Carrying with latch facing backward?

F

fredsan

Joined
Jun 9, 2001
Messages
4
Howdy. I prefer to carry my Bali horizontally, with the latch facing backward. When I draw the knife, I pull out and down a little bit so the latch will open. This worked okay with my Jaguars, but it tore the hell out of my BM42 sheath. Does anyone know of a sheath that is designed to be used to open the latch during the draw? I find that I can get the knife open much more quickly, and smoothly, if the sheath does the work of opening the latch. All of the sheaths I've seen seem to be designed to carry the knife the other way...

Thanks
 
I'm trying to visualize the way you carry and I think I have it. I have not personally used them, but Clay's sheaths have received nothing but rave reviews. I bet he could do an autopopper. And check out Sniperboy's reviews of custom sheaths as well.

edited to say: Welcome aboard! Just noticed that this is your 2nd post, glad to have you here! Stick around, some great folks here.
 
Yeah, after I posted that message, I realized it wasn't very clear. Basically, I carry on my right side, the knife is inserted into the sheath so that the latch is facing behind me, and the drawing motion is as follows: I reach back, use my thumb to open the velcro, pull the knife forward with enough downward pressure so that the latch pops, and then I open with a simple windmill.

The only problem I see with Clay's sheaths is that they're designed to carry the knife with the latch out. I'm probably the only moron who opens that way.. :) Maybe I could try reversing my sheath and opening the clip with my finger, which is probably what everyone else does.

Thanks for the info..
 
I'm probably the only moron who opens that way..
Click to expand...


Not a moron just a different style. I have a hori. sheath from Clay. On my right side. Latch to the back. I pop it with my pinky during the draw.
 
The problem with inserting the latch in first (BTW is that latch facing up or down?) is that you are inserting the fattest part of the bali into something that wasn't designed to do so. If the sheath is made of leather or nlyon, eventually both will wear out as the amount of friction from wear is too much. As you've no doubtly found out.

To pull it off with kydex will require that the sheath be either channeled for the latch, which is a real pain to do if you don't have the right mold (most likely will require an insert to ride along the side of the handle next to the latch to prevent the kydex from forming around the latch and provide the channel form), or it'll need to be done as a break-open model with the latch sticking out of the sheath, but with some detent built in so it engages the latch as it's drawn. So far I haven't seen anything like that, but that doesn't mean it can't be made, especially with some of the talented kydex sheath makers we have with us.

But the question remains if that is necessarily a better way of carrying the bali? Are you really gaining that much of an advantage with the delay in drawing to ensure the latch is disengaged, versus the quicker of out the sheath style of the tang first model, and disengaging the lacth with your thumb while in the draw arc, as I do it?

Interesting concept..... I like a little more time to evaluate please.
 
I've done a few auto-poppers in the past, but all were mounted into shoulder rigs.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately because actually, I would like to wear one of my daily carries that way. I do have a design that I think will work, but haven't (as of yet) had a chance to try it out.

........actually I believe Chuck prefers the "horns forward pull" method as well.

Do you prefer those nylon cocoon type sheaths?? I'm also thinking I could put a kydex reinforcement strip inside one of those.

........... so many ideas, so little time.
 
In response to your question, the latch faces down. The BM42 sheath is in shreads because of it, but the Jaguar sheath actually worked pretty well, because it was wide enough to handle the large end of the knife. Unfortunately, the BM is too long for a good fit in the Jaguar sheath.

I really don't know what type of sheath I'd prefer as far as looks or material, although I like the "standard" ones that cover the knife completely, and have velcro, so I don't get too many unwanted questions.. :)

As for the question of whether it's a better way to carry it, I guess that's a matter of opinion. I find that I can get it out very smoothly and quickly that way, so for me, I guess it's better.
 
Fredsan: Don't mean to say your method doesn't work for you. Just that you've present an alternative mode to the way I carry my bali for the past 20+ years (latch out facing up for batangas style bali's: the perennial BM mode). So, it's a bit of a mind blower.. I not only have to think out side my box, but, I'll have to retrain my hand so I can judge your method objectively.

By all means, stick with what works for you. It's just that we don't have a solution yet... But I'm sure Clay can remedy that pretty quickly.
 
I would love to see a kydex that opens the latch....preferable a horizontal type belt sheath.
 
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