How do you carry a fixed-blade in the woods?

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
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Or along the same lines, what's your favorite sheath style?

I've got that Busse Anorexic Badger on order, and then I need to get a sheath made for it.

I typically carry a pistol on my right-hand side, and have the knife on my left-hand side.

I have been using an Entrek Companion in a left-hand sheath. I like the drop of it, but it's not perfect. I've been carrying my Patton Field Unit in a right-hand sheath, on my left-side. I didn't plan it that way when I bought it, but it's actually working out pretty good. I'm thinking I might look for a sheath like this for the AB -- reverse-grip, left-hand, maybe canted forward slightly so I can access it with my right-hand too in a pinch.

Here's the knife I've been experimenting with:

FU-1.jpg

FU-2.jpg

FU-3.jpg


Not quite sure how that will work with the AB though -- maybe the blade is too short for this style sheath?

Anorexic%20badger.jpg
 
Mostly in a daypack or backpack, unless I'm using it around camp or when we have a critter down. (We can't (legally) carry handguns in Canada, unfortunately, but that's a whole different topic AND DON'T GET ME STARTED). About the handiest sheath I've found though is a Concealex sheath from Normark, easy to put on and take off a belt, and very accessible when you are using it. Normark could whip something up perfect for your Badger or Entrek that fits IWB or out. Nice taste in blades, BTW.:)
 
Busse advised AGAINST Kydex, as it could scratch the satin finish.

I fell in love with this "Field Unit" when I saw it at the Denver PKA show in '01. It really serves no useful purpose for me -- the 5" blade is just too darned big, but I'm still really drawn to it. It just looks so good, and feels so good in my hand.

Mike
 
For the woods I prefer the conventional vertical style belt sheath. I like the popular horizontal kydex sheaths for urban carry but in the woods they tend to get caught on vegetation in my experience.
 
Kydex is the way to go...

eric does a nice rear cant with his g-clip style of attatchment, setting the handle close enough to vertial without jabbing your ribs if you need to bend to that side, and close enough to hori than you can slide it farther back around to grab with left hand.

carried my (spyderco)fb03 lum tanto for a while like that, right hip... right now I'm putting up with the factory fb05 temperance sheath, until I finish talking with the boss(who chose the week after pay day to take a holiday) and then ship to eric for a new sheath.
 
Originally posted by VampyreWolf
Kydex is the way to go...

eric does a nice rear cant with his g-clip style of attatchment, setting the handle close enough to vertial without jabbing your ribs if you need to bend to that side, and close enough to hori than you can slide it farther back around to grab with left hand.
Click to expand...

Huh, REAR cant never occurred to me. Definitely something to consider. Glad I posted.

Mike
 
Don't forget the good old belt pouch sheath style. For very quick access and resheathing that style has to be one of the best. The sheath has to be nicely made of course, but thats the thing - its the easiest sheath style to make and I'll bet a leatherworker could make you a pretty darn good looking piece for less dosh than any other style. On a pouch sheath, the mouth is the width of the handle , so dropping the knife back in and giving it a shove into position is a lot easier and quicker than the scabbard snapped style, where the slot is the width of the blade.

Kydex is more secure for sure, but somethimes the noise factor, the scrathing of the finish, and the sterile coldness of syn thetic doesn't go for many people (uncluding me).

In short - the pouch sheath, get a crossdraw 45degree canted one, you can wear this XDraw or in the appendix position. for lots of drawing-resheathing, get leather, for lots of carry, occasional use, get Kydex.
 
i use only leather that covers 80% of the handle, kinda like most scramaseax do...i find its great protection for the knife plus its readily available, maybe as more so that others but thats me :).
 
First kydex does not scratch the blade it's the dirt in the sheath that does it. Clean out the sheath occasionally. As for sheaths I prefer the typical scandinavian type where the sheath covers at least 50% of the handle and the belt loop is on a swivel.
 
No surprise here. I carry Doris in her Dozier Wilderness Style Sheath. This sheath rides nice and low, so it doesn’t jab in my gut, yet I still get the Kydex advantage. And if I want, I can strap the sheath to my leg for extra security. The side unlocking tab makes for a smooth easy draw. This is the best sheath system I’ve used. Bob might even make this sheath for other knives if asked nicely.

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My Marbles Fieldcraft rides in leather vertical pouch sheath. As long as the knife sits deep in the pouch, security seems to be very good.
 
