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

[knarfeng]

i'd say the capucine is a modern traditional just like the opinel.

I was referring to post 42 and talk of the Chive.

 

[Whetstone39]

I am loving my experiment with carrying a small fixed blade in a pocket sheath, and I especially like the Adirondack sheath from KSF because of the secondary slot for a folder/flashlight/etc. Haven't been doing this for very long, but I am enamored with having a stout fixed blade handy all the time.

I carry it in my right front pocket with nothing else, my cell phone and wallet in my left. With jeans and cargo shorts/pants it orients perfectly, and I can access either knife easily and efficiently. I am not yet confident I can replace the fixed blade in the pocket sheath without removing it from my pocket, at least not without damaging said pocket or my skin .

I am looking forward to having a BFC sheath maker create a horizontal sheath so I can attach it to a belt, but am still researching local laws to determine the legality of it. A few of my favorite pairings below.

 

[coyote711]

Beautiful pictures of beautiful knives, Tom! I like being able to see all your City Knives (so far ) in one place! I also appreciate hearing your thoughts on carrying a small fixed blade, how you carry it, the sheaths, etc. :thumbup:

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I've really enjoyed carrying one of these:

In one of these:

A very affordable and packable combo!

What model is that? I need one!

I love small knives, but most of them are three finger, for me, basically two finger because I have ham hocks for hands. I do like to carry my Gossman PSK when working outside, or hiking, or my Gossman one off small Kephart or UNK. I liked the BRKT PSK but it was too small, I have been eyeing up the City Knife.

Scott Gossman made Skookum style neck sheaths for all of my small fixed blades, and they are quite comfortable in the pocket too. I am thinking of getting him to make one for my Hackman Tapio Wirkalla. I don't know if my first sheath attempt should be a Skookum style.

 

[J_Curd]

That's a GEC H20 Drop Point in green Micarta and 1095. Sub $50 and a dandy knife. It's identical in size to a paring knife, and I can get four fingers on the handle (I have wide hands).

 

[JB in SC]

Tom, those are some nice combinations :thumbup:

 

[Whetstone39]

Beautiful pictures of beautiful knives, Tom! I like being able to see all your City Knives (so far ) in one place! I also appreciate hearing your thoughts on carrying a small fixed blade, how you carry it, the sheaths, etc. :thumbup:

Thanks Keith, it has been a process but this works as a great carry option for me. I guess we wouldn't need folding knives at all if belt worn fixed blades were legal everywhere, but where would be the fun in that?

Tom, those are some nice combinations :thumbup:

Thanks Jerry!

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I really think that if you need something like a tough lock blade knife, you really aught to be using a fixed blade.

You might look in this thread too: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...pocketable-fixed-blade-knives?highlight=fixed

Childress makes some cool pocketable knives around here.
Puukko's can be pretty small too.

 

[black mamba]

If I chose to carry a smaller fixed blade, it would definitely be in a horizontal belt sheath. By far the most comfortable and practical method for me.

 

[coyote711]

Thanks for the link, Woodrow - good stuff there. :thumbup:

 

[HFinn]

The sheath is not yet quite finished, but usable. This is to show that a small puukko is also a handy pocket fixed blade.

 

[HFinn]

The sheath is not yet quite finished, but usable. This is to show that a small puukko is also a handy pocket fixed blade.

Ok, lets try again.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

I'm definitely warming up to the idea of small fixed blade carry but I'm wondering exactly what this thread is composed of. How people carry it/manage their fixed blades/how it'll ride in pocket or if I would rather use it on a IWB carry. Bark River is definitely calling my name though.

T

 

[BigBiscuit]

I'm definitely warming up to the idea of small fixed blade carry but I'm wondering exactly what this thread is composed of. How people carry it/manage their fixed blades/how it'll ride in pocket or if I would rather use it on a IWB carry. Bark River is definitely calling my name though.

T

It's more or less discussing the various methods of carrying a small pocketable fixed blade. I ordered the KSF Pocono sheath for pocket carry. It has one sleeve for your small fixie and another for a small folder or flashlight or whatever fits your needs.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

Those sheaths look perfect for pocket carry. Now just to find out the specific laws for my part of town. Let's just avoid Boston at best.

 

[The_KaramVit]

Likes: Fixed blades are easier to clean than folding knives and have no lock to fail.
Dislikes: The largest fixed blade i can carry in my pocket will have only a 2" blade. This leaves much to be desired in the self-defense department. For late-night adventures, a large fixed blade is preferred.

Thoughts: The sheath is most critical. If you cannot find a sheath that works, you will not carry that fixed blade. So many things can go wrong! The sheath could sink down in your pocket. A wide, two-compartment, sheath can take up too much pocket space. A back-pocket sheath could make it difficult to deploy and sheath the blade. The sheath could be too thick! ...etc...

Second most critical is the knife size. You must be sensitive to your own needs and your actual pocket size. Many here carry 3-4" blades in their pocket. I'm a small asian man in my 20's who always wears slim cut jeans. I need a seriously small fixed blade. Your case may be different.

For your consideration:
Bark River PSK Elmax only made possible by a leather pocket sheath with a clip. The sheath sinking problem is mitigated by the clip. The sheath is not wide so it can be stored in the front pocket. The sheath is short and fits the depth of my pocket. The sheath leaves some handle above the pocket line allowing convenient deployment. It took me a little over a year of trying other fixed blades to come to this conclusion. Don't be afraid to try something even if it doesn't work for everyone else. If you think it might work for you, take the plunge!

 

[bflying]

I often pocket carry a small fixed blade, in addition to any other folders I may have. But usually limit to thin handled models that are easy to drop in back pocket of jeans. My first go-to's are usually an Esee Izula, Candiru, or Boker Fitz. The largest being a Schrade 14. If you take off the belt loop of the included kydex sheath, it makes a great blade sleeve. All of which I have also made leather sleeves specifically for back pocket drops. I don't have any current pics of them right now, maybe I'll take some later.

 

[BigBiscuit]

Where did you find that black sheath?

 

[JB in SC]

Where did you find that black sheath?

Bob, I can't be sure but it looks like Mark Condos' work, he's a member here.

 

[The_KaramVit]

Where did you find that black sheath?

JB guessed it and he was right. Mark Condos made it. He does beautiful work.