Best fixed blade EDC options: belt, pocket, neck, Mercharness, other

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maximus83

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Nov 7, 2011
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I'm trying to look at improved options for EDC of a small fixed blade. Currently carrying an index position on the belt using an IWB sheath. However, I'm interested in the pros and cons of other options, and interested in hearing what others have tried and what works.

Specifically, looking at these options, as alternatives to IWB carry on a belt:

Pocket sheath: a thin setup that stands up the blade in your pocket, and hooks the pocket when you pull out the blade. Anybody using this? Pros/cons.

Neck carry: I'm willing to consider, but would like to hear who's doing it, and what are the disadvantages that you find.

Mercharness: this is a newer approach, but looks appealing. Anybody trying this? How do you like it compared to other approaches, and why?
 
I use a pocket sheath clipped to the inside of my front right pocket. Pros: easy to carry and discreet. Cons: Can't put much else in that pocket.
 
I just loop it thru my belt. If I want it to be less noticeable I stick the bottom part in my front pocket.
 
Neck carry: I'm willing to consider, but would like to hear who's doing it, and what are the disadvantages that you find.
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Well, I've been doing it for a few months now, and once you can get over the looking like a "goober" part of it, it's great. Well, kind'a !:D

The cons first.

Still looks kind'a goofy to me, you know, having a knife hanging from your neck...... Little less than it did 30 or 40 years ago when I first saw someone doing it but, still goofy nonetheless.

And then there's having something "hanging around your neck" thing. That can be bothersome for some, me included, at least at first but, I'm getting over it.

Then, there's the it's right there front and center, for the whole world to see, you know, like "cleavage". Can't miss it, get's noticed and now! Some have a problem/issue with that. Me? Not so much anymore. I'm just saying.......... could draw unwanted attention.

I can and do slip it under my shirt when I think there may be an "issue" with it being in plain sight. Of course that kind of makes it harder to deploy too but, it's usually only for a brief period, so no big deal really.

So we have the "goofy" thing, the "hanging around around your neck" thing, the "brandishing" thing and a possible "concealment" issue.


The Pros.

It is without a doubt, IMO, the single most useful way ever devised to carry and access a reasonably sized knife. And with either hand! Try that, off hand access, with pocket carry. And, I can't believe it took me 51 years to finally actually try it. It's not for everyone, everywhere, but it does make a hell of a lot of sense for a few people, at least sometimes, somewhere. :D
 
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I like the hip pocket sheaths that Knives Ship Free offers. I have the Adirondack version which holds a small fixed blade and a multitool in a second slot. Rides like a second wallet.
 
I do a horizontal carry on the back of my belt. It's discreet, if you've got good kydex or leather retention isn't a problem, and it's easy to get at and put away.

I've done mercharness carry for larger knives. Pros: I like it pretty well for knives in kydex. It's in my opinion a good place for a knife because it's out of the way, and doesn't interfere with carrying other things. Cons: It's not the most comfortable thing in the world though, and I don't think it would work that well for a short knife. If you're carrying it concealed (assuming you're allowed to), it can be a bit challenging to resheathe. I haven't really found it to be a viable option for an EDC knife.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
I do a horizontal carry on the back of my belt. It's discreet, if you've got good kydex or leather retention isn't a problem, and it's easy to get at and put away.

I've done mercharness carry for larger knives. Pros: I like it pretty well for knives in kydex. It's in my opinion a good place for a knife because it's out of the way, and doesn't interfere with carrying other things. Cons: It's not the most comfortable thing in the world though, and I don't think it would work that well for a short knife. If you're carrying it concealed (assuming you're allowed to), it can be a bit challenging to resheathe. I haven't really found it to be a viable option for an EDC knife.
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What size knife do you use for horizontal? I have knives that are 9" overall and they're painfully obvious when I put them there, even under a t-shirt and an unbuttoned shirt over.
 
Thanks much for the tips. I'm really interested in those pocket holsters at KnivesShipFree. Thinking that my Spydie Fred Perrin (which is just over 7"), would go well in one of those along with my small LM S2 multitool.

A comment on the horizontal SOB carry. I've actually considered that before and it's very appealing (kinda' like the guy in "The Hunted" carries his Tom Brown Tracker). It appeals to me because you can hide it easily and could fit a larger knife this way. However, not to tell anyone what you should be doing, but I hear that SOB carry is very dangerous. If you fall and land on your spine, having that hard object there could paralyze you. I've heard this warning repeated often enough and by enough folks who seemed like they knew their stuff, I finally gave up on the idea.
 
