boot knives

C

Cyberlync

Joined
Nov 10, 2003
Messages
28
Could one of you guys suggest a maker for a quality boot knife thats of a size and shape to actually fit comfortably in a boot? Its too bad HI doesn't make one ;) but perhaps you guys have experience with another company that produces a quality product such as described?
 
should be marketed as a "Ghurkha boot knife?";) It is perfect for this use, other than the dangers of cuttin the boot.
 
HI makes an excellent boot knife, the Bilton. Just remove the frog, it's perfect.

Awhile back I bought several dagger-type boot knives from other manufacturers (Cold Steel, SOG, Camillus) and found that, while the knives were of excellent quality, the kydex clip-on sheaths they all came with were completely unsuitable for boot-carry. I ended up trading or selling them all.

However, I can still comfortably carry a S&W 649 in my Danner Rainforest boot.
 
Cyberlinc,
As you and Raghorn point out, comfort (of carry) is an important consideration in selecting a boot knife.
I like a knife that carries very flat in lace up "combat" boots.
To this end I've been very happy with a Brian Tighe Alo. I remove the clip on it when wearing it inside the boot.
I also have an old German fighting knife and a larger Gaucho knife both in metal scabbards) that carry well in less tight fitting boots.
You might also want to consider a traditional boot or sock knife, such as the Sgian Dhu.
Lastly, you could always make your own knife or scabbard. This is a belt/boot knife I made from a file for my lady to wear at SASS events. We just stitched a sheath inside her boot to hold the blade.
Regards,
Greg
 
Dadgum, but that's a beaut Greg, makes my old crude ground file knives look, well, crude. Sweet piece of work. Are my eyes playing tricks, or did the antler you used for the handle come from a red deer?

Cyber, I'm surprised nobody's brought up the JKM-1, it lends itself well to boot carry with some minor modification. First file/sand the handle down to a flattened oval cross section (sounds harder to do than it is), then get some good cowhide and make a flat scabbard, sans belt loop, for it. The scabbard will live longer if you welt the seams, but you won't need to fool with any safety straps or other retaining devices to keep the knife put. The JKM-1's blade is longer and heavier than it's handle, so it'll stay secure with just a friction fit.

Sarge
 
Sarge? If the two little knives you included with the Pen knife are any example, nothing you make is crude. I've had non-knife-nut friends take them out to admire. You have a second career ahead of you.:)
 
Thanks Kis, I'm glad you like them little boogers. I gave away all the file knives I had laying around the house to my father, brothers, and nephew (my daughter even snagged one that caught her eye), while I was home for Christmas. Still, I did come back with some nice old Nicholson files, and one's become my new "Texas legal" (5.5" blade) belt knife. It's patterned after an 18th century trade knife, and even has a reproduction 18th cent. musket ball (cast in a proper mold, but of lead free pewter) set in the pommel of it's elk antler handle for balance. Good knife, stout, strong, and sharp. But I do have more files left, and I was thinking of making a 4 1/2" blade, convex ground, drop point hunter. Know anybody out there in Wisconsin who could properly field test such a critter?

Sarge
 
Sarge?

Yes, but I don't know how trust-worthy he'd be about sending it back.:) It's the whole winter thing, you know...makes them a little crazy.:rolleyes:
 
Considering long term durability should be part of any proper testing, I wouldn't expect to see that one come back. Besides, I can always grind another knife, I'm just after honest feedback (maybe even some constructive criticism, but careful, us crusty MSgt's are sooooo sensitive).

Sarge
 
Sarge,
Thanks for the kind words and I have to agree with Kismet about the quality of your work. I've downloaded all the pics of your file knives for my reference library. I always enjoy when you post them.
I'd say pretty good eyes considering the quality of that picture and how closely they are related; it's actually a rough elk tine.
Regards,
Greg
 
Originally posted by Ripper
I also have an old German fighting knife and a larger Gaucho knife both in metal scabbards) that carry well in less tight fitting boots.
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Just a quick question with reference to the German knife, I have used one from time to time (mainly as a sort of handy utility knife really) and was wondering if you knew of anywhere that produces reproductions today?
 
Thanks for those, the repros look good and the price is better than the £100 you would pay for an original over here, have to consider that when I have some money again.
 
Thanks guys, this is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for.

The file based knives are awesome, makes me wish I didn't live in an apartment. In any case, I like the look of the Sgians Dhu quite allot. Any one have any info on the quality knives?
 
Don't have it, but you could search for the Wilkinson Sword homepage. It lists a number of clan's distinctive Sgian Dhu's.

I feel that I should warn you that Wilkenson's makes their British officers swords from carbon steel and then chrome plates them, and the American officer's swords are of stainless steel. They apparently no longer sharpen ANY of their products, claiming that traditionally they were sharpened only on the eve of battle. Even their Sykes-Fairbairn presentation knives are I believe, no longer available sharpened, lest someone cut themselves. ( And maybe to make sure they don't run afoul of British weapons laws. )

This makes me question if any of their blades are tempered, or how well, since none appear to be made for other than display/symbolic use.
 
Yes, that would make them immediatly suspect in my mind. Don't get me wrong I have no doubt that more then a little time was spent sharpening swords on the eve of battle, but I doubt they were all that dull before then. It sounds more like a cop out on wilkensens part. The fact that the plate thier british officers swords by itself would make me stear clear of any of thier products. Thats just underhanded.
 
Wilkinson Sword? I've been reading reviews of their new production version of the Ray Mears Woodlore knife. The quality control seems to have been very poor on several peoples knives.

They may have had a hand in the original FS knife, but so what? That was probably down to their being located in London at the time. They sure as hell werent putting out better cutlery than the noted Sheffield firms like Joseph Rodgers and Sons and George Wostenholm.

The British MOD purchases them from J.E. Adams : http://www.sheffieldknives.co.uk/index.html among others, if and when they need to. The FS is a pretty poor design though, which is why Fairbairn and Applegate came up with the much improved dagger. In fact some British troops have used the kabar in the past for utility and 'other' purposes. Much more useful knife in every respect.

As for blunt army swords, they are probably blunt so that no one gets stuck with one during drills and displays.After all, that is the only purpose of having them in a modern army. There is no need for them to be sharpened, and if you did so they would, as I already said, be dangerous for no good reason, and would end up costing more money. What would be the purpose?

Are the blades tempered? I dont know why you doubt it Rusty since they state that they are in several places on the site-both in regards to the swords and the knives. They also state that the sword blades are still tested using original equipment. I dont see any reason to doubt that they do a professional job as they claim to-certainly not just because the swords are not sharpened.

Also, where does it say that the FS and other knives are not sharpened? British weapons legislation doesnt make me at all happy since I have to live with it, but the sharpness of a knife is not mentioned in any legislation over here.

BTW, whats the problem with plated sword blades? Puma used to do the same not so long ago with some of their knives, when they were noted for producing some of the best sporting cutlery in the world.

The prices for some of their limited edition knives are rather steep, and they may be very good, but for that sort of money I think I would go to someone like Jerry Fisk for a Bowie. I have a great deal of respect for the old legendary English firms like Rodgers and Wostenholm pre-1960's, but I think the best ever bowie knives made are now being put out by the ABS Mastersmiths.
 
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