Newbie to the idea of a small fixed blade for pocket carry - your thoughts please!

I think a small fixed blade is very handy. I've tried pocket carry over the years with various sheaths, a square wider bottom seems to orient the knife better in the pocket.

My favorite method is horizontal belt carry, very low profile. No juggling with the sheath :) nor does it take up any pocket space.
 
I've given serious thought to carrying this River Traders coureur de bois knife as an EDC. Blade 3.25". Might go better with a flat-profile sheath, however, instead of the trade-knife-style sheath I have for it.

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Pokerface, good thoughts - thank you. I'm drooling … over the City Knife and the cup of Starbucks. ;)

Brownshoe, you made me do a little searching to see what the original Loveless version looked like - sweet!

Jerry, it looks like the consensus is for the sheath you describe - squarish, wider bottom. Makes sense to me - thanks. Never thought about horizontal belt carry … I'll have to give that some thought!

AreBeeBee, nice looking knife and sheath. :thumbup:
 
coyote711 said:
Pokerface, good thoughts - thank you. I'm drooling … over the City Knife and the cup of Starbucks. ;)

Brownshoe, you made me do a little searching to see what the original Loveless version looked like - sweet!

Jerry, it looks like the consensus is for the sheath you describe - squarish, wider bottom. Makes sense to me - thanks. Never thought about horizontal belt carry … I'll have to give that some thought!

AreBeeBee, nice looking knife and sheath. :thumbup:
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Keith, yes wider at the bottom like a pocket holster for a revolver. The issue with smaller knives is they're not long enough to stay upright in the pocket without some help. Another trick I've used on larger knives is attaching a lanyard with a bead. It takes some experimentation to get the lanyard length right, but a bead hanging out of the pocket is sometimes enough to keep the knife and sheath upright.
 
JB in SC said:
Keith, yes wider at the bottom like a pocket holster for a revolver. The issue with smaller knives is they're not long enough to stay upright in the pocket without some help. Another trick I've used on larger knives is attaching a lanyard with a bead. It takes some experimentation to get the lanyard length right, but a bead hanging out of the pocket is sometimes enough to keep the knife and sheath upright.
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Thanks again, Jerry! I can see how a lanyard with a bead might work - never would've thought of it myself. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. :)
 
This is a great pocket carry. The Esquire from Fiddleback Forge, sheath by BF member Bonafide.
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I often carry a small fixed blade in a pocket sheath and there are lots of good production and custom options out there. Among my favorite production models are the BRKT Mini Canadian, BRKT Little Creek, BRKT Essential, BRKT Bravo Necker, Fallkniven WM1 and AG Russell Woodswalker. Lots of custom makers here on the forum make some great small fixers.

Here is a Backwoods Back Pocket from Bill Akers in a leather pocket sheath.
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Here is a Fallkniven WM1 in a leather pocket sheath.
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Just to add to the already great little knives and ideas here, here's some of mine.
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Real quick, bottom to top; Jerry Halfrich "Jack Russell", Eldon Talley "City Knife", Don Cowles x2, Burt Foster "Dark Side", Bud Nealy "Little David". Everyone of them can be carried in a KSF Pocono pocket sheath. I normally use a clip pocket sheath though, it allows me to put other stuff in my RFP and makes it very easy to access and sheath the knife. Strangely enough, where I live in New York State there is no law prohibiting me from this kind of carry.The Foster was ordered with a belt sheath but it easily fits in my pocket also.
 
Gary, that sheath with the pocket clip; is that custom made? I'm trying to find a production made one like that but haven't had any luck yet. I found one similar for a pocket folder, but nothing for a fixed.
 
Bob that looks like a Don Cowles sheath, Gary will fill you in on the unique retention method :)
 
I'm probably an outlier so you should ignore my ramblings and just get a small fixed blade and try it and see how it goes. It's like comparing tastes in beers or shoes - way beyond mere YMMV territory.

