Carrying a large folder on a belt sheath

M

maximus83

Joined
Nov 7, 2011
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Interested to find out if anyone carries large folders, say a 3.75" or greater blade, on a belt sheath.

If so...
  • Can you show a pic of your setup?
  • What do you like about this setup and why do you carry it this way versus other options like carrying a small fixed blade, or carrying the folder in your pocket or elsewhere?
  • What disadvantages of this approach did you find versus other carry methods for a large folder?
 
Buck 110, comes with a nice piece of leather and when I carry it I do as Hoyt buck intended.

The advantage of this is mainly that it doesn't matter what kind of pockets my shorts or pants have Because I've always got a belt on.
There are no disadvantages of this for those who do it because if there were they wouldn't do it. It's not as fast as a one handed folder with a pocket clip but this is not a problem because I'm not concerned with speed when folders are concerned. I think a fixed blade belt knife is better as far as speed is concerned, but sometimes you gotta carry something just because you like it. ( A lot of places may not allow fixed blade carry or the use of those quickdraw sheaths that open the blade as you pull it out )
No pics are necessary because everyone knows the 110, but since it's so beautiful and since it's the number one folding belt knife ever I'll post a pic of it anyways as I know that you can never get enough 110 goodness.
 
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TaDaa!
I carry a few 8-10" folders in upside down sheaths.

Reason is when opened they are formidable.
Disadvantage? Friends thinking they can snap the lock, and play w/ my knives. ( I have goofy friends).
Advantage is they stay on my belt or in a shoulder strap. My pockets are free for whatever, and I don't have to fiddle about to grab a coin or a lighter.

The option of carrying a fixed blade of equal stature is obvious... Too much space, and I don't expect to be on a TV show where my knife will win me 10,000 bucks.

Pictures? I don't own a phone or a Camera. They both went out the window with the digital age. I'm looking into a scanner tho. It will be worth it just for this forum.
 
I gone to buying Texas Saddle Leather belts and mine are factory made belt pouch from Case , Old Timer , Klein , Red Deer and Buck!
The belts I used keep them handy and I don't notice the weight vs being in my pocket!
 
Awesome pic, thanks for the post. I had a Buck 110 years ago, haven't had one for a long time, and am feeling the call to get another in a pretty horizontal leather belt sheath.

Hickory n steel said:
Buck 110, comes with a nice piece of leather and when I carry it I do as Hoyt buck intended.

The advantage of this is mainly that it doesn't matter what kind of pockets my shorts or pants have Because I've always got a belt on.
There are no disadvantages of this for those who do it because if there were they wouldn't do it. It's not as fast as a one handed folder with a pocket clip but this is not a problem because I'm not concerned with speed when folders are concerned. I think a fixed blade belt knife is better as far as speed is concerned, but sometimes you gotta carry something just because you like it. ( A lot of places may not allow fixed blade carry or the use of those quickdraw sheaths that open the blade as you pull it out )
No pics are necessary because everyone knows the 110, but since it's so beautiful and since it's the number one folding belt knife ever I'll post a pic of it anyways as I know that you can never get enough 110 goodness.
Click to expand...
 
If I don't get my butt banned, and join as a paying member... I will begin posting pictures.

I have 4 (i know) Pakistan bone handle/Damascus?, folders from the Alaskan seller on the Flea, one Camillus Buffalo handle folder 1935-38, and a Camillus Hunter/Catfish Hunter (1970ish?) that I love.

Not your typical arsenal but they suit me to a "T".

The regular auto-s rotate. Don't care much for them anymore.
 
I spent much of my youth with a Buck110 on my belt. I almost never carry a folder on my belt anymore. Same goes for multi tools. I am a lean person and my hips are bony and I just find pocket carry more comfortable.
 
maximus83 said:
Dude. Are you serious? That just BEGS for pictures. :D
Click to expand...

HAD TO!
Sorry OP....
machete-2-e1283904851468.jpg
 
Zombie411 said:
HAD TO!
Sorry OP....
machete-2-e1283904851468.jpg
Click to expand...
Did you notice how they all have the exact same kind of wood for the handles with the same wear / apparent age to them ?
The props department may have done a decent job aging the handles, but it's way too unlikely they'd all have the same wood, be the same age, and have the same amount of wear / use, especially when he leaves them stuck in dead guys and stuff and I'm sure has to replace some of them here and there.
I know this is way off topic, but as a knife enthusiasts I just couldn't help but notice. Now because you posted the picture, it's your fault that I brought this thread off track :D
 
photoman12001 photoman12001 has previosly posted photos of an awesome Umnumzaan belt sheath he's got. (I'm sooo jealous!)

I don't want to post his pic wothout permission so maybe we can entice him to chime in with some images and wisdom ;). The sheaths from Vess Leatherworks look very similar. If I didn't live in such a kooky place, I'd own one (even still, it's hard to resist).
 
