How do you carry your traditional knives?

[Pokerface]

For EDC, I carry my knives in a GEC pocket slip. If I'm trail running, they go in a pocket in my Osprey bag, and if I'm horseback riding, the knife goes in an Al Dodge leather sheath.

 

[dannyp]

I carry in my left front pocket with my phone and wallet. I do have a horizontal magazine carrier made by SHTF Gear. It would work just as well for a knife and there are a few different sizes to choose from. It can be put on or taken off without removing your belt, which is nice.

 

[Jack Black]

This topic comes up from time to time

Just a bit!

Ken (Harroneck), those sheaths look superb, nice work :thumbup:

I carry a knife in my watch pocket, most of my folders fit in there, but generally up to and including a #15. I often carry a second folder, that goes in a leather pocket slip in my right front pocket. If I carry a large folder, one of my clasp knives for example, it goes in a belt sheath. In the winter, if I'm wearing a longer coat, I might slip a folder into my right front coat pocket, something I can open with gloves on. Fixed blades either go on my belt, or if small, perhaps in my right front pocket, and I also have a special waistcoat pocket for them.

 

[Lemmy Caution]

Typically pocket carry 2-3 slip joints with me. A 4inch single blade (my dinner knife), 3.5 inch 2 blade jack or sometimes a medium stockman and a watch pocket sized knife (euther a peanut or pemberton or other pen knife). I've sewn a slim divider into the left front pocket of most if my jeans and put my dinner knife in there, my phone and space pen sit in the rest of the pocket. Right front gets my wallet and the mid size knife and the small knife goes in the watch pocket. I carry my keys on a hook that I attach to my belt loop, they rest in my back right pocket. Left back pocket gets hankie and black comb. That is all.

 

[5K Qs]

just measure by hand, mark, and use an awl to punch holes Just take your time mark a straight line lightly with a soft pencil and/or a chinagraph pencil .... (At this point if the leather is firm like the ones pictured from knives ship free you can you can run a 'trench' along the stitching line with a rounded piece of metal - shaped like the back of a sheepsfoot blade) hold a ruler along the line decide on what distance you want the stitches a part 3/16 is good... mark the position of each hole lightly with a sharp awl don't try to punch the hole right through at this stage as you are sure to go off the straight line. Once you have the holes marked discard the ruler and go to work with the awl. I usually go through with the awl from one side turn the work over and push it in from the other side too - just makes a neater job of it.
I use two darning needles - they are not really 'big' about 2 1/2 inches long and just a little thicker than a regular needle and they have a rounded point but with an eye big enough to get the thread through. One piece of waxed thread (Judging how much you need is a tad tricky but always allow a bit more than you think you need). A needle on either end of the thread and stitch back and forth.
I have never looked but I am sure there would be plenty on You Tube on how to go about it. I call it a "saddle stitch" but there are probably other names for it too. When you get to the end of the stitching line just stitch back 2 - 3 holes (so that point is double stitched) and trim the thread off flush with the work.
Head for You Tube and have some fun....:thumbup:

I am a rank beginner at leather work really - just self taught. I am sure there are other Dudes on here that can give you better advice.

Thanks a million, Brumby!:thumbup::thumbup:
You may not think it's very helpful, but the advice you gave here is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.
Now I just need to make some time and give it a try.
EXCELLENT; I'm currently one very happy wannabe knife slip maker. Thanks again, Brumby!

- GT

 

[5K Qs]

Thanks so much for all of the responses everyone! I've definitely have a few new ideas to try out!

As for everyone who told me to just make my own, I made a couple of attempts tonight! They are pretty much a joke compared to what I've seen posted in this thread but, I'm actually pretty happy with their functionality. I just did a very rough copy of the KSF Mainstreet design where you just pinch the sides to release the friction between the slip and knife. My lines aren't straight and my stitch work is horrible at best but, here are my two attempts:

First attempt is on the left and it actually has surprisingly good retention on all the traditional knives that I have, even held upside down and shaking the slip the knives don't budge free without pinching the sides. The second attempt, on the right, looks a little bit nicer to me and I tried a little bit harder to make the stitching look nice (still looks awful, haha) and it still holds the knife just fine even in the upside down position but won't stand up to the shake test as well as the first.