For me and just for me... I find 4" blades to be something of a cut off. North of 4", I prefer a fixed blade. South of 4", I prefer a folder.

Fixed blades have the advantages of not-folding, being stiffer and easier to clean. But, they're harder to carry and they scare people. Even when backpacking where I can easily carry a smaller fixed blade in my pack, in the sub 4" blade range, I can't think of a use for the knife that really demands the advantages of a fixed blade - so all there is for me is downside. The fixed blade is heavier and harder to carry.

I took a small hike this am. Used my Mora Companion to carve up a quick feather stick to see if I could get it to take fire (practice makes permanent). But really, my Opinel #9 is easier to carry and does everything the companion will do (that I'm going to do) short of battoning wood.

Again, YMMV.
 
BigBiscuit said:
Gary, that sheath with the pocket clip; is that custom made? I'm trying to find a production made one like that but haven't had any luck yet. I found one similar for a pocket folder, but nothing for a fixed.
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JB in SC said:
Bob that looks like a Don Cowles sheath, Gary will fill you in on the unique retention method :)
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Jerry's right, Bob. That sheath was made by Don Cowles for the wood handled knife. He uses a rare earth magnet, which you can see as a rounded spot in the leather under the clip. It keeps the knife secure in the sheath. I don't know if he makes sheathes for use with others knives.
The sheath at the top was made by Paul Long for the Halfrich. It too uses a clip. Paul does really great work and he's a BF member craftsman.
I'm not really sure how "traditional" the pocket clipped sheathes are, but they are all leather and the knives sure meet the definition.
I don't think I've seen a production sheath, with a clip, for fixed blades.
 
I carry this knife quite often - back pocket next to my wallet - when I pull on the lanyard the sheath gets caught under the corner bar tack and the blade comes out clean leaving the sheath in my pocket.

I prefer this style sheath as opposed to square ones because it takes up way less real estate in the pocket. I don't know if I could pocket carry a fixed blade with handle slabs -- too thick.

Though I can legally carry this pocket blade in GA, peoples eyes still bug out of their heads when I pull it out (I see much larger folders clipped to a lot of guys pockets).

IMO a pocket fixed blade is more useful than a slip joint, but it doesn't have the same intangible qualities.



Might I suggest an ESEE "Izula" (unless you were planning a custom). I loved mine until I forgot that I had left it in my bag and it was taken by the TSA.



Get or make a little leather slip for it and you'll be good to go!
 
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I've really enjoyed carrying one of these:
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In one of these:
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A very affordable and packable combo!
 
Peregrin said:
Jerry's right, Bob. That sheath was made by Don Cowles for the wood handled knife. He uses a rare earth magnet, which you can see as a rounded spot in the leather under the clip. It keeps the knife secure in the sheath. I don't know if he makes sheathes for use with others knives.
The sheath at the top was made by Paul Long for the Halfrich. It too uses a clip. Paul does really great work and he's a BF member craftsman.
I'm not really sure how "traditional" the pocket clipped sheathes are, but they are all leather and the knives sure meet the definition.
I don't think I've seen a production sheath, with a clip, for fixed blades.
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Thanks Gary. I didn't want to go ordering a custom just in case I didn't like the way it carries. I'll probably just give the KSF Pocono a try first.
 
Thanks to all since my last post! I'll not try to respond to each one individually, but you've all given me much food for thought, and for that I thank you! :thumbup:
 
I think what I'm going to try is to use my KSF Pocket Slip with my Little Creek for a while. If that works out, I'll order the KSF Pocono.
It fits the pocket slip pretty well.


 
Good idea, Bob - I've got one of those around here someplace, so I'll give it a try when my knife gets here. :thumbup:
 
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I occasionally do the pocket carry of a fixed blade. One problem is I sold off all my good carry small fixed blades. I've got one left, but need to make a new sheath for pocket carry. I like a low riding clip sheath.
 
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