I put clips back on one each of my large Sebenza 21s, Sebenzas 25s, small Senbenza 21s but I still carry an Umnumzaan in the sheath when I carry it. I don't know if it's considered a large folder though. Everything is relative I guess. Next to my large Cold Steel Espada the Umnumzaan looks small. Honestly I don't carry the sheathed Zaan much any more. Pocket carry is just more convenient. Plus I always have a small sheath that contains a small Inkosi and flashlight. My wife won't let me wear more than one item in my belt, unless my shirt is untucked. But if that's the case I usually have a gun and spare mag so the addition of the Zaan is a bit much. See photo below.

The Zaan & sheath setup is nice though.

i.ashx

i.ashx

i.ashx
 
I carry my Buck 110s and Custom Shop 112 in belt sheaths -- I prefer the nylon sheaths for comfort, but occasionally wear the leather just because it seems to suit that classic brass frame. My thinner folders (Sebbie 21, American Lawman) work well IWB without sheaths.
 
Lol, always listen to your wife. A happy wife is a happy life. Some wives (including mine) aren't fond of the bat belt look. :p What I finally went to was carrying a small pouch (this one) to contain my phone, reading glasses, multitool, flashlight, etc. This of course gives my daughters endless material for harrassment, "Dad is carrying a MURSE, Daddy is carrying a MOUCH," etc. :-) But it is kinda convenient for all that stuff, because I hate carrying big phones in a pocket and so this pouch is a way to carry a bunch of stuff in that same category that I don't want on-body, but do want with me. Obviously that pouch doesn't work for a spare mag, or for a knife that you'd want to be quickly accessible.

For the knife, the only 2 ways I can see to keep it quickly accessible are pocket carry, or sheath carry on a belt. I suppose I could also get a different kind of pouch that would let me keep the knife clipped on an external facing pocket, never thought of that until now. But really, I'm just considering the primary options of pocket carry versus belt sheath, for a large folder.

photoman12001 said:
I put clips back on one each of my large Sebenza 21s, Sebenzas 25s, small Senbenza 21s but I still carry an Umnumzaan in the sheath when I carry it. I don't know if it's considered a large folder though. Everything is relative I guess. Next to my large Cold Steel Espada the Umnumzaan looks small. Honestly I don't carry the sheathed Zaan much any more. Pocket carry is just more convenient. Plus I always have a small sheath that contains a small Inkosi and flashlight. My wife won't let me wear more than one item in my belt, unless my shirt is untucked. But if that's the case I usually have a gun and spare mag so the addition of the Zaan is a bit much. See photo below.

The Zaan & sheath setup is nice though.

i.ashx

i.ashx

i.ashx
Click to expand...
 
Alberta Ed said:
I carry my Buck 110s and Custom Shop 112 in belt sheaths -- I prefer the nylon sheaths for comfort, but occasionally wear the leather just because it seems to suit that classic brass frame. My thinner folders (Sebbie 21, American Lawman) work well IWB without sheaths.
Click to expand...

Are you able to carry the buck horizontally? I'm interested in that option, not sure it'd be feasible given the closed length.
 
Horizontal sheaths are available, usually custom made stuff versus the typical "Buck 110" type sheath. My take on this is that I would rather downsize the knife rather than carrying on a belt sheath that I will tend to forget to take along. Only in the woods do I consciously think about "what do I need to bring along?", the rest of the time I'm sort of on auto pilot. I have a few Dozier knives (fixed blades) that I can carry on his horizontal sheath very discretely from time to time.
 
22, how are you able to carry a fixed blade HORIZONTALLY on a belt sheath without it sticking out and really getting in your way? I haven't tried it myself, but having a hard time imaging a fixed blade that you could hold with any stability that is much shorter than 6.5" to 7", so that's the minimum length (plus sheath) for a horizontal belt carry. Which is a pretty large 6.5"+ item to be hanging off your belt horizontally on one of your sides. I've seen some folks do things like a horizontal sheath/fixed carry right in the middle of their back, which would give you enough room for it versus having it on your side, but I've read this center-of-back horizontal approach is super unsafe to your backbone if you were to fall on the sheathed knife that way.
 
Ah.... take a look at the Dozier kydex horizontal belt sheaths for fixed blades. REALLY good (and very fast). They are very snug against your body and I seldom have them sticking out. Size matters of course. I can carry one of his smaller fixed blades cross draw and few people would even notice I have a knife on me. It is not concealed, at least consciously. I feel sure that the custom kydex guys make similar but I have no real experience with that. I tend to want to buy the knife and sheath ready to use unless I just want to add some new handles or something. Bob Dozier will not make sheaths for other knives any more; just his own which come with either a left or right hand horizontal belt sheath. You can clip them onto your belt without removing your belt like most vertical belt sheaths.

I chuckle about this to myself.... years ago at the Blade Show I was looking at his knives for the first time and playing with the sheaths, snapping the knives in and out repeatedly and saying.. "that's amazing". Bob got a little irritated with me which is why I chuckle now about it as I would too if I were him, but I did buy one knife from him that day and have purchased one just about every year I attend Blade since. The K-6 Companion is a good one.
 
If you carry a shoulder holster... upside down on the drop strap, and if not, horizontal on the back of your waist band.

Horizontal still leaves you fidgeting to get a knife out tho... (IMHO)
 
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