horizontal carry??

I've been meaning to make a scout sheath (formed leather pouch rather than a strap) so I can try it myself, but my question to those who don't like it is "Do you think there's a possibility you're not giving yourself a chance to get used to it ?"

Having to look back to resheath it ? I can't see that being an issue because I usually find the mouth of the sheath with my fingers rather than my eyes, but maybe that's just different strokes...

As far as falling on it, I'm not sure how one would fare any worse than a normal vertical belt carry. If it's going to cut through the sheath, the point is in a much more benign position than digging into the side of your thigh. Having the handle against a 2" leather belt ought to give one some protection from bruising as well.
(In my case, I'm thinking of no more than a 5" blade)

Like I said though I haven't tried it myself yet, mostly because I also have a pack belt in the way. Daytrips are a camelback though, so no waist belt.

For those who do use one, do you prefer Kydex or leather for this carry ? Or does it make no difference ?


EDIT: good idea on the velcro, Stitchawl. Consider it stolen !:D:thumbup:
 
Left front horizontal carry for R hand draw. Easy to extract and resheath and stays out of the way when trail jogging/hiking.
Also I want to keep an eye on my knife - paranoia.
And finally I'd probably kidney poke myself w/ a small of the back carry.
 
Horizontal back carrying make me paranoid I will lose my knife without seeing.

Usually I like a baldric, drop leg or horizontal front carry.
 
Most of the knives that I bring in the field a carried horizontally on the belt. I also carry light in the summer because of the heat/humidity down here. When I wear a pack and use the waist belt, it goes below the knife so that it doesn't ride up towards my gut. I have also lashed the sheath to the waist belt. No muss, no fuss.
 
As already stated, to each their own. It has to be tried individually before you really know for yourself (body type, knife, use, etc).

Just some thoughts/comments:
I prefer sheaths with the option... When hiking light (ruck) or just leaving base camp I prefer horizontal carry for 5 in. or smaller blades, otherwise leg drop or on pack. I don't require low lumbar support when sitting so it's very comfortable, and it's not in the way of natural arm movement walking/maneuvering. (If you travel light or hunt by stalking these attributes become important.) I'm from the big woods and swamps of northern WI, and actually evolved to this carry because of the ease of movement through heavy tag elder, etc. If it's snagging for you, the placement isn't quite right or the knife is simply too big for this style. As for re-sheathing, I guess that just takes practice to get comfortable with (meaning I've never found it awkward or difficult). My knife hand usually rubs the sheath first, followed by the blade to the mouth, then inserted. (This is actually a smooth, continous controlled motion, perhaps hard for me to describe.) Looking isn't hard either, but my eyes are usually focused forward.

Hope that helps some.
 
Maybe you already know this, but the Vikings used to carry their large knife called the scramasax or seax horizontally at the waist behind the back. I think it would be just as practical today.
 
several cultureshave made use of the horizontal back carry. While I am no familiar with a specific group of norse/scandinavians doing so, it's entirely possible- remember that saying "viking" is nearly as broad a statement as saying "celtic" (which is not a synomyn for irish).

I AM familiar with the horizontal back carry in later european history. The front horizonatal carry makes much more sense, especially if you don't have a wasitpack or suspension pack or some such and doubly especially if you sit a lot.

I often worry about inadvertent desheathing, especially with pouch sheaths that cover less than 4/5 of the hanlde, but the shock cord trick alleviates that to a large degree. I've also considered experimenting with copper throat covers on the outsides of sheaths to keep the leather from loosening up over time.
 
Just to ammend my previous post:
When carrying horizontal behind the back, I always use a sheath with a retentrion device, NEVER a simple pouch sheath.
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
It's my understanding they carried it in front. :confused:

Andy
Click to expand...

Different sources seem to yield different results. Some say the knife was carried at the front, others say it was carried at the back. Perhaps it was much like today where they individually had their own preferences. I think for the most part, the knife was carried out front with the edge up. Viking or not, several northern cultures carried a version of the seax knife, so there could have been just as many different ways to carry them. Interesting subject though...
 
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