ESEE 4, Horizontal Carry, Front

CaptnAmerca

CaptnAmerca

Joined
Oct 29, 2021
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23
Hello. First post ever. First higher quality, fixed blade knife ever. Appreciate any advice for a total noob here.

I have an ESEE 4 with the Krydex sheath that came with it, and the MOLLE back. I like the hard draw out of the sheath for safety, but I hate the angle from the back or dangling from the side.

I think I'd prefer a cross draw, with the knife held horizontal on the front of my belt.

I'm having difficulty articulating this in an internet search, though.

So, I ask for some advice from actual humans, with a lot of experience. How do I get from point A (a knife, a krydex sheath, and a belt) to point B (knife mounted to my belt in the front left quadrant of my torso)?
 
You could do something like what is posted in this old thread. Otherwise, you'll likely need to purchase some sort of attachment/accessory to hold the sheath in place how you want. A tek lok should work.

ESEE 4 cross draw

I orderd my ESEE 4 and it shipped today. Is there any way to set up the stock sheath for cross draw? Or do I have to get one made? Thanks
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Thanks. I saw that thread, but the pictures weren't what I was thinking. That's more of a 45 degree angle, I'm thinking something closer to running parallel with the belt.
Never heard of Tek Lok, but it looks interesting. Will research further. Thanks for the lead.
 
Get an Armatus sheath and an extra soft loop strap. Run it horizontal at about ten o'clock and see how that does for you. (search Armatus kydex.)
 
Good suggestions. Thank you.

I think I'll get a Tek-Lok and an Armatus and see which I like. The Armatus looks like good quality, and what I picture in my head. The Tek-Lok is cheap enough that I'll find something for it even if I like the Armatus better.

And yes, if all else fails, zipties and paracord are always an option!
 
As others have mentioned, there are a number of ways to mount Kydex for horizontal carry.

I have two preferred fixed-blade carry orientations. Horizontal 11:30 (as you have referenced), and IWB Vertical at 8:00

I like simple and effective; and a short piece of paracord ran through the Kydex eyelets, such that it creates two loops for a belt (horizontal or vertical orientation), is about as simple as it gets. When not in use, lays flat and out of the way. This is typically my first method of testing a new knife for carry/use. Many times I leave the paracord attached, even after adding a clip of some type as the paracord provides easy simple reconfiguration options.
Also, straps with snaps work well, but I have found to be a little less secure. Straps & snaps I typically use with horizontal leather sheaths (won't attach pic's as you requested specifically Kydex solutions).

I have found over the years that the Spyderco G-Clip works well for my uses. Below pic shows a few knives in both orientations mentioned above.

Pic-1:
1) ESEE-6 Horizontal 11:30 using two G-Clips. I find the weight and length of the 6 works better with two clips distributing the load.
When I carry my ESEE-4 or 3 in this manner, I find that one G-Clip is sufficent.
2) Brous SSR-V2 Horizontal 11:30 with metal Brous Clip.
3) Spyderco Swick-3 Horizontal 11:30
4) ESEE-4 IWB Vertical at 8:00 with Spyderco G-Clip.

Pic-2 (NOTE: Belt thru paracord)
Spyderco Swick still has paracord loops on back-side for Vertical 8:00 orientation left-hand RGEO draw.
ESEE-4 still has paracord loops on back-side for Horizontal 11:30 orientation left-hand RGEO draw or right-hand FGEO.

Horizontal 11:30 draws with right-hand into FGEO (Forward-Grip-Edge-Out), or with left-hand into RGEO (Reverse-Grip-Edge-Out).

IWB Vertical at 8:00 draws into RGEO, but could be turned around. This configuration works for both IWB (Inside-the-Waist-Band - Concealed), and/or just Inside-The-Belt (non-concealed carry based on legal jurisdictions). I typically also carry a folder for daily use applications where using a fixed is not socially prudent.

Hope something here useful to you.
Regards,

IMG_20211102_185805-720Wide.jpg

IMG_20211102_194535-720Wide.jpg


EDIT: I just laced up an ESEE-3 sheath w/ gutted-550 cord to show how I get 11:30 Horizontal Outside-The-Belt and also 8:00 Vertical Inside-The-Belt (note the overlay blue lines illustrating vertical IWB or OWB carry belt position). Nylon web belts w/ clam-locking buckles work well for this type carry, as they thread fairly easily btwn cord and sheath material.

ESEE-3 Corded-720Wide.jpg
 
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I carry some of my knives on cross draw and I have used the soft loop.. One of my sheaths is leather with leather straps, but for most of them the soft pull the dot loops work for me.. I can take it off if needed by popping the straps snap and pulling the knife along with sheath off
 

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Spey said:
As others have mentioned, there are a number of ways to mount Kydex for horizontal carry.

I have two preferred fixed-blade carry orientations. Horizontal 11:30 (as you have referenced), and IWB Vertical at 8:00

I like simple and effective; and a short piece of paracord ran through the Kydex eyelets, such that it creates two loops for a belt (horizontal or vertical orientation), is about as simple as it gets. When not in use, lays flat and out of the way. This is typically my first method of testing a new knife for carry/use. Many times I leave the paracord attached, even after adding a clip of some type as the paracord provides easy simple reconfiguration options.
Also, straps with snaps work well, but I have found to be a little less secure. Straps & snaps I typically use with horizontal leather sheaths (won't attach pic's as you requested specifically Kydex solutions).

I have found over the years that the Spyderco G-Clip works well for my uses. Below pic shows a few knives in both orientations mentioned above.....
Click to expand...

Wow. That is above and beyond. Thank you very much for all the detail (with pics! Amazing!)

Your very first pic is what I had in mind. I've been thinking of ordering a Tek Lok, but the G-Clips look functional also. The paracord sounded like it would slip around too much, but seeing the pic makes it seem like it might work, maybe straddling a belt loop.

This has given me some good starting points. Thanks.
 
junglefighter said:
I carry some of my knives on cross draw and I have used the soft loop.. One of my sheaths is leather with leather straps, but for most of them the soft pull the dot loops work for me.. I can take it off if needed by popping the straps snap and pulling the knife along with sheath off
Click to expand...

I ordered some Condor nylon mod straps for a setup like this. Not sure if it will work with the Kydex sheath, but it might. Or I'll have some mod straps for other purposes.

Or I'll try a leather sheath!

I appreciate all the ideas. I'm totally new to this and it's hard to convey mental pictures, but you all seem to know what I mean. It's pretty great.
 
CaptnAmerca said:
I ordered some Condor nylon mod straps for a setup like this. Not sure if it will work with the Kydex sheath, but it might. Or I'll have some mod straps for other purposes.

Or I'll try a leather sheath!

I appreciate all the ideas. I'm totally new to this and it's hard to convey mental pictures, but you all seem to know what I mean. It's pretty great.
Click to expand...
Just by looking at the kydex sheath and the condor straps, I personally don't think they will secure your sheath very well.. That is why I use the rubber pull the dot straps because you can configure the secure snap strap backing to go through the eyelets of the sheath holes and run it around from the back to the snap in the front. This allows for quick release of the sheath without having to pull the belt through the loops.. I can configure my 7.5 inch bladed customs this way when I want and can drop the sheath along with the knife just by pulling the button
 
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