Best way to carry/draw

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
140
I know that we've discussed the fasted opener, but much of the speed of deployment is getting the knife out of your pocket and into your hand. What have you guys found works best. I used to carry in my back waistband, but have recently found that front pocket actually works better. (The Emerson Wave helps, of course.) Are there any speed tricks that people have discovered?

-Fred
 
Two things I think are important with any knife are awareness and practice. Be aware of where the knife is on your body, and of the relation between your hand and the knife. That way you'll know how far to reach, where to reach, etc., and won't have to waste time thinking. Also, practice. It makes a huge difference, with both fixed blades and folders. Practice both the draw and the presentation. And unless you want to look silly, pay attention to how you resheath the knife too. It takes about three thousand repetitions before you develop muscle memory, and can perform an action without thinking about it. I'm sure I've passed that mark with both my Spyderco Military and Gunting in terms of drawing, opening, and closing cycles.

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"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all the parts."
--Aldo Leopold
 
Also practice in front of a mirror in different scenarios using a cover up move to disguise your draw as well as a concealed draw where the knife comes into your hand but you do not present it. This is of course for self defense type situations.

For every day duty use I think Gary Graley's Horizontal Sheath works well or any of the horizontal carrys though the flap does take a bit of extra time.

One trick for the flap on a cordura type sheath is to take a stainless finishing nail and slip it through the seam in the very end of the flap so that when you pull the flap stays stiff and comes off as a unit rather than a corner folding which can make your hand slip off. For curved sheaths like Microtech you can shorten the finishing nail and bend the appropriate curve.

Shawn

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"Paranoia is merely a heightened
sense of awareness."

-(What do you mean who said that? I don't know and if I did I wouldn't
tell YOU! Why are you looking at me like that?! Ever hear of PERSONAL
SPACE?! Step back outta my face and look at someone else!.... Is that
a reflection off a camera lens? What do you mean 'Why do I carry $100
in quarters?' Don't you know they put those tracers in the paper money?)
 
i dont know what the big deal is with the wave - i dont know about ya'll but i loosen the blade (just a little) and flick them open w/a rapid wrist movement - seems much faster than using my buds emerson w/the wave feature - i know its hard on the knife, but i just draw it and flick wrist and pow its open - by the way my BM AFCK works the best for this..........just my .02
 
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