Bright Idea: Kydex Sheath Carry Option

Will York

Will York

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Jan 21, 2000
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Above photo shows a simple solution to a problem that has bugged me for years and thought some of you might benefit.

I like kydex. Maintenance-free and makes great non-bulky, lightweight “armor” for knives. But I’ve never been satisfied with any manner of carry I’ve tried with kydex sheaths. I know some people use tek-loks, but I don’t like the “stand-off” effect which sets the sheath away from my belt. It’s not streamlined, makes the sheath prone to hang/catch on brush or anything else I come in contact with when hiking/hunting, and makes the point tip inward against my thigh and the handle tip outward, accentuating the problem.

Also, when walking I don’t like my arm bumping against my knife, so I typically carry a fixed blade behind my arm on my hip. With a sheath on a tek-lok, the position is fairly rigid, which means it’s awkward to draw my knife from that far back and a real pain to try and re-sheath the knife once I’m done with it. To mitigate this, I carry cross-draw style, which lets me get my left hand on the sheath to tilt it forward and draw with my right hand, but it’s still awkward. Using a dangler or nylon web belt loop helps the rigidity problem but accentuates the problem of the knife handle tilting away from my body making it even less streamlined and, unless I use a tie-down, it flops and bangs around enough to be annoying when I run.

Several months ago I learned about the use of a “static line” from my friend Joe Paranee, who demonstrated the concept with a Paul Long leather sheath employing a stud for sash-style carry. (The term “static line” in rope lingo simply indicates a line that does not “give”, as distinguished from a “dynamic line” which is elastic.) It took a few months for my addled brain to make the connection but on a recent hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies, I tried using a similar line threaded through the bottom eyelet on a kydex sheath. As far as I’m concerned now, it’s the only way to carry:

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As shown in the photos, I just thread a length of paracord through the bottom eyelet of the sheath and tie it in a loop so that when it is looped over my belt, the sheath can pass between my belt and pants and ride with the bulge of the sheath-mouth resting on top of the belt. I cut the loop of paracord to restrict how far down the sheath can ride--when it hits the end of the cord it goes no further. I find that by positioning the sheath on the belt between the loop of cord and a belt loop on my pants, I can secure the position of the sheath so that it moves very little until I need it. When ready to draw the knife, I grasp the handle and pull--the sheath comes out smoothly with the knife. Then I use my weak hand to hold the sheath while I draw the knife or, if my weak hand is occupied, I just draw the knife with one hand when it hits the end of the cord. The sheath hangs at the ready while I use the knife, then I can use both hands to re-sheath and slip it back under my belt.

Among the advantages I’ve found:

1) The ease, control and security of sheathing and unsheathing a knife this way is the best I’ve ever experienced.

2) I don’t have to remove my belt to put my knife on and off, which means I also don’t have to remove a pack or pistol rig.

3) By varying the length of the cord (one way is by twisting it several times), I can shorten the travel of the sheath, which means on a longer blade I can secure a carry position that’s high enough so I can sit without removing the knife (as when seated in a vehicle).

4) I can now securely carry a larger knife than ever before, hugging my body in perfect comfort, without it weighing me down or feeling awkward.

5) The knife and sheath fit so closely to my body that my arm does not touch as it swings normally when I walk, which means I can comfortably wear the knife farther forward.

6) Concealed carry, if preferred, is a breeze.

If you haven’t seen it, check out this thread in the Custom & Handmade Forum with a video showing Joe demonstrating the concept for concealed carry with a Jason Knight fighter:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1130583-KNIGHT-Combat-Series-Prototype-Video
 
Nice set up Will.

Ever consider simply adding a G clip that would be on the exterior of your sheath. You insert your sheath exactly as picture plus you have the G clip grip the underside of your belt.
 
Noxious Fumes said:
Nice set up Will.

Ever consider simply adding a G clip that would be on the exterior of your sheath. You insert your sheath exactly as picture plus you have the G clip grip the underside of your belt.
Click to expand...

Sure. Problem is, with a G clip if the belt is too wide you're out of luck and if it's too narrow you're back to a wobble problem. The sheath is also more rigid with a clip, making the knife harder reach back to draw or replace in the sheath. This rig, besides being so simple and inexpensive, is not dependent on belt width to work properly and allows you to use two hands (if preferred) to sheath and unsheath the knife. Of course, you can still draw with one hand and wait until you're done with the knife to take the sheath in your off hand and re-sheath. :thumbup:
 
:thumbup:Thanks for the idea Will. I had my Izula 2 set up that way, but now I think I'll try it with bigger knives! :) After watching Joe's video, I wish I had a hole in the bottom of my Bowie sash sheath! :(

 
Is that a Basic 7 or 9 on your hip? I bet that carry would work real good with a Basic 8! :)
 
Great idea and thanks for sharing, Will :D ... a very BASIC solution...

Now I'm covered for EDC during the day...

But for bedtime I think the IWB on my Spiderman jammies might be a bit to "dynamic" to allow for a clean draw... :p

But seriously, I am going to implement this carry method yesterday!
 
Much better with and ASH1 but I digress.... ;)

Will I have carried a Skeleton Key in a very similar way for the past couple of years. the cord complement that already low profile of that design and the draw is quick and effective. Never tried it with a larger blade but I may well have to now... :)
 
I bet that's a great design to EDC. Couldn't get a much lower profile fixed-blade. :thumbup:
 
I know that this is the Busse forum & all but ..... EDC= Spyderco Street Beat for me ( but it doesn't come in INFI:(.... VG10). Busse.... Any of the small handled ones for sure. R3 is great. I'd need to get a SAR3 or Game Warden.

Will's carry technique used, inside the waistband or in pocket, would rock with any of these.... R3 might be a bit too portly...

Street beat (bottom) with R3



...but I need to find something like this little pretty.... Deep finger choil, good belly on the blade, short handle (3.5 to 4 inches):thumbup:

 
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I carry all my neck knives in that same manner. The are dropped in my pocket, but the sheath is attached to my belt. Its a great way to carry! I never considered it for my big blades though. Might have to give it a try.
 
That's how I pocket carry small fixed blades. I clip it to the top of my waistband or a belt loop and drop it into my front pocket. The chain is short enough so that the knife doesn't hit the bottom of my pocket and it's weight is supported by the chain. All anyone sees is a chain disappearing into my pocket.

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