Carrying your survival knife

As of right now this is my every day carry left front pocket 12 feet black 550
para cord,left hip keys on a locking carobiner, right next to that leathermen
wave Ti,left back pocket bilfold, right front pocket cold steel voyager or the new leathermen lock back pocket knife just a one blade on it, and a 2 and half
inch steel capsual of pj and cotton with a scout model fire steel inside of it, on right side of my belt is black grande pouch that holds a small psk, and next to that is a Chris Reeves Shadow III in the pancake style sheath, right
back pocket comb and dmt dual fold knife sharpener.
 
That there is a prepared cat!!! my edc is set up as a Leatherman wave and a coast tactical light in a dual holster on R hip crkt mt shasta in r pocket in my shoulder bag I have a small adjustable wrench roll of duct tape a spool of bailing twine a small notebook, several pens/pencils a bic lighter and some cotton balls in a film canister a book of local edible plants an sas survival guide and a pretty comprehensive first aid kit and some misc odds and ends
 
In urban areas, I carry a Leatherman Wave in my backpack.
In the woods, a short walk with the family on semi made paths and with sign posts a Buck folder in my pocket.
In the wilds, a 6" fixed blade with a firelighter on me at all times, along with a backup 2" blade on a lanyard. Axe and folding saw in the pack.
 
We have an entirely different environment here is Aus. For day trips, I usually have a LM wave or a folder in my pocket or in a clip on pouch on my belt. I usually have a basic first aid kit with compressioin bandages, etc and I usually have a walking staff. For overnights, I add a fixed blade carried in the kit as there are extra tasks such as food prep. Usually a Grohman #4 with flat grind.
 
It all depends on whether other people are around. Currently, my survival knife is a large bowie made of 5160 spring steel with an overall length of 16". This is not a knife to wear in the open when the sheeple are around. However, when I am in the woods, where the possibility of meeting with someone is very low, then I will have it around my belt.
 
DaleW said:
To the point: I'd rather have the large knife on my pack while hiking. I don't want anything that restricts circulation on my leg and I don't want to "pay" for moving that weight back and forth/up and down all day. Just my preference. I don't care for heavy items in a cargo pocket either-- flaps and thumps my leg.

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YOu dont cinch it down like a tourniquet. It gets snugged down so its comfortable and in no way restricts blood flow to the leg.

Every soldier in the sandbox uses drop leg carry for all kinds of gear because its convenient and very comfortable with no loss of movement or blood flow.

FYI for all: I had an issue on SAR missions with thigh carry of my 7.5 blade rotating on my thigh. I solved it by Marine gooping the strap directly to the sheath and then thinly coating the inside of the straps with goop to provide rubberized flexible friction.

Skam



Works great and dosen't move when strapped down now.
 
Military use and civilian use differ. Civilians take long hikes and carry a backpack with a waist belt. Anything on your leg gets lifted with each step and that means energy drain. You wear the lightest boots possible consudering the terrain for the same reason.

I normally carry as Scoumaster a SAK in a belt sheath. When I carry a heavy pack the sheath comes off and the knife goes to my front pocket on a dummy cord. If left in the sheath it is pushed into my side by the waist belt.

Anything you hang on your leg will restrict movement to some degree. For the men in Iraq this is acceptable. They have a need to have their gear accessable quickly and they aren't concerned with maximum comfort. If they were then there would be no body armor or helmets and the guys would be in shorts and a tank top. Comparing the needs of a soldier to the needs of a hiker doesn't make sense.
 
2dogs said:
Military use and civilian use differ. Civilians take long hikes and carry a backpack with a waist belt. Anything on your leg gets lifted with each step and that means energy drain. You wear the lightest boots possible consudering the terrain for the same reason.

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From my experience your mileage may vary.

I can assure you spending 10 years serving I lifted my legs on "long hikes" and carried a ruck with waistbelt carrying more weight than any backpacker. The military uses thigh rigs because they are the most comfortable/accessible option for whatever gear they choose to rig. That said there is a weight restriction for comfort but for this topic it is not an issue.

A civilian now and a SAR team leader I do more of the same and understand energy drain and can say 100% that a properly worn thigh rig does not drain you and even adds to comfort by relocating items out of the friction unbalanced zone.

WE are not comparing body armor but rather where to strap a blade/gear for comfort and access so yes there is a valid military comparrison to the thigh rig carry. Many outdoor "civilian" products get improved with feedback by those who serve ;).

