


I use an IWB sheath made for this purpose by Bill / duramax duramax ... and completely forget about the knife also when sitting down; the sheath aligns with the side of my right thigh, and the pocket seam. The belt loop can be removed (which I did for now):

i-9PVrN3M-X2.jpg


Just to show you the clip protection (on a folder though)

i-3MHbvrc-X3.jpg


Not sure if it helps .... just my 2 cents.

Roland.
 
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ferider said:
I think the OP should clarify his weight bracket :) Obviously, horizontal carry at 6'5" 200 lbs is easier than at 250 lbs. Like me in the photo below in 2019 with daughter #2. A knife >= 9" OAL, and horizontal carry is not comfortable.

tn_RnDaphneBike0219-X2.jpg


Note that I lost almost 30 lbs during the pandemic since then :), but still. If you have to sit for part of your day, forget horizontal carry, IMO.
Click to expand...
When I'm carrying that Dozier or Sparrow, I don't even know they're on my belt. Sitting, standing, lying down on the couch, knife on right side, left side, doesn't matter.
 
Boattale said:
When I'm carrying that Dozier or Sparrow, I don't even know they're on my belt. Sitting, standing, lying down on the couch, knife on right side, left side, doesn't matter.
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I believe you, of course. But that knife is < 7" and you don't look like >= 250 lbs (in the photo that you posted). Good for you, but not what the OP is looking for.
 
ferider said:
If you remain within 4.5" BL, there might be another solution. Us guys have big pockets, in particular with the right pants. With my Wrangler ATG, I can carry a DEK1 (4.5" BL) in the top right deep pocket, which features additional protection for an IWB clip. Note that there are similar jeans from other manufacturers (search for contractor pants), with a variety of tool pocket types.

The ATG from the Wrangler website:

i-qBpqdVP-XL.png


I use an IWB sheath made for this purpose by Bill / duramax duramax ... and completely forget about the knife also when sitting down; the sheath aligns with the side of my right thigh, and the pocket seam. The belt loop can be removed (which I did for now):

i-9PVrN3M-X2.jpg


Just to show you the clip protection (on a folder though)

i-3MHbvrc-X3.jpg


Not sure if it helps .... just my 2 cents.

Roland.
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Those are awesome pants for carry. One of my own personal issues is that as a bigger guy I'm more than likely wearing shorts when I'm out and about. Usually a cargo short of some kind because they tend to be the most comfy, and also I found these awesome shorts that have the deepest pockets I've ever seen.

Which brings me to my next thought, I've always loved the idea of pocket carry and carrying folders it's always seemed like the perfect method for fixed blades to me. I would love to get some sort of leather sheath made like that that let's me put an ulti clip on it like you have. The comfort of leather and the convenience of a clip would be perfect In my mind for when I'm not actually wearing a belt.

(Also one of my fixies is also a DEK1. Love yours Roland, they're amazing knives)
 
RyanSean97 said:
Those are awesome pants for carry. One of my own personal issues is that as a bigger guy I'm more than likely wearing shorts when I'm out and about. Usually a cargo short of some kind because they tend to be the most comfy, and also I found these awesome shorts that have the deepest pockets I've ever seen.

Which brings me to my next thought, I've always loved the idea of pocket carry and carrying folders it's always seemed like the perfect method for fixed blades to me. I would love to get some sort of leather sheath made like that that let's me put an ulti clip on it like you have. The comfort of leather and the convenience of a clip would be perfect In my mind for when I'm not actually wearing a belt.

(Also one of my fixies is also a DEK1. Love yours Roland, they're amazing knives)
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I carry jeans shorts as we speak, and have a belt sheath today :) I suggest to just send Bill a message, he is great to deal with.
 
ferider said:
I think the OP should clarify his weight bracket :) Obviously, horizontal carry at 6'5" 200 lbs is easier than at 250 lbs
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He did. That's why I quoted where he said: "If you have any pics of your setups I'd love to see just for fun, even you average or smaller guys ;). The more the merrier."

Not that I generally fit the description "average or smaller", but for his purposes in this thread I think I do. ;)

RyanSean97 said:
David Mary David Mary I also wanted to ask you how you dealt with the belt buckle situation. Not an oversized one but just the regular buckle on a belt. They're usually wider than the belt strap so does that affect the way you tie the loop or is there enough give in the chord to pass it through after tying? (For example is there enough room for taking the sheath on and off of your belt everyday without moving the knot)
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I always carry right side vertical (edge forward) with this set up, and therefore keep my buckle on the left, and pass the loops through the non buckle side.
 
David Mary said:
He did. That's why I quoted where he said: "If you have any pics of your setups I'd love to see just for fun, even you average or smaller guys ;). The more the merrier."

Not that I generally fit the description "average or smaller", but for his purposes in this thread I think I do. ;)



I always carry right side vertical (edge forward) with this set up, and therefore keep my buckle on the left, and pass the loops through the non buckle side.
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Ahhh I see now. That makes much better sense. I explained it in a previous comment but the belt that I wear currently has a medium sized rectangular buckle that clasps into itself by magnet (sounds gimmicky but it's very secure actually), so both ends of the belt have the same size buckle on it. It might make the paracord a challenge but I can probably just loosen and tighten it back down when putting it on.

guy g said:
I'm using a dangler and I wish I had done this long ago. There is also someone else here who posted a pic of a Buck 120 (124?)on a dangler .
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I've always wanted to use a dangler. I like the looks, and resheathing the knife would be much easier. I just worry about it bouncing around when moving throughout the day.

ferider said:
I carry jeans shorts as we speak, and have a belt sheath today :) I suggest to just send Bill a message, he is great to deal with.
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I might just do that. I'd love to switch to leather sheaths that I could bounce back and forth from pocket to belt carry.
 
guy g said:
I don't notice any bounce and it's way easier when sitting in a car seat or my easy chair with my grand daughter.
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About where on your hip do you have yours set? That's a beautiful Randall. I've got one on the list now and it's been easier than I thought to forget about it lol
 
RyanSean97 said:
so both ends of the belt have the same size buckle on it. It might make the paracord a challenge but I can probably just loosen and tighten it back down when putting it on.
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I see. Sorry I missed that part. You probably could do that but I think it would get tiresome.

RyanSean97 said:
I've always wanted to use a dangler. I like the looks, and resheathing the knife would be much easier. I just worry about it bouncing around when moving throughout the day.
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On the plus side, if you leave the right amount of play in the paracord, it can function as a dangler, which I do sometimes with my machetes when hiking. that way I can sit on the ground, a rock, or a log, and move the knife out of the way easily.

RyanSean97 said:
I might just do that. I'd love to switch to leather sheaths that I could bounce back and forth from pocket to belt carry.
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You could also do this with the Kydex and paracord set up... assuming you used similar belts to mine. I am currently using Condor Battle Dress Uniform BDU Belts, which I got from LAPG for $7.95 each.
 
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