They may not be beautiful works of art but, they do serve the function that I was looking for and I'm glad to have made them! Laugh away if you like, I'm fully aware that they aren't anything fun to look at but, I really appreciate all the ideas and inspiration that led up to me deciding to try my hand at making my first two slip sheaths!

HOLY SMOKES, JBravo!! You just knocked those out last night??!? :thumbup::thumbup:
I think those are fabulous! I'll be on cloud nine if my first attempt at saddle stitching comes out even half as well as yours.
And, like you, I had decided that my first try would be a replica of the KSF pocket slip.
Unlike me, you don't sit on your butt planning and wondering and doubting, you just go ahead and GIVE IT A TRY!! :thumbup::thumbup:
Bravo, JBravo! I really admire your work and your attitude!

- GT

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Right front pocket, my Case peanut with my Fenix PD12UED light. Back pocket is my Case Tribal Spear. If I am so inclined, I might also put my Viper in my left back pocket, and my Charlow in my right front pocket with the light and peanut. If I'm feeling really foolish, I might put my Vic alox pioneer in my left front pocket. Usually, it's just the peanut and the Tribal Spear, or the Charlow and the Tribal Spear.

I don't like to carry big fixed blades, contrary to popular belief. I usually carry smallish fixed blades, 3.5" and under, on my hip. 3" and shorter, I carry in a Skookum style neck sheath, or just in my pocket.

 

[quattromori]

Till today, in myRFP. Sometimes they jump into my pockets without notice
Very soon I will get my GAW prize, a leather slip made by our own Evan, and I will give it a try

Fausto

 

[JBravo920]

HOLY SMOKES, JBravo!! You just knocked those out last night??!? :thumbup::thumbup:
I think those are fabulous! I'll be on cloud nine if my first attempt at saddle stitching comes out even half as well as yours.
And, like you, I had decided that my first try would be a replica of the KSF pocket slip.
Unlike me, you don't sit on your butt planning and wondering and doubting, you just go ahead and GIVE IT A TRY!! :thumbup::thumbup:
Bravo, JBravo! I really admire your work and your attitude!

- GT

Wow! Thanks for the kind words, GT! I posted them over in the Sheath and Such section like Ken told me to and I've already got a couple suggestions on how to clean up the edges and do a few other finishing touches. Compared to some of the beautiful leather posted in this thread, I don't think mine are quite up to par but, I am actually pretty proud of them! I carried one of them today and I really like it!

Right front pocket, my Case peanut with my Fenix PD12UED light. Back pocket is my Case Tribal Spear. If I am so inclined, I might also put my Viper in my left back pocket, and my Charlow in my right front pocket with the light and peanut. If I'm feeling really foolish, I might put my Vic alox pioneer in my left front pocket. Usually, it's just the peanut and the Tribal Spear, or the Charlow and the Tribal Spear.

I don't like to carry big fixed blades, contrary to popular belief. I usually carry smallish fixed blades, 3.5" and under, on my hip. 3" and shorter, I carry in a Skookum style neck sheath, or just in my pocket.

I was always worried about carrying the knife by itself in my back pocket, I guess I was just worried if it would hold up to the stress of my body weight and I just figured it would be super uncomfortable but, I carried one in the pocket slip in my rear pocket today and I hardly even noticed it was there! If I don't end up with a belt sheath like my original plan, since I've got all these new ideas, I think the back left pocket might just be my new traditional pocket!

Till today, in myRFP. Sometimes they jump into my pockets without notice
Very soon I will get my GAW prize, a leather slip made by our own Evan, and I will give it a try

Fausto

Congrats on winning the GAW! Post a picture here when it shows up, I'd love to see it!

