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

I'll get pics of my kydex that eric made for the fb03 tanto... with the cant, the handle sits so the guards are on the same level as the belt, very easy draw for either hand.

it's a sleeper too, good tension on it. Just push your thumb on the spine side as you draw.
 
I definitely prefer something that leaves a good chunk of the handle exposed.

I like to be able to grab it and go -- with a lot of deep pouch sheaths, I have to pull the knife 1/2 way out, then shift my grip, or pull it out by the 1" that's exposed and still shift my grip.

:(

I really like out-and-in to the sheath very quickly and one-handed.

Mike
 
then kydex from eric...

the fb03 sheath uses the guards to lock on to it... press on spine side to get out, press towards bottom(edge) guard to replace. takes me no time at all to get it out. already a full grip by the time it's out, as my thumb follows the guard as it passes.
 
As you can see, I've been trying to figure out this perfect knife / sheath combo for a while!

Fixed-1.jpg


Mike
 
Looks like I'm going to go with a slightly-dropped "pouch" style. I don't know if I'll have it MADE slightly canted, or just wear it that way.

"right hand" sheath carried on the left-hand side (blade forward).

It may not be "jump rated", but I suspect I can get one that won't fall out on it's own if I slide down a ravine or whatever.

I think I need to get my AD sheath repaired or replaced. The knife just falls out if you hold the sheath upside down.

Mike
 
Mike,

That is a nice looking Patton you have. I am guessing the blade is about 5-6" long?

Anyway, about the sheath carry - I favor shorter blades with a horizontal cross draw. You can sit, squat, walk, run, etc. and hardly know the knife is there if it is 6oz or less. Plus your arms do not brush by the knife and outer garments will not hang up on it. My current favorite carry combo is a Dozier Yukon Pro Skinner with a horizontal kydex sheath. Lots of handle exposed, yet secure. Easy one hand deployment and re-sheathing.

Larger knives I carry lashed to a pack.
 
Originally posted by Geode
Mike,

That is a nice looking Patton you have. I am guessing the blade is about 5-6" long?

Anyway, about the sheath carry - I favor shorter blades with a horizontal cross draw. You can sit, squat, walk, run, etc. and hardly know the knife is there if it is 6oz or less. Plus your arms do not brush by the knife and outer garments will not hang up on it. My current favorite carry combo is a Dozier Yukon Pro Skinner with a horizontal kydex sheath. Lots of handle exposed, yet secure. Easy one hand deployment and re-sheathing.

Larger knives I carry lashed to a pack.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Patton "Field Unit" is about a 5" blade. Sort of smaller "mini-bowie".

When you say smaller knives -- what size are you talking about? I sort of have it in my head that I need a 4" blade, but I guess I don't know where I came up with that number...

Mike
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
As you can see, I've been trying to figure out this perfect knife / sheath combo for a while!

Fixed-1.jpg


Mike
Click to expand...

Judging by the beautiful knives and sheaths in your photo,......You're obsessed with perfection. <grin>:p
 
Originally posted by ichor
Judging by the beautiful knives and sheaths in your photo,......You're obsessed with perfection. <grin>:p
Click to expand...

that and i'm wondering if he wears them all at once for different occasions j/k :D :D :D
 
Question, I never had a kydex sheath, how does it compare to leather and nylon as far as "noiseness" goes? Know I never liked anything nylon in the woods because of the noise factor and consider this as one valid criteria for rating a hunting sheath, just wondering where kydex rates in that regard.
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
Sounds dangerous. I've heard horror stories about falling on a knife sheathed in leather and getting cut.

Mike
Click to expand...

I don't do this unless the sheath will withstand a fall. My main fixed blade that I wear like this is a Mora2000 which has a hard plastic sheath. My other main pocket fixed blade is a Brusletto Balder with a leather sheath that is very rigid and wet molded to the handle, making it nearly impossible for the knife to be forced lower in the sheath. With the knife properly carried in this position, it would be difficult to fall in such a manner as to cause it to harm you... I've hurt myself far worse by falling on a knife on my belt and getting the guard right in the hip...
 
Originally posted by numberthree
..... My main fixed blade that I wear like this is a Mora2000 which has a hard plastic sheath.
Click to expand...

This is also one of my favorites. The strength of the sheath, and the configuration of the knife and sheath, make it hard to imagine that the knive could ever cut through the sheath in a fall. Unless you fell off a 100 ft. cliff and then it might not matter.
 
Deacon> The only thing with kydex, as compared to say a leather sheath, is that rather than a retaining strap and snap, you have tension holing it in. As such it'll click as it gets released, until it gets worn in.

My fb03 sheath from eric still has a small amount of sound on release. been working on it since late march.

fb05 is factory, 3 weeks in now, really noisy right now

c28 ss dragonfly neck sheath, is quiet on the draw, little noise on the replace if you just push it in. rotate it in and there's NO sound. Been working on it since january.
 
My woods knife is a Gerber Yari (no serrations, I never slice bread in the woods), stuffed into a Nighthawk deluxe 'jump approved' sheath. It's not the military look of the sheath i like so much, but rather the various ways of configuring it for carry. I've got mine adjusted to ride rather high on my off side. The pouch contains my big schrade multi-tool.

Yeah, the sheath has a heavy plastic liner of some sort, that is what makes it 'jump approved' (In case I fall,take a spill, have a treestand incident, I like the idea of not getting stabbed), so it can scratch up the blade if the knife/sheath is dirty. But what the heck, it's my woods knife.

shots
 
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