Skam
 
Well, what do I carry everyday?
LM Fuse
Keyring with whistle, LED-light, some paracord and a firesteel
Fallkniven U2
Fallkniven F1, firesteels, MRE matches, K&M matchcase, some 15 meter paracord, huge orange ID panel, a lot of swedish army field dressings, batteries of different kind, bandana, foldacup, Surefire G2, Fiskars saw, Shadowdivers custom pry thinghy, metal mug, PSK, cotton balls and thensome.
If it is planned trips (geocaching) I also bring Primus Techno Trail kit, Nalgene bottle, small axe, Garmin Legend C and some other stuff.
In my car I have a huge axe (to decaptiate roadkill) and the swedish army combat showel.
Sometimes I bring the Swedish army trangia.

If I had to just pick some things it would be the F1, the Fuse, a firesteel and a Silva compass. I am planning to buy a Laplander saw as well.
 
I carry any knife that has a sheath on my belt. With the exception of clip on knives like Spyderco's they are all belt carry. Whenever I go for a trip into the woods even a short walk, I carry a fixed blade. Often it is those short afternoon walks that can turn into the survival hardship scenarios. So for even a short walk, I carry a good fixed blade and some means to make fire.
 
The length of the walk is nearly irrelevant. What matters is where you intend to go and what knife/edged tools are appropriate. I always carry a quality locking folder, usually a Benchmade 940, sometimes a Ritter Griptilian/RSK. If I'm hiking away from an urban area, I will also have a fixed blade and if I'm taking a backpack I'll have another tool there (eg., hatchet, bigger fixed blade, multi-tool). The backpack also have signalling gear (whistle, mirror), a small LED flashlight, my smaller GPS and a couple ways to make fire even if I don't plan to make one. Cell phone coverage is spotty away from urban areas, but you never know, so I'll have my cell-phone just in case. Add it up and it's less than 5#. If that's too much for a short walk, you need to train harder.
 
My "survival" knife is going to be whatever I have with me , most likely an okapi , usualy a 907e . I carry a bic lighter as well , and thats about my PSK I guess .

Im lazy when it comes to carrying gear I dont need , I dont see the need to carry flint and tinder etc , when a lighter has it all there ready to go .

So far , I have had to use the PSK a couple times , got a hole in the sump of my car from a rck , and had to do some impromptu repairs , I walked 40 something km back to a roadside pulloff and collected a dumped battery , and lugged it back with me , smashed it up and melted the lead in my car hubcap .

I used my lighter to light the fire that melted the lead .

I took the sump off the car , knocked the hole closed as best I could and scratched the steel around it clean with my knife .

I used the pliers from the tool kit to hold the hubcap and poor the lead into the sump over the hole and presto , bush solder job .

Put it back together using the silastic and spare oil I carry

I was there for three days getting this done , and in those three days and the next two I was on that road , I didnt see another car .

I realy wish I could spin a yarn about having had to light a fire to keep warm and use my knife to hack down trees and build a log cabin to survive some kinda extreme soemthing or other ... but no .
 
This is how I started carrying my Ka-bar, Barely even know it theres, its very comfy to wear actually.
p3270146jo5.jpg
 
Fonly, how you like that Kydex sheath? I got one for my old beater last year and it was worth every penny. Mine has a pouch zip-tied to it for the usual stuff.

If you already have a Ka-Bar and might want a hard weatherproof versatile sheath for it, I highly recommend a Ka-Bar replacement sheath. I got mine on ebay for $18 or 20 IIRC. There are non-name-brand ones that look a little different and are cheaper, but I haven't tried one.

EDIT: No, I don't work for Ka-Bar ;)
 
I really like the sheath, its slim, comfy. I've thought about the eagle sheaths a few times, but I dont wear big knives on my belt, so im not sure how it would fit under the arm you know?
 
Fonly said:
This is how I started carrying my Ka-bar, Barely even know it theres, its very comfy to wear actually.
p3270146jo5.jpg
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Any problems carrying it like that in the cold with layers of clothes?

( Nice Teddy Bear in the background )
 
JimMLa said:
Any problems carrying it like that in the cold with layers of clothes?

( Nice Teddy Bear in the background )
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haha teddies actually my brothers, I was in his room for the picture.

But no, not too bad. Mabye under A large parka and a few more layers, But I wear an normal shirt, than an over shirt, than a vest and mabye a larger jacket depending on the cold, which isnt that bad this time of year.
 
You could leave more cord on it and make it adjustable. I think 1" nylon webbing with d-rings would be better yet. That way you could set it for wear on top of your parka, under your t-shirt, or whatever in between.
 
Any woods and I always carry a sturdy fixed blade with at least a 4" blade.
Even if you know the area etc you only have to slip and break an ankle and you may be on your own for at least a night !!!
 
Good deal Myal. Neccessity is the mother of invention. So did you ever change the pan, or just drive it like that 'till you got rid of it? :)

BTW, my edc knife is the one I have with me, so that would be my survival knife. If I knew I would be out, I would have something else also.
 
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