 

[Easyrider]

I use a simple leather slip in my right front pocket.

:glee:

 

[5K Qs]

Wow! Thanks for the kind words, GT! I posted them over in the Sheath and Such section like Ken told me to and I've already got a couple suggestions on how to clean up the edges and do a few other finishing touches. Compared to some of the beautiful leather posted in this thread, I don't think mine are quite up to par but, I am actually pretty proud of them! I carried one of them today and I really like it!

You're welcome. Yeah, there are lots of "refinements" you can do, but as far as function goes, your initial attempts look to me like overwhelming successes, and you SHOULD be proud!

I was always worried about carrying the knife by itself in my back pocket, I guess I was just worried if it would hold up to the stress of my body weight and I just figured it would be super uncomfortable but, I carried one in the pocket slip in my rear pocket today and I hardly even noticed it was there! If I don't end up with a belt sheath like my original plan, since I've got all these new ideas, I think the back left pocket might just be my new traditional pocket!

For what it's worth, you could easily make your pocket slips into "belt sheaths" by cutting a couple of slits in the back. I did that with a "pocket slip" I made out of a chunk of the wrist strap of an old baseball glove I'm recycling:

I also have another "pocket slip" constructed out of a piece of the webbing of the ball glove, and I have a leather "lanyard" on it that I can run my belt through, and then the slip hangs vertically in my pocket (front or back) instead of just randomly sinking to the bottom of the pocket in whatever orientation it happens to land:

Kind of fun to think about various "improvements" to your set-up for carrying your knife (or knives)!

- GT

 

[Brumby53]

Good on you Mate I can see the improvement from number 1 to number two. :thumbup:
Keep it going... they are the sort of little projects you can have on the go all the time and it doesn't matter if you put it down and come back to it a week later. I often stitch away while I am having a beer before tea or after tea when watching the TV.

 

[JBravo920]

You're welcome. Yeah, there are lots of "refinements" you can do, but as far as function goes, your initial attempts look to me like overwhelming successes, and you SHOULD be proud!



For what it's worth, you could easily make your pocket slips into "belt sheaths" by cutting a couple of slits in the back. I did that with a "pocket slip" I made out of a chunk of the wrist strap of an old baseball glove I'm recycling:

I also have another "pocket slip" constructed out of a piece of the webbing of the ball glove, and I have a leather "lanyard" on it that I can run my belt through, and then the slip hangs vertically in my pocket (front or back) instead of just randomly sinking to the bottom of the pocket in whatever orientation it happens to land:

Kind of fun to think about various "improvements" to your set-up for carrying your knife (or knives)!

- GT

That's a great idea about cutting the slits in the back to make it fit on your belt! I kind of live by the 'Function over Form' way of life but, if I can make something more aesthetically pleasing with 15 or 20 minutes worth of work then I'll try my best to do that as well. As you said though, even if these are in their final form, the functionality is there and in the end that is all that matters!

I'm also definitely going to see if my parents still have any of my old baseball gloves in the attic next time I'm back in Tennessee! Those are both totally unique and very functional!

Good on you Mate I can see the improvement from number 1 to number two. :thumbup:
Keep it going... they are the sort of little projects you can have on the go all the time and it doesn't matter if you put it down and come back to it a week later. I often stitch away while I am having a beer before tea or after tea when watching the TV.

I appreciate the kind words! I find that I often need little projects to work on where the outcome isn't the end of the world. If it works just as planned then that's great, if it turns out horrible then I can just sit back and laugh. I made both of those while sitting on the couch watching TV last night, so I can definitely see this filling that role.

 

[harronek]

I think its great to see people making their own Slips and Sheaths :thumbup:
Creating your own personal gear and equipment of any kind is great medicine for the soul in my opinion .
Keep it up , and keep posting up your work .

Ken