Fixed blade in pocket, is it a bad idea ?

[Juha Perttula]

This is my 100 years old puukko which has lost its sheath, and I made this traditional birch bark blade cover for it.


Then I noticed that it perfectly fits in the small pocket of my trousers.

Now I consider that is it a good idea to carry a knife in this pocket. Is there any serious safety issue ?

 

[cbach8tw]

I think a good leather slip sheath, if it fits and good thickness would make front pocket carry ok, or get a horizontal sheath.

 

[herisson]

Carrying a fixed blade in a jeans pocket requires a very safe sheath. I would go with kydex, nothing less. Carrying in the penny pocket (like you do) is a sure way to loose the knife and stuffing it in the main pocket with that birch bark sheath is a sure way to stab your groin, sooner or later. If you go "all traditional", you should also carry it "traditional". How did people carry those knives with those sheathes ?

 

[cbach8tw]

Very nice knife, kydex is also a good idea. Good question, how were they traditionally carried? I also have a smaller puuko that needs a sheath, so this thread got me thinking the best way to carry it.

 

[Juha Perttula]

Carrying a fixed blade in a jeans pocket requires a very safe sheath. I would go with kydex, nothing less. Carrying in the penny pocket (like you do) is a sure way to loose the knife and stuffing it in the main pocket with that birch bark sheath is a sure way to stab your groin, sooner or later. If you go "all traditional", you should also carry it "traditional". How did people carry those knives with those sheathes ?

In old times black smith made puukkos and somebody else made the seaths often it was the customer himself. For that reason many old puukkos had very poor sheaths. I have heard that puukkos with simple bladecover were carried in backback or in boot. The latter, I think, was risky.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I don't think I would go with a bark sheath, but carrying in the watch pocket is fine, imho. I sometimes carry a small knife in such a way. It's a bit shorter than what you have there, but it's the same idea.

I carry mine in a leather sheath I made myself. It's a quasi custom job. The back of the sheath has been shaped to fit the contour of the pocket, the front of the sheath and the welt fit around the blade shape. This keeps the knife from wiggling around.
I do triple stitch the leather for safety. I also popped a rivet at the bottom just in case the handle gets jammed so hard that it pushed the tip of the blade through the welt to keep it from continuing south.

 

[Juha Perttula]

Very nice knife, kydex is also a good idea. Good question, how were they traditionally carried? I also have a smaller puuko that needs a sheath, so this thread got me thinking the best way to carry it.

Small puukkos are often carried in pocket, but it is not necessarily a very traditional way because medieval or old clothing did not had pockets. Backpack or boot carry is more traditional. Small puukkos for pocket carry are called "taskupuukko". Google search for "taskupuukko" gives pictures of many nice specimens.

 

[cbach8tw]

Thanks.

 

[The Shatz]

I carry front pocket all the time pick up a clipped leather sheath made for it joufuu sells great ones

 

[herisson]

Small puukkos are often carried in pocket, but it is not necessarily a very traditional way because medieval or old clothing did not had pockets. Backpack or boot carry is more traditional. Small puukkos for pocket carry are called "taskupuukko". Google search for "taskupuukko" gives pictures of many nice specimens.

That's what I thought... Ample clothes make a difference : I wear wide carpenter trousers and I can carry many fixed blades in my pocket (not to mention my backpack, of course ). Jeans trousers are "tight" : be aware that when you jump, crouch, or whatever, the tip of the knife can jam and pierce the sheath. Pocket carrying in a jacket (like an army jacket) is way safer. You have also the option of breast pocket, waist pocket, inner pocket or button carry (clue : the old Moras). Adding a button slit to any belt loop is an easy job. And by the way, I like a lot your heirloom Puukko. Very nice knife ! I would polish it up to brand new but I understand the "colour of the past" stuff.

 

[Richard S.]

I routinely Carry a decent sized fixed blade in my back pocket. It rides in the leather sheath that came with the knife. Many miles walked, hills climbed, jumping in creeks/rivers, and it has yet to stab me.

Odd.

I think you’ll be fine carrying the knife like that for daily carry. Unless your daily life consists of doing moonsaults off of the top rope, lol.

 

[herisson]

Nothing odd here. Backpocket... the knife can only stab your butt, if ever. I do the back pocket carry stuff, too. I just don't like it because it flexes the knife when I sit. It's not an EDC carry style that I favour because I sit a lot. I prefer front carry and therefore... a very solid sheath for front pocket or "in waist band" carry. The "button shirt carry" is really something to consider, though. I found out this to be a very practical carry style.

 

[GatorFlash1]

Bad idea, better on belt with a good sheath. For discrete carry don't tuck your shirt in, or wear it inside your pants.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

This is my 100 years old puukko which has lost its sheath, and I made this traditional birch bark blade cover for it.
View attachment 984925

Then I noticed that it perfectly fits in the small pocket of my trousers.
View attachment 984926
Now I consider that is it a good idea to carry a knife in this pocket. Is there any serious safety issue ?

There may be legal issues if that is considered concealed. Don't do that in California.

 

[mtngunr]

This is my 100 years old puukko which has lost its sheath, and I made this traditional birch bark blade cover for it.
View attachment 984925

Then I noticed that it perfectly fits in the small pocket of my trousers.
View attachment 984926
Now I consider that is it a good idea to carry a knife in this pocket. Is there any serious safety issue ?

So long as either/or impossible to be stabbed no matter how you personally get folded in an accident or fall, and/or impossible for knife to punch through sheath during same misadventure, pocket carry is great, IF it can be done with all day comfort, whether, sitting, standing, jogging, whatever normal activity ranges...
The birchbark surely better than leather as for knife cutting or punching through sheath...
Very nice little rig you have, and great old puukko.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't think I would like front pocket carry in a pair of pants, unless the pants are very loose. The knife is just in the way when I bend or swat. Back pocket works okay for a small fixed blade but I feel that I have to remove it when I sit down. So, that doesn't really work for me either (but I've done it). I prefer cross draw belt sheaths for an edc fixed blade.

 

[ty_higg]

I carry one in a leather sheath everyday and I have yet to have it ever slide out in any way or felt I needed kydex. A good leather sheath that's built properly will give you no problems. And I carry in my front right pocket.

 

[cbrstar]

I would check your local laws. Where I live it has to be on your belt and in plain view or its can be considered a conceled weapon. But we have ultra strict rules here.

 

[Juha Perttula]

I would check your local laws. Where I live it has to be on your belt and in plain view or its can be considered a conceled weapon. But we have ultra strict rules here.

I live in Finland and we can freely carry knives as long as the purpose is not to use the knife as a weapon. In practice it means that we should not go into bar with a knife and drink heavily. Open carry in public places may disturb other people; therefore, pocket carry is often preferred in Finland.

 

[Old Biker]

I wouldn't carry it the way you pictured, because the way I work, I'm pretty sure I would loose it in short order. I would build a sheath similar to this for it, and carry it clipped in the corner of one of my front pockets. This one is a left pocket sheath, because my knife takes less of a beating on the left side, than it would on the right.

O.B.