Getting into the boot knife game.

waynemanning74

waynemanning74

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So I recently went back to the big show working as a union carpenter I'm 51 and figured I'd finish my career with a pension and annuity. That being said I now have to wear a tool belt all day every day as opposed to having my own company and typically just wearing a tape measure holder and screw pouch which allowed me to carry a fixed blade full time. It gets to be a pain taking a sheath off and on for lunch before after and any other time as they don't work well with a tool belt. I carried my esee 3 for awhile with 2 sheaths one for my tool belt one for not but again just a pain.
I now carry a folder Gerber 06 to be specific but miss a fixed blade. SO!!!
I went on a search for something not to big not to small there are plenty of new options but I felt I wanted it to be old skool cool. I was going to get a western as I've owned one before and liked it but wasn't in love with it.
Last night I found what I think will fill the bill should be here next week.
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I also picked up a different sheath not sure how much I'll love the original.
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I got a pretty good deal from what I've seen they sell for. I paid 107$ shipped for the dagger and 26$ for the sheath.
Bill Cheatham typically used 440c or ATS34 steel from what I can find online either will be fine there doesn't seem to be any info on what he used for these knives. He made a single and double edge version mines the single which I much prefer. I'll probably cord wrap the handle but am already considering making removable scales for it.
I guess time will tell if I like and can carry it on my boot. I wear an 8" lace up wedge sole boot so plenty of upper to clip it to.
If this works out I'm sure I'll be looking for recommendations on other knives to carry this way.
I still plan to carry my folder as well as alox farmer so I guess I'll be a 3 knife kinda guy now😂😂🤣🤣
 
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That is a nice one! I went through a boot knife phase in my late teens. I had a bunch of different ones. Most were Smoky Mountain Knife Works or similar cheapie ones. I had fun carrying them. Felt like I was cool because not many carried them that I knew of at the time. I used a bunch of them for throwing knives too!

Now you got me searching them out again!
 
Mr. Tettnanger said:
That is a nice one! I went through a boot knife phase in my late teens. I had a bunch of different ones. Most were Smoky Mountain Knife Works or similar cheapie ones. I had fun carrying them. Felt like I was cool because not many carried them that I knew of at the time. I used a bunch of them for throwing knives too!

Now you got me searching them out again!
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I'll gladly enable as you know lol.
 
What kind of boots do you intend to wear? In my experience, the lighter and more compact the knife the more likely you are to actually carry it on a regular basis once the novelty wears off. The more thought you have to put into dealing with it the less you'll end up carrying it. I tried carrying the CRKT version of the AG Russell Sting but it was heavy and I got tired of fiddling around with leg straps.

I had David Mary David Mary make two knives for me with kydex sheaths (see the bottom two):
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Here's how I prefer to carry them with ulticlips, nice and secure:

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I've switched one set of boots to a Cold Steel Mini Pendleton with a custom kydex sheath and a pull-the-dot strap. It's a lighter package and the knife is perfectly serviceable.

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I like carrying a fixed blade but it's not always possible for me in certain work/social climates, so I've discovered this is a convenient work around. I don't have any illusions of fighting off a squad of ninjas with it, it's a tool that I like to keep handy in case I forget or lose my folder.

I like that Cheatham knife you posted, looks like a skeletonized Sgian Dubh.

*Edit to add: I've tried sheaths like the extra one you ordered and ditched them pretty fast. In each case the clips were too smooth, such that the sheath would slip out along with the knife when I tried to draw it. I switched to the fasteners I showed above to hold fast and ensure that only the knife came out.
 

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I wear Whites like these
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oldmanwilly oldmanwilly The knife I posted above should be pretty lightweight I considered that on my search. Planning to cord wrap the handle.
I'm planning to try outside the boot carry strong side so right leg but I'm sure can loosen the laces and carry weak side inside leg so for me left leg inside.
The knife I purchased above is it seems to be a pretty light little knife.
It'll take, I'm sure getting used to I'm the kinda guy that's willing to put on the effort to get used to it and plan to carry permanently if I can.
I love your boots by the way.
I'm not in to that sheath for much and I've modified them before so may add a clip like your recommending once I get it.
I as well have no ideas that I'll be fighting off anything with my boot knife. I just miss having a fixed blade on me and as I said above it's a pain with a tool belt so after some thinking figured this is a perfect solution.
 
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waynemanning74 said:
I wear Whites like these
View attachment 3087482
oldmanwilly oldmanwilly The knife I posted above should be pretty lightweight I considered that on my search. Planning to cord wrap the handle.
I'm planning to try outside the boot carry strong side so right leg but I'm sure can loosen the laces and carry weak side inside leg so for me left leg inside.
The knife I purchased above is it seems to be a pretty light little knife.
It'll take, I'm sure getting used to I'm the kinda guy that's willing to put on the effort to get used to it and plan to carry permanently if I can.
I love your boots by the way.
I'm not in to that sheath for much and I've modified them before so may add a clip like your recommending once I get it.
I as well have no ideas that I'll be fighting off anything with my boot knife. I just miss having a fixed blade on me and as I said above it's a pain with a tool belt so after some thinking figured this is a perfect solution.
Click to expand...

Very nice! I hope you follow up with this thread and give updates on what works for you. I'm always looking for new ideas.

I haven't tried carrying outside of my boots before, I'm curious to find how much you like it.

Good luck, any reason to get a new knife or two is good enough!
 
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oldmanwilly said:
Very nice! I hope you follow up with this thread and give updates on what works for you. I'll always looking for new ideas.

I haven't tried carrying outside of my boots before, I'm curious to find how much you like it.

Good luck, any reason to get a new knife or two is good enough!
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I'll definitely share my journey here. Thank you for the good words check back to join in on the adventure😁.
Knife should be here next week with the weather and I'll start posting how things go.
 
Acutereference said:
A little pain with laced boors, but can be done.
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I'm almost thinking outside boot carry with maybe a simple nylon strap with a cinch buckle as extra security to hold it in place. There's gonna be experimentation on what works and is simple to use I'm pretty handy though and can even operate a sewing machine so I'll figure something out. I live in West Virginia so total concealment isn't of any concern to me as there are no regulations on knife carry.
 
I'd switch around:

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