Horizontal-carry

WayLander

WayLander

Joined
Sep 9, 2002
Messages
224
Hello friends. I've got a question for ya's... I've heard mention of "horizontal-carry" for large fixed blades here and there on the forums. I have a 15" bowie that I carry when camping, but it hangs really low off the belt. I'm only 5'8". How do you rig a blade for this "horizontal-carry"? I found a picture on the net of a sheath that looks like it's built exactly the same way, with a high belt-loop and a cord off the point. Any tips?

TIA.
(P.S. My bowie's a great knife, not the silly plaything in the picture, it's just that it's the closest sheath I could find.)

WayLander

g217ls.JPG
 
due to the fact that I've got long legs and a short torso. My two options are the drop leg sheath, or the crossdraw which I wear in one of two ways. One position is an angled crossdraw where the belt loop is worn traditionally, but in the front of the torso. Then a loop is made of the leg tie and brought up to the belt to secure it at an angle. The handle can be worn to either side of the buckle.

The other is to strap the sheath straight to the belt, right across the belly. This may be unwieldy in close quarters, but is rather handy in situations when you're seated.
 
C-mon people! I'm not very bright. I need detailed descriptions, I need specific advice, I need pictures!. What does a poor man use to side/horizontally mount a large blade to a belt? Velcro straps? Leather strips? How do I do it so that I can use the out-house? Etc. Help me out here!
 
I love horizontal sheaths above all others, but the sad fact is that there's a length limit beyond which it stops being practical. I doubt you will find any way to carry a knife that big horizontally that will really work. An angled-cross draw is probably the closest you could come. Really big blades just take up more room than the human waist provides.

Best of luck!

--Bob Q
 
Mike Sastr's Southern Comfort sheath :D
sbbsi.jpg

It just slides in between your belt and body.
I guess you could call it a floating system, therefore you need a lengthy blade to keep it in place. Works great outdoors, not so great on the couch ;)

Edited to include:
I thought that the "pin" that keeps the sheath from sliding down was visible in this pic
:o

Trust me it's on the other side.
:footinmou
 
even if the bowie is 15" overall, I doubt it would make an easy horizontal carry.
I think it's simply too big to be carried horizontally at the back or at the front, unless you got a sizable waist line.
I think as long as the belt loop let the blade drop down, it would do fine.
 
Hello Waylander,
I'd agree that a knife with a 15 inch overall length is alot to carry horizontaly. My question to you is, does the sheath provided with the knife, have a very long belt loop, 3-4 inches? This might causes the knife to hang to low for you, and flop around. You could raise the knife up that 3-4 inches, on your belt, and it might be enough to keep it out of your way. To build a High-Ride sheath, you will need to cut away the old stiching, and open up the sheath. Bend the belt loop down the back of the sheath as far as it will go, and stich it down to the back of the sheath. Then restich the sheath back togeather. Now your knife will ride right at your belt, and not flop down. This may work for you if the knife handle, which is now 3-4 inches higher does not get in your way. To see some examples of this style of high-ride sheath vist, www.sunrisecustomknives.com and look under the "Leather Sheath" section. I wish you good luck with your project.
Best Regards,
Jay Maines
 
I make my own kydex sheaths and one of my favorite carry methods for large knives like you describe is horizontal. It keeps them out of the way yet easily accessible. As long as the belt loop is custom fit to the belt so as to make the knife sit tightly, this works very well.
 
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