How to carry an ESEE-3 on a Duty Belt?

J

Jesse Jaymes

Joined
Feb 25, 2002
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30
I am in the market soon for an ESEE-3. Have an Izula, HEST, and a ESEE-4.

But I've wanted the simple 3 the longest. I am slating this one for my LEO duty belt. I want it there everyday, so I would like to rig it to my belt. But I am afraid my Blackhawk/Bianchi belt is going to be too thick for the included MOLLE clips.

Can anyone steer me in the right direction to get the soon-to-be purchase on my belt, which is approx. 1/4" thick?

I really don't want to wear it on my under belt and sandwich it between, as I will be using it regularly, and it's a PITA to re-sheath it that way without slicing a slab of back bacon off my side.

Thoughts?
 
The paracord belt loops are very secure. Put it on, knot it tight on the belt and it's g2g. If it's 2 1/4" or less, Tek-Lok.
 
Just my .02, I wouldn't want a fixed blade on my belt as an LEO. Unless you come up with some sort of retention holster for it.

Then again when I carried in security work, I only used level III retention holsters, always. I kept a folder in a sheath on my belt.

You wind up in a wrestling match with someone...if they grab a fixed blade, it's ready to go. That's my thinking on it.

At the least you wouldn't want it to come out if pulled up or to the rear. Depending on the profile, it's possible that a Kydex sheath could be made so that it would only release if the knife was pushed down and forward. That would be somewhat o.k..
 
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The 3MIL comes with a few options to carry. I carry mine in uniform everyday and the boot clip is fine on my riggers belt.

If you can wear the MOLLE back in uniform, it will be much more secure.
 
Jesse Jaymes said:
Can anyone steer me in the right direction to get the soon-to-be purchase on my belt, which is approx. 1/4" thick?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I would point you towards a custom sheath maker....they can make a sheath to your specs....to fit any size belt, the retention feature you need, color you want, at belt level, below belt level.......etc.

If you're gonna wear/use it everyday, you should have something that fits your needs, not settle for "something that works".
 
the Tek Loc seems like the simplest solution.

if this was for a "tactical" rig with a Safariland thigh holster the sheaths of the 3, 4 and i think the HEST will bolt to the thigh paddle. (haven't done this, but i've seen it done)
 
Tek Loc.
Bomb proof and comes with a locking mechanism you can lock it to your belt.
I never locked my mini tek loc...but it comes with it.

Carried my Izula over a year and even w/o it locked...it never came undone.
The handle was wrapped in black paracord then...to blend in with dark suits:
Izulaforsizepic.jpg
 
I sent a message to ESEE this morning asking the best way to do this. I haven't heard back yet and don't need to now that you posted this question. So, thanks for asking Jesse Jaymes. Now I just need to decide which knife to attach to the tek-lok.
 
My ESEE3 is bolted to my drop leg platform with my swat gear, normal patrol gear I would be way to nervouse to carry an open fixed blade!!! Way to easy to grab in a fight. Uniform I have a Mini socom in my pocket and a full size Socom on my belt.
If you want to carry on the belt I'd seriously consider having a sheath made that had at least a button snap of some sort
 
I was thinking a tek lok the way to go, but without seeing one, I don't have an idea how thick/wide the "gap" is between the two halves.

As far as easy access, straight blade, etc on a belt, I will not get into it with everyone. I just spent several days doing grappling, weapon retention, take aways, and several real-time scenarios.....If you are already that close to me where I need to worry about my blade, I am already dead. If you are not trying to get my gun from me and are going for my knife, I am already on my back and Deadly Force is already reasonable.

However, if I am on my back and I am struggling with weapon retention, I am locking your hand on top of my holster and the ESEE-3 is coming out from my non-gunside and finding it's way between your ribs and letting the air out of you...

We could go back and forth all day. But I've put time into the thought and the position of the blade, as well as the size I prefer. If you read my obit, then learn something and I was wrong. But pushing buttons for auto openers, or flicking blades, or whatever is not something I am looking to do when fine motor skills are non existant. I have other items on my belt that can come out easier and kill me just as fast....Taser, ASP, OC, whatever. But I will use the blade almost daily for mundane chores.

So Tek Lok??
 
Honest opinion. If you do not want it to come off or move positions on your belt, I would find the location you want it, punch some holes in the duty belt and bolt it on with Chicago screws and some loctite.

Tek-loks are great for convenience of on and off again but IMO lack the strength you would be looking for.
 
Snakedoc said:
Honest opinion. If you do not want it to come off or move positions on your belt, I would find the location you want it, punch some holes in the duty belt and bolt it on with Chicago screws and some loctite.

Tek-loks are great for convenience of on and off again but IMO lack the strength you would be looking for.
Click to expand...

That sounds like the best idea to me too. Probably cheaper also.
 
actually...chicago screws thru the duty belt DOES sound great. :)

yes, the full size tek-loc would work (imo)...but as I posted...I'd lock it with their locking mechanism....but if you are going to do that...yeah...bolting the sucker right to the belt is a great idea.
 
I'm currently carrying an Izula on my duty belt. I thought I had a pic of it mounted but I must have deleted it.
FYI, the new Tek-Loc's have a built-in lock that secures the actual clip.
eseemounts003-1.jpg
 
Jesse Jaymes -- I don't have any of the new Tek-Loks, but an older one on a Spyderco Bill Moran drop point sheath has a 1/4" opening. I went to Blade-Tech's website, and they only list the belt width that it accomodates, not the belt thickness.
 
According to my measurements, my full size Tek Lok will accommodate a belt approximately 2.25" wide and about 0.25" thick. I used to wear a pretty thick leather belt and the Tek Lok had no problem squeezing around it and locking up tight. In fact, the extra thickness helped it bite in and prevented it from sliding around.
 
have an early model here on my desk waiting for the knife to come i'm planning on mounting on it. it's .25" thick opening.

like the new versions and the built in adjuster.

the argument against putting a fixed blade on a duty belt may have some merit, but the Ka-Bar TDI is intended primarily for carry on a duty belt and to aid in defending against gun grabs. but the angled handle may make it harder for someone else to recognize as a knife and seems to make it easy to grab with the offside hand to cross over and stab or slash someone trying to grab your sidearm without stabbing yourself.

and pens sticking out of a uniform shirt pocket have also been known to be grabbed off an officer and used as a stabbing weapon, not a good idea to have those poking out of the pockets, or at least that''s what i've been told.
 
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