How can I make horizontal carry work?

ThinkOfTheChildren

ThinkOfTheChildren

Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
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I have tried horizontal carry with a couple of my small fixed blades in the past. The problem is, I can never get it to really work without printing (this is for concealed carry).
When I try the sides of my body the handle and tip both stick out too much.
When I try the front of my body my belt buckle gets in the way.
I don't really like carrying at my back because I don't know if I'm printing and bending over most certainly reveals my knife.
So what am I doing wrong? Where is the ideal spot for horizontal carry? It just seems problematic since a knife is straight and my body is round. The knife goes off on a tangent to my body causing printing.
 
I think it depends on the type of knife, your body type, and style of dress. I wore my applegate-fiarbairn folder horizontally for a while and really liked it. i usually put it just behind my right hip. I liked it, and my shirt tails tended to cover it pretty nicely. The elastic gave out on the sheath after only a few months though. :( Now I usually use pocket clips. They work better for me.
--Josh
 
The shorter the blade, the less printing you'll experience in horizonal carry while trying to conceal. Have you tried a canted inside-the-waistband approach? It's not quite horizontal, but depending on how deep the cant, you might find it a good compromise.

I too favor a behind-the-hip positioning. You do have to be careful about making sure your outer clothing is loose enough, but with part of the knife (or pistol -- I carry my handgun in this fashion too) tucked inside the waistband, you've got a better chance of keeping it all under wraps.
 
I prefer horizontal carry for a small knife, but I have a small waist, and it just doesn't work well with knives much over 7 1/2" OAL. The Camillus Talon is a hair over that, and as big as I can go without the knife getting in the way. Conceals well even under a t-shirt.
My ideal spot is just to the left of the first belt loop left of the belt buckle. This does put the end of the handle over the belt buckle sometimes, but I just push it back to my left when I have to undo the belt. Horizontal carry should work well for just about anyone, IMO, but to carry concealed like this, you need a waist that is small in proportion to your upper body (small waist limits the knife's OAL for comfortable carry, though).

IWB canted, and behind the strong side hip, may work better for you. I can carry my BM Nimravus or Busse Basic 5 that way without any discomfort-using Eric Noeldechen's On/Scene tactical rigs. Carry the Nimravus like that on the job, frequently, and never even know it's there until I need it.
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel/
 
TOTC,

Forget all of the horizontal carry BS for a fixed-blade knife, and get yourself a good Kydex/Concealex IWB sheath. That's the only way to go for concealment (in MY opinion, anyway)...:). Besides, with horizontal carry, it is too hard to access the knife with either hand, where in "verticle" carry, it is easier.
 
Dann,
We posted at the same time, so I just saw yours.
Have to point out that carrying cross-draw horizontal, I can draw the knife with either hand easily. Being a righty, the knife is on my left side, and can be drawn left-handed in the reverse grip as quickly if not more quickly than right-handed.
When I carry IWB behind the hip, I can't get to it left-handed without some serious contortions:)
 
Well I carry a Running Dog knife horizontaly.It goes in the front just to the left of the beltbuckle.Now this knife is only 7 3/4 inches so that may have something to due with the fact that it hides nice for me.Now I don't try to hide it I carry it open most of the time the only time its hidden is if I happen to wear a sweatshirt or fleece(not likely for awhile I hope,right now its shorts no shoes or shirt,but 2 knives:D )

Try a smaller knife or looser clothes.I don't think many people will notice or know what a little lump under your shirt is anyway.One of the great things about everyone carring pagers phones ect.

I'm with Owen horizontal cross draw is very fast and for either hand.
How hard is it to touch your belt buckle with each hand? Now try to touch your right hip with either hand.
 
I think the easiest solution here is to increase the size of your waistline as much as possible. Size enables much more concealment.
 
I carry a Boyer tanto horizontal in front sometimes and to solve the problem of it interfering with my belt buckle,I pull the buckle as far to the left as possible thereby leaving room for the knife.
 
Yah, after some thought, and some "mind-play", it DOES look-like horizontal carry does allow a draw from either hand. I was just thinking about which way the handle was pointing, and that "up and down" seemed to be more "neutral", as I have not-yet tried "horizontal carry".

See...I guess I'm NOT too old to learn!.:).
 
Hey Guys..

Thanks Much Owen....

Carrying horizontal isn't a problem with the right kind of rig, depending on the size of the knife...

I carry almost exclusively horizontal in the BBC (Belt Buckle Carry) right up to a Busse Basic 5, although it is far to big to carry concealed.To carry a larger knife up front is however useful in the outdoors or when concealment isn't an issue.

With the right kind of knife, there shouldn't be a problem...
Someone brought up the Cuda Talon as a knife to carry horizontal...

The Cuda Talon with the right sheath, pouch style, eyelets down one side Only,,nice and slim with the Tek Lok striped off and a dedicated horizontal loop replacing it is a Perfect knife to carry in this fashion.

In the case of Concealment,,the sheath and design of it is Far more important than the type of knife, as the sheath will make the knife carry close to the body, slim and Extremely flat.. These things are all important when it comes to concealment. A larger T-shirt or Sweatshirt will for sure cover it's whereabouts.

I prefer and make my horizontal sheaths for personal use to hang slightly tip up during BBC.. I don't like to carry Any kind of knife off to the side of my body, as it put the handle of the knife directly into the hands of a possible attacker....

This all came about as friends would snatch the knife from me as a joke. Repositioning the knife directly in front, handle slightly downward put me into a position to protect my knife much better than if it was off to the side. Besides,,No one as a joke is going to reach down there in fear of being put Immediately under "Homo Suspicion" :)

For a man protecting ones privates is a natural reaction and most of us have at least once, during a fight or rough housing have been booted in the Gonads,, so any movement towards this area,,instinct tells us to block or protect this part of the body, so when a knife is there naturally you have more control over it.

Same thing goes for SOB (Small of Back).. IWB SOB is fine because it is slightly more hidden and protected than Horizontal carry outside of the pants in the SOB... You have Absolutely No control what so ever in this position.. Someone could snatch the knife from you Very easily. I don't reccomend outside SOB carry at all...

If done properly with the right knife/sheath combo Horizontal is a Great way to carry your blade, probably my Favorite carry mode Bar None...

Hope that helps guys..

ttyle

Eric....
 
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