Knife NOT as important as it's "carry" system.....

killgar said:
The belt loop and retention strap have been incorporated in knife sheaths for a long time. I believe they work quite effectively for both secure belt retention and secure knife retention.

I'm thinking about the leather Marine Kabar sheath as an example. But many leather sheaths have solid belt loops the same width as the sheath rather than slots.

You can also get a kydex sheath with a solid loop, or attach a home made loop to a kydex sheath that is held together with screws or eyelets.
Click to expand...
For standard belt carry, I find the Kabar leather sheath as more than serviceable. I usually mount it at 3 o'clock when walking around the house.

Only weakness really is that you only really have one mounting option with it. Something like the Gerber Strongarm sheath system would be great for medium-sized blades.
 
I agree with the OP.

.....If you have a lot to say, space it out a little.

Run on posts are sure easier to read that way.
Thanks.
 
For all the reasons H HARDBALL says I prefer Appendix carry. Way more benefits. I worked out a system that works for me.

I machine stand off posts, that I call Knife Knobs™
They support the sheath (most kydx sheaths work) in a way that keeps the knife comfortably where you want it.

I've been carrying all sorts of knives like this for a few years now. :)

Here is a bushcraft knife the Becker BK 62

It's very convenient for use, and if I'm worried about people, or pets I can keep it on the table sleeved.



I made a bunch for my sheaths.


They are Very comfortable.
I often will fall asleep with them on.
Great for on the go, dog walking, driving, easily concealed if you are into that sort of thing.

I can carry the same set up all around my waist line, or in a Pocket. No belt is needed.

I'm really happy with them.
Let me know if you have any questions?
 
GPyro said:
I agree with the OP.

.....If you have a lot to say, space it out a little.

Run on posts are sure easier to read that way.
Thanks.
Click to expand...


Hi GPyro,

Sorry about that GPyro, it is a BAD habit of mine (and one I actually dislike when other's do the same). I've corrected.
HARDBALL
 
Making fixed blade with bad sheath is like making folder with useless wonky pocket clip.

LCl54v5.jpg


I recently made this Kephart sheath with approximitely five centimeters of strong friction pull, so even if it wiggles out half centimeter it wont fall out. :D Nothing is as depressing as leather sheath that spits out knife when you blink.
 
A.L. said:
Making fixed blade with bad sheath is like making folder with useless wonky pocket clip.


Nicely done A.L. !

HARDBALL
LCl54v5.jpg


I recently made this Kephart sheath with approximitely five centimeters of strong friction pull, so even if it wiggles out half centimeter it wont fall out. :D Nothing is as depressing as leather sheath that spits out knife when you blink.
Click to expand...
 
HARDBALL said:
Hi all,

Yep! This is the conclusion I have finally reached. I own a fair amount of both folding Knives and Fixed Blade Knifes. For this thread, I am referring to "Fixed Blade" Knives, especially those knives intended for use in Hunting/Bush Craft etc.

I have noticed over the years a disturbing trend with too many of the knives that I have purchased. While most every knife I've purchased is of very good quality, I find myself no longer carrying many of these Knives (on my Belt) basically for two reasons. Reason one is, the knife is just too large and tends to get in my way.

To remedy this, I now find myself purchasing smaller and smaller Knives over the year. That being said, my NUMERO UNO reason for my no longer carrying many of my Knives on my Belt is because (too often) the badly designed Sheaths. Now, the overall quality of many sheath appear to actually be quite good quality Leather/construction. The REAL issue with the Sheath is the "RETENTION" (or lack thereof) system.

A prime example, yesterday, I went for a little hike in my Woods and I decided to grab my "TOPS Lite Trekker Knife" (a very NICE knife) with it's (I believe) Kydex Sheath and it's "large" metal belt clip. I made sure that the Sheath's "Clip" was fully engaged on my (quality made/thick Leather Gun belt) before heading out into the Woods.

While in the Woods, I began gathering dead Wood/blow down branches etc. and began piling/constructing sort of a "Ground Blind" in one of my Hunting areas. As I bent down to pick up some more Branches, PING! Off pops the Sheath and Knife! SOB!

Lucky for me (this time) I was able to hear/see/felt the Knife as it fell off my Body. I dear say, had this happen in the Winter/Snow chances are, I would of never heard/known the Knife had fallen and I'd of lost a very nice Knife. So, I can add yet another "I CAN'T Trust carrying" Belt Knife heading for the Kit Bag. I also do NOT trust several of my Leather Sheaths that employ "Snaps" to hold the Sheath onto Belt.

In addition, too many Sheath (mostly Leather) do NOT retain the Knife in it's sheath, being waaay too easy to fall out of Sheath due to Gravity. Funny, of late, I feel most confident carrying my (INexpensive but lovely) "Wood Jewel Vuolu Little 8 Knife" as it's small size/weight keeps it out of my way. The "design" of it's Leather Sheath (with Plastic insert) SECURELY holds this knife in the sheath until one draws it out.

Of course nothing is perfect as the "dangler" style Leather Sheath of the "Wood Jewel" sort of requires (but not always) a "two Hand" operation to withdraw the knife, that is to say, one Hand holding the Sheath securely and one Hand withdrawing the Knife grasping with Handle. That being said, thus far, I have found this little Wood Jewel Vuolu 8 Knife "SYSTEM approach" to now be my carry preference. I would love to hear your experiences regarding Knife carry/retention stories (be it good or bad). Suggestions/recommendations welcome! Thanks.

HARDBALL
Click to expand...