Vertebrae said:
What size knife do you use for horizontal? I have knives that are 9" overall and they're painfully obvious when I put them there, even under a t-shirt and an unbuttoned shirt over.
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I use a Bark River Mini Canadian. Horizontal in a sheath made by Azwelke from this forum. I use para cord through the rivet holes and loop it through my belt. It is 6'' long and when I wear it in the front it is unseen with a shirt hanging over. Also, it is comfortable, I can not tell it is there. The other one I use in the same manner is an Izula in the same type of sheath. Also can't see it under a shirt. Hope this helps.

SEMPER-FI TIL I DIE
 
I carry an ESEE-3 every day on my weak side either clipped to my belt (if I'm wearing an over-shirt or sweater) or in my front pocket. Super quick to deploy, comfortable, and absolutely reliable.
 
I like to use a paracord lashing for cross-draw horizontal belt carry with an Izula. By using paracord to lash the sheath to my belt, it keeps the overall package nice and slim. Very comfortable.
 
The best place I've found to carry is horizontal on the front left hip though I leave my shirt untucked so as it's concealed, is illegal in my area. So I adopted a pocket setup with my Izula 2. I run a loop of paracord through it and clip it to my belt loop with a biner. When I pull it out the biner/paracord pulls the sheath away from the knife. The sheath then drops and hangs right side up so when I'm done with the knife I just put it back in the sheath and back in my pocket. All done one handed.
 
There are two ways I like to carry a small fixed blade for EDC - My main is a CRKT Bear claw.

My preferred method is to wrap the sheath with enough para cord that it will wedge tightly in the watch pocket of my bluejeans. But the Mercharness is a very close second!

The beauty of it is, if you have a few feet of paracord on hand, you can make your own harness for next to nothing. I used electrical tape folded over on itself (sticky sides together) to make the sliders and keepers for the rig. A full YEAR later, this rig is still going strong.

It get even better - the cord used for the harness can be wrapped up around the sheath when you are not waring it, to facilitate my other method.
 
I have a couple of sheaths from Buy Brown that fit nicely in a the front pocket The one side forms a "hook" which grabs the edge of the pocket and allows you to draw the blade. Nice set up.

Jordan
 
This is how I prefer to carry fixed blades, sits in my back pocket.
6669577195_ec5ff0f8cf_z.jpg
 
it is illegal to conceal carry a fixed vblade in my state. Here is something I can legally carry concealed.

[video=youtube;CHObVpqeAzY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHObVpqeAzY[/video]
 
Vertebrae said:
What size knife do you use for horizontal? I have knives that are 9" overall and they're painfully obvious when I put them there, even under a t-shirt and an unbuttoned shirt over.
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I am limited to 3.5" here. So my EDC fixed blade may include a BK11, Bark River Bravo Necker 2, or a few of my own make and design. Here's the Bravo Necker 2:

2012-01-11181550.jpg


To a more than casual inspection of my pelvic region, it might be obvious that I'm carrying something. But generally guys don't stare down there, and I've never had a woman realize I was carrying a knife there. Under a jacket, which I'm likely to be wearing during the winter, it's all but invisible.

2012-01-11181614.jpg


As far as the falling and landing on it, that's why I roll with kydex and low profile scales. I've actually fallen asleep lying on my back with the knife on, and barely even knew it was there. The belt and the sheath would both take a lot of the stress, and lets be honest with ourselves. Falling and landing on one's spine is what causes the damage, not having a small hard object there that would likely redistribute the stress AWAY from your spine in that area anyways. Seriously, where's the thinking there? If it were carried vertically along your spine, that would be one thing. But having a knife there means that the stress of the landing is going to hit you in the sides at the hilt and tip of the knife and the sheath, NOT along the spine.

Not to mention, on a guy's pants, the belt area falls in the natural curve of your spine. In a fall, your butt or your middle back will impact before that area ever well, if it does at all.
 
It seems obvious to me that, if you hit it right, a narrow, hard thing between your falling spine and another hard surface could create a dangerous stress point against your vertebrae--crushing, dislocating, or separating them. I've tried carrying like that, but I didn't like the way the handle and/or sheath protrudes from the waistline.
 
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