A verticle belt sheath in kydex/concealex is what has worked best for me. Normark does outstanding work.

Paul
 
Fällkniven F 1 in a kydex sheath from Normark works best for me.
I have tried several "positions" with this rig and found that vertical works best for me.
F 1 and sheath
Bo
 
For a fixed blade up to 5" I carry it in a deep sheath in my front pocket, attached to a belt loop with a lanyard for security. This method is very comfortable and convenient. Anything larger gets slung across my chest to hang under my armpit. Belt carry gets in the way of other gear too much for my tastes.
 
Originally posted by numberthree
I carry it in a deep sheath in my front pocket, attached to a belt loop with a lanyard for security.
Click to expand...

Sounds dangerous. I've heard horror stories about falling on a knife sheathed in leather and getting cut.

Mike
 
Originally posted by The Porcupine
Fällkniven F 1 in a kydex sheath
Click to expand...

Looks great, but I find most kydex sheaths ride too high for my taste. I have to raise my elbow above my shoulder to sheath / unsheath them, and the knife winds up jabbing me in the ribs when sheathed.

Mike
 
Since all of my fixed blades are configured as neck knives I will say neck sheaths.

But since I have the ability to make any style sheath I want I still choose neck sheaths :)

If I had to choose a belt sheath then my favorite style is Right handed, horizontal, butt rear and on my belt just to the front of my right pocket before the first belt loop. I have a few sheaths like this but rarely carry them.

I used to like the open top dangle/hinged sheath like Fallkniven uses but they can be a pain to sit down with.
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
Looks great, but I find most kydex sheaths ride too high for my taste. I have to raise my elbow above my shoulder to sheath / unsheath them, and the knife winds up jabbing me in the ribs when sheathed.

Mike
Click to expand...
I had the same problem! If the sheath has a Tek-Lok, wearing the knife diagonally on the belt helps a little. I really like the drop-leg kydex rig Okuden made for a 6" knife of mine (~11" OAL). The pommel of the knife is just below the top of my belt. The knife rides on the side of my hip. Because the drop is relatively short and made of stiff scuba webbing, I don't need a thigh strap to keep it from flopping around too much. No problems drawing it, either. The lack of a thigh strap also lets me kneel, crouch, climb, and run without the sheath imparing my movement. Knife remains perpendicular to my belt, but my leg can move forward and back freely. I wear a rigger's belt with this sheath, and the sheath interfaces so well with it that they're like one rigid structure. I need to borrow a digicam to takes some pics . . .
 
I was having problems with most sheaths being too high ride for my taste and aside from poking me in the ribs whenever I bent or crouched down, they were difficult to sheath/resheath. Alot of my time in the woods is kneeling or sitting making things, so to have a sheath that cants backwards or jabs in the ribs, or requires 3 hands to resheath is a big problem.

My remedy was to have Chris Kravitt at Tree Stump Leather make me a cross draw leather sheath. It's not only the highest quality imaginable, but it solved every one of my problems. Now my knife can ride on my left hip out of the way, but at the same time is right there where I need it, at the right angle, easy to sheath and never gets in the was when sitting or crouching.

The other remedy is to have Survival Sheath Systems make a shoulder rig, so the knife is carried under the arm.

-Jared
www.geocities.com/placeknives/index.html
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
Looks great, but I find most kydex sheaths ride too high for my taste. I have to raise my elbow above my shoulder to sheath / unsheath them, and the knife winds up jabbing me in the ribs when sheathed.

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,
That was my initial feeling too when I started using this rig. Mind you, my ribs are very well hidden:), but I still felt it and wondered if I'd ever get used to it.
I did and really like this setup now.
Going through "position testing" I also tried horisontal carry and it's very comfty. Unfortunately it never really worked for me, since I carry the F 1 as an EDC most of the time and it shows a bit too much (horisontal carry) under the shirt on this fat guy!
Hopefully I'll get a small neck knife very soon!

That said, the Badger actually deserves a nice leather sheath!:)

Bo
(edited because of failing short term memory!)
 
A well made pouch sheath is most popular and there are numerous designs to pick from. You can very the belt loop to hang high or low. For safety reasons you can cover all but an inch a bit of the handle. It has to be a tight fit and a good leatherworker knows how to do that. The sheath must be moulded to the knife and only the best vegetable tanned leather will do. Why worry about scratches to a using knife?
 
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