How to prevent losing a pocket knife

[rmcook1314]

Hey Gents,

I recently lost a benchmade that slipped out of my pocket while I was hunting. I have a Spyderco para 3 in the mail to replace it but I’m nervous about losing it in a similar manner. I am a wildland firefighter and spend a lot of my time working in thick brush. Twigs and branches are constantly snagging my clothes and trying to rip stuff out of my pockets.

I’m wondering if anybody has come up with a creative solution to this problem? Hopefully something better than tying paracord to my belt and to the knife. I was thinking about using some sort of magnetic lanyard like what’d you’d see on a fishing net. Or just using a small coiled lanyard that stretches when I need to use the knife and retracts when it’s in my pocket. Curious to see what you guys have come up.

Thanks

 

[GIRLYmann]

thank you for your service!
nothing like a simple sheath.
prefer sheathless?
not a real problem.
there are times when a combination
of stitch and self adnesive velcro strips
keeps it secure at a preferred
carry position (wherever that may be)
and that's in or out of sight.

adhesives works best on metal surfaces
but of course how well self adhesive tapes work dpends entirely on the
"flatness of the surface area"
on the handle/scales.
also take into consideration
the after effects of what the glue
might do to ruin the surface finishing
on synthetic materials in the long run .
you might even use magnets.
glued on to a strip of fabric
get a bunch of flat tiny micro magnets.and use really steong glue.
(you might have to glue and
let it set befoore proceeding with the next magnet as in one a time)
once the glued magnets are set
you need to try out
the magnetic set up
check if its able to hold
the weight of a said bladed object.
lastly its time to, sew on that strip
of magnet fabric
carefully stitch on
into position of choice.
(with magnets enclosed facing inwards)
double stitch with slightly thicker
than usual thread for strength.
and yes, the needle might be attracted
by the magnets.

 

[bdmicarta]

I was thinking of a lanyard with loop in the end of it, and a clip on your belt that the loop would slip through. The clip could be tight, similar in shape to the clip on the knife and would offer some resistance to the lanyard pulling out. But if you want to use the knife, pull it out of your pocket then pull the loop off the belt clip and use it. The lanyard/carabiner would work well too, a friction clip would be a little bit quicker/easier but a little bit less secure in the extreme.

 

[Jsega51]

I’ve never lost a knife…

Bad juju saying that! I’ll be praying for your knives

 

[Murphjd25]

Bad juju saying that! I’ll be praying for your knives

Haha you just had too!!

 

[P.C.E.]

View attachment 1622281

That is hands down one of the best shows ever made.

 

[000Robert]

Don't show your knives to people. The main way I have lost knives, as well as other things, is from people stealing them.

 

[Boombats]

you need better friends homey

 

[jmarston]

Not a wildfire fighter but when I worked in forestry, I would put the knife right in the pocket and stuff a hankercheif down on top. Never came out bashing through the bush.

 

[tiguy7]

I like to use an open top sheath with a knife retained by a push pin lanyard. The lanyard can also work on a clipped knife. The knife can be released quickly from the lanyard when using it. The paracord can be tucked into your pants if the pucker brush is thick.View attachment 1622359

 

[DangerZone98]

I'm afraid this is just "tying paracord to a belt loop," but in terms of function, it does work.

You just need paracord of your choice and a carabiner (plus scissors and a lighter for the paracord). As long as the carabiner is secure and the belt loop doesn't break, I can't imagine losing the knife. Then you can easily unclip the carabiner in case you need more mobility. I'd be careful of the paracord catching on stuff like table edges though.

 

[scdub]

I couldn’t help but note that you lost a Benchmade and are replacing it with a Spyderco. Sounds like you turned that challenge into an opportunity! I say bend any loose clips so that they’re nice and tight and keep on trucking as usual. If you lose your Spyderco in a few years you can replace it with something new and different. If you’re a full-time professional fire-fighter, you could probably afford to lose a knife every few weeks and be A-Ok. Just my 2 cents.

 

[The Grendels]

I lost one beloved and not forgotten knife while training, when the issue pouch it was in was ripped off my webbing, while crashing through heavy brush. It was a nice brass and wood handled Buck folder, with a heavy crosscut saw that was great for a lot of tasks.

The next one I wore was a Spyderco on a long loop of paracord, around my neck and under my combat shirt. The paracord was never exposed to become a strangling hazard and I never lost my knife, no matter what kind of brush I was thundering through. It was also far enough down (in front of my sternum) so it wouldn't be popping out of the my shirt if I bent over. Good for a small folder that is rust resistant.

In the bush, I either have a knife stowed inside a secure pouch, inside a pack, or add one extra point of contact to my belt/pack to keep it from becoming a memory.

 

[Mossyhorn]

I find that a rough out suede knife slip will make the knife stay in your pocket.

 

[jfk1110]

You could also have a kydex 1\3 length sheath made and wear it.on your neck with some ball chain!

Linos Kydex Sheath for Ontario Rat 1 Knife w/ Neck Cord - Blade HQ

Versatile Kydex neck sheath fit for the Ontario RAT 1! Get yours today!

www.bladehq.com

Kinda like what I posted in the above link!!!

 

[jfk1110]

Or get one of these!!

 

[not2sharp]

…..In the bush, I either have a knife stowed inside a secure pouch, inside a pack, or add one extra point of contact to my belt/pack to keep it from becoming a memory.

This is the ticket. Never use a pocket clip in an environment where the knife can be snagged by brush. The same goes with a lanyard, I have only used one when I am on water. Just put the knife in a secure pocket. If you feel the need to tactically “deploy” a knife in the woods, go with a fixed blade.


N2s

 

[ElementalBreakdown]

Jfk, I got one of those for simple outdoor garden stuff, it's awesome. Name worn off mine, you know who makes a good version?

Be CAREFUL WITH GLUE AND MAGNETS, I have tried all sorts of adhesives, and the plating they use on good N52 rare earth magnets, or some other factor, makes 99% of the adhesives I've tried fail within a few months.

 

[000Robert]

you need better friends homey

LMAO! Yeah, I didn't mean friends. A real friend wouldn't steal from me.

 

[Fir Na Tine]

Did the last 4 years of wildland firefighter myself in California during the last few years during the worst stuff on record. I have helped others with this situation who have also lost knives to the brush. I have also designed a knife for wildland firefighters that I am working on getting made.
Questions…
1 do you have cargo pockets?
2 what kind of pack and model are you using? I use Mystery Ranch Shift +900 and one of the best ways to secure a knife was inside a zipped pocket but not convenient but that may not work depending on the pack you use and the type of zippers they have.
Where are you a firefighter?
Do you come across barbed wire at all in your work? I may have a solution for that for you.

 

[DavidABQ]

How to not lose a pocket knife? I believe that if you leave the knife in its original packaging, place it in an ammo can and lock it in a gunsafe and never take it back out then the odds of you losing it are pretty low.