For the TOPS Pasayten Lite Trekker, a simple fix for the factory sheath is to make a dangler with para cord around the clip. There a variety of ways you could do that would be very secure.

Drawing a knife on a dangler with one hand isn't a problem for me. Just pull until the slack is gone and it will come out.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
For all the reasons H HARDBALL says I prefer Appendix carry. Way more benefits. I worked out a system that works for me.

I machine stand off posts, that I call Knife Knobs™
They support the sheath (most kydx sheaths work) in a way that keeps the knife comfortably where you want it.

I've been carrying all sorts of knives like this for a few years now. :)

Here is a bushcraft knife the Becker BK 62

It's very convenient for use, and if I'm worried about people, or pets I can keep it on the table sleeved.



I made a bunch for my sheaths.


They are Very comfortable.
I often will fall asleep with them on.
Great for on the go, dog walking, driving, easily concealed if you are into that sort of thing.

I can carry the same set up all around my waist line, or in a Pocket. No belt is needed.

I'm really happy with them.
Let me know if you have any questions?
Click to expand...

This is a great idea!! My next knife will have something similar
 
HARDBALL said:
Suggestions/recommendations welcome! Thanks.
HARDBALL
Click to expand...

My reco is easy...buy a Bradford Guardian 3. Several blade shapes available. Great blade...OAL is 6 7/8".
Bradford GIVES you the crossdraw sheath, brown or black leather. It is a great sheath, holds the knife securely.
Never had a problem and I've carried a G3 crossdraw for perhaps four yrs now.
BTW...is you like those sheaths, they are ten bucks each. Great value, obviously.
I have owned custom sheaths at well over $100 that were not worth a darn.
'Nuff said.Bradford G3 M390.jpg
 
ill have to agree with the OP, if the sheath or carrying system royally sucks, it has scared me away from purchases altogether, though sometimes i can't help but want the knife, even though i know the company configured it for scout carry " #$&@! " i prefer my knives sheathed diagonally by my groin pelvis area, so i can sit, stand, be in a car, bend over, what have you without it ever being in the way. --- so after i decided I'm not returning it i tinker with the sheath and make it work for me somewhat or ill just throw my hands in the air and tuck it into my belt. but i do believe, and in MY opinion, the ratio is 60/40 in terms of importance, the knife being 60. because you can always make it work out for you if need be
 
The ESEE Kydex sheaths are pretty sweet when it comes to retention, but I wasn’t a fan of the belt clip that came with my ESEE 5. My solution was to get a leather backer and dangler from TKC. Not an EDC solution - but good for hiking/hunting/camping.

Oi86YBc.jpg


35phoUn.jpg


2N1FDr2.jpg
 
Sonnydaze said:
My reco is easy...buy a Bradford Guardian 3. Several blade shapes available. Great blade...OAL is 6 7/8".
Bradford GIVES you the crossdraw sheath, brown or black leather. It is a great sheath, holds the knife securely.
Never had a problem and I've carried a G3 crossdraw for perhaps four yrs now.
BTW...is you like those sheaths, they are ten bucks each. Great value, obviously.
I have owned custom sheaths at well over $100 that were not worth a darn.
'Nuff said.View attachment 1550367
Click to expand...

Hi Sonny,

LOL, Man you must be Psychic! Only last night, I was searching for a possible alternative (a little larger/longer handle Knife) to my (early circa 2007) Custom "Nick Rossi" EDC. I finally came across (had completely forgot about) the Bradford Guardian 3 which I had researched as a possible purchase years earlier. I'll have to add the Bradford Guardian 3 to my "want list" lol. Thanks for the recommendation. Ooh, and thanks Sonny for the "Heads up" on the Sheaths!

HARDBALL
 
Hi JOE,

Per Sonny's post about the "Guardian" as well as your recommendation, I just finished writing/contacting BRADFORD inquiring about Leather Sheaths for a few of my Knives. I mentioned (Sheaths aside) that "one day" I'll own a GUARDIAN 3 ! Thanks JOE.

HARDBALL
 
I just ordered kydex for my Benchmade Puuko and Bushcrafter-----nice knives but the factory sheathes --no so much

This is my first try at getting custom kydex--so we'll see how it goes.

I have a couple knives with decent factory plastic sheathes---the Gerber LMF, K-bar and Buck GCK come to mind- even the cheap Buck Mesa sheath is pretty good.
 
I use either a Tek-Lok, soft loops, or a deep-carry clip for IWB depending on the knife. That helps but you still need a good sheath. In my experience, lots of otherwise decent fixed blades come with questionable or outright bad sheaths. The solution is to get a good custom sheath made.

A few months back, I got a sheath from RK Custom Kydex for my Mora Companion. I was blown away by the difference it made. The Companion went from a knife that I might occasionally bring camping to one that I could actually carry in regular life. (It's still not the most discrete carry but it actually sees a little "EDC" time now.) They keep a regular stock of sheaths for popular knives but for other models, you can always send your knife in for a custom fit. As we get closer to summer, I'll be sending a couple.
 
I'm mostly about clips; for sure on the folder.
I made my sheaths for I'm mostly a warnie dude and I needed the sheaths to be more or less universal.
For fixed, I often decide as I'm at the door what I'm leaving with so a horizontal or vertical clip on is easy to just grab and well, clip on. Not like I'm going to go around running with them or anything and the vertical I can go inside the waistband.
I also made one for the belt if I need something more secure.
The retention on the sheaths is all friction.
Don't let the carry method hold you back, just make your own.

IMG_0390.jpg
I forgot to mention that those three sheaths service about eight different knives that I use in rotation/need.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top