Best way to carry a RAT3

XMP

XMP

Joined
Feb 9, 2007
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I've been using a RAT3 regularly this summer as a small outdoors knife, instead of a folder. But I can't find a comfortable way to carry it. The kydex sheat rides to high for comfortable movement for me. I've tried carrying it as a neck knife, which works better, but its a little heavy for long term carry that way. Most of the time I end up with the entire sheath stuffed in a front pocket. That's fairly comfortable, but not very secure.

Has anyone found a better sheath option or a better mode of carry they might suggest?
 
XMP said:
I've been using a RAT3 regularly this summer as a small outdoors knife, instead of a folder. But I can't find a comfortable way to carry it. The kydex sheat rides to high for comfortable movement for me. I've tried carrying it as a neck knife, which works better, but its a little heavy for long term carry that way. Most of the time I end up with the entire sheath stuffed in a front pocket. That's fairly comfortable, but not very secure.

Has anyone found a better sheath option or a better mode of carry they might suggest?
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I don't own a Rat-3 but I do own a Howling Rat which is an inch longer. I too have found that the kydex rides to high and have since switched to a mid height leather sheath. Plus, it has the added benefit of being a little more PC and it smells good.:D
 
I wear mine horizontal on my belt, lashed to my belt with paracord, cross draw,I am left handed so it ride on my right side.I am in the process of looking for a sheath that will carry both my RAT-3 & my LM wave together for work.
 
Texastonydobbs- I don't mean to sound weird, but do you mind if I ask what you do for a living? I want to know what kind of job to look for that lets me use both those tools :D . It does seem like you could get some kind of kydex sheath for your RAT-3 that would allow a secondary piggyback kydex sheath for your Wave, I think I've seen similar setups produced by Normark and OST with multi-positional belt loops.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Texastonydobbs- I don't mean to sound weird, but do you mind if I ask what you do for a living? I want to know what kind of job to look for that lets me use both those tools :D . It does seem like you could get some kind of kydex sheath for your RAT-3 that would allow a secondary piggyback kydex sheath for your Wave, I think I've seen similar setups produced by Normark and OST with multi-positional belt loops.
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:D Aircraft retrieval /accident investigation & salvage Business. I love my work,almost 8yrs ;the first half I went out on the accident scenes of general aviation accidents,all over TX,AR,LA,OK and some accidents are in the city but most seems to be in remote locations and hence tools on hand,now I am in the sales department of aircraft parts which is kinda like a car salvage operation but a/c parts. Fun job and can carry anything I want,even have a firearm in the desk !:thumbup:
 
Try a sheath with a spring clip and clip it inside you pocket like a tactical folder I do that with one of my Game Wardens
 
I don't know if you've tried this yet, but if you have the Tek lok attachment for the sheath, you can attach the sheath so that it rides horizontally on your belt.

I use the basic clip attachment on the sheath to carry mine. It does ride high but not enough to bother me.

Hope you can figure something out.
 
I have the tek lock attachment but I have it mounted to the D2 RAT-3 but I carry a 1095 to work,I have interchange sheath because I like the 1095 better but to me the paracord gives me a little more flexiblity on the sheath and my frame, but I will look into the combo kydex !:)
 
I have never found a fixed blade that I liked to carry on my belt - always feels awkward.

I'm a Righty, so I find strapping a fixed to the right side of my leg just over my boot line, the most comfortable. - hardly know it's there. The blade I have in kydex is a 4' with a couple of holes at the bottom, so when I run some nylon strap through the belt loop around the top of the boot, and then secure via the bottom holes on the kydex near my ankle - works like a charm:), and does not slip.
A friend suggested though that I might want to consider carrying on the inside of my left leg - have not tried that yet, but would probably work great as well.

That way I have easy access to my Folder as well.
 
My 0.02 for how I do it. Buy some wide nylon webbing and turn the plastic shealth into a hanging sheath. I use the strap/webbing off of my CS Recon Tanto attached so that the top of the RAT-3 handle is even with the top of my belt. You do not even know it is there.
Ron Athay
 
Ron Athay said:
My 0.02 for how I do it. Buy some wide nylon webbing and turn the plastic shealth into a hanging sheath. I use the strap/webbing off of my CS Recon Tanto attached so that the top of the RAT-3 handle is even with the top of my belt. You do not even know it is there.
Ron Athay
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Could you post pics of your carry system?

I'm interested in putting one together like yours, seems like it would be more comfortable than the basic sheath on my belt.
 
Like Shotgun said, maybe get yourself a decent leather belt sheath or custom belt sheath. Doesn't have to be fancy - just functional and durable.

right on
 
If you're looking to get a new sheath check out On Scene Tactical out of Ontario Canada. Eric does first class work.
I have a few of his sheaths including one for my RAT3.
I found the factory sheath caused the handle of the RAT to poke me in the kidney, no such problem with the OST sheath.
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Carry it under your arm.

shoulder rig lite 1.jpg
 
I attach mine to the left strap of my Camelbak, tip up, so I can grab it with my right had easily when I need it. I don't go on hikes or anything without a Camelbak and some essentials, so I always have the knife with me on trips.
 
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here is my set up with the tek-lock running horizontal on belt with LM wave piggyback with zipties. RAT-3 is not in the way at all .PS RAT-3 is 1095:D
 
Robert H. above (Carry it under your arm.) or Mercharness.

The mercharness is practically weightless in itself but it will carry a big knife, let alone a RAT 3.
 
How do the under arm sheath and harnesses work when you are carrying a pack? Do they interfere with one another at all? This is an option, but I'm concerned about comfort.

I usually have a knife strapped to my pack, but I don't want my only fixed blade to be attached to my pack, just in case I should become seperated from it. The RAT3 seems like the ideal sized "second knife" to carry directly on my person, but I need to find a way to do it comfortably while still carryinga pack.
 
Try a loop of paracord theough the belt loop. It MAY hang like a Scandi dangler sheath. You can adjust the height - bigger loop/smaller loop. ('Course, some hate dangler sheaths. Takes all kinds. :D )
 
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