Please help me find a carry option

J

Jordan1010

Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
180
Hello fixed blade carriers,
I have been struggling with how to carry my fixed blade, I decided the small of my back was comfortable and less noticeable than all the others but I remembered about reading how many people got spinal injuries due to carrying a firearm around that area and falling. Do you guys think carrying a blade around there would cause harm such as a firearm would? I also read about how an officer carried cuffs on his back hip side and got injured from falling on them.
 
I have never been a fan of SOB (small of back) carry for firearms, or scout carry as it is called, for knives. Not because of the fear of injury, but I just find it impractical.

I think you need to put it into perspective. Many more people are injured in slip and fall accidents every year that AREN'T carrying anything. While the risk exists for a spinal injury, you are probably more likely to break an arm/leg/wrist/ankle/rib/neck in a serious fall.

I've been law enforcement for 30 years and I have not heard of anyone personally hurting their back if they carried SOB. There were lots of anecdotal stories bordering on mysticism floating around all the gun and LEO forums several years ago, preaching the dangers of SOB carry. I think it got wildly blown out of proportion, but the stories still haunt us today. The reality is that a typical officer's duty belt usually doesn't have a lot of empty real estate, and most officers are carrying something in their SOB, and/or behind both hips.

Are you planning on falling a lot? Seriously - I mean, are you hiking a lot where the risk of fall is greater, or are you simply walking around the city or the flat terrain of your back 40? If there is little risk of falling, go for it. You are probably more likely to get hit by a car, than fall and land on your knife if you aren't in a high slip-risk situation. Heck, you're probably more likely to get hit by a car than land on your knife and injure your spine, even if you ARE in a high slip-risk situation.

Just my opinion, of course.
 
Last edited:
shane45-1911 said:
I have never been a fan of SOB (small of back) carry for firearms, or scout carry as it is called, for knives. Not because of the fear of injury, but I just find it impractical.

I think you need to put it into perspective. Many more people are injured in slip and fall accidents every year that AREN'T carrying anything. While the risk exists for a spinal injury, you are probably more likely to break an arm/leg/wrist/ankle/rib/neck in a serious fall.

I've been law enforcement for 30 years and I have not heard of anyone personally hurting their back if they carried SOB. There were lots of anecdotal stories bordering on mysticism floating around all the gun and LEO forums several years ago, preaching the dangers of SOB carry. I think it got wildly blown out of proportion, but the stories still haunt us today. The reality is that a typical officer's duty belt usually doesn't have a lot of empty real estate, and most officers are carrying something in their SOB, and/or behind both hips.

Are you planning on falling a lot? Seriously - I mean, are you hiking a lot where the risk of fall is greater, or are you simply walking around the city or the flat terrain of your back 40? If there is little risk of falling, go for it. You are probably more likely to get hit by a car, than fall and land on your knife if you aren't in a high slip-risk situation. Heck, you're probably more likely to get hit by a car than land on your knife and injure your spine, even if you ARE in a high slip-risk situation.

Just my opinion, of course.
Click to expand...
Ok that makes sense thanks for replying to my thread I appreciate it
 
i ToI have never been a fan of SOB (small of back) carry for firearms, or scout carry as it is called, for knives. Not because of the fear of injury, but I just find it impractical.
shane45-1911 said:
I think you need to put it into perspective. Many more people are injured in slip and fall accidents every year that AREN'T carrying anything. While the risk exists for a spinal injury, you are probably more likely to break an arm/leg/wrist/ankle/rib/neck in a serious fall.

I've been law enforcement for 30 years and I have not heard of anyone personally hurting their back if they carried SOB. There were lots of anecdotal stories bordering on mysticism floating around all the gun and LEO forums several years ago, preaching the dangers of SOB carry. I think it got wildly blown out of proportion, but the stories still haunt us today. The reality is that a typical officer's duty belt usually doesn't have a lot of empty real estate, and most officers are carrying something in their SOB, and/or behind both hips.

Are you planning on falling a lot? Seriously - I mean, are you hiking a lot where the risk of fall is greater, or are you simply walking around the city or the flat terrain of your back 40? If there is little risk of falling, go for it. You are probably more likely to get hit by a car, than fall and land on your knife if you aren't in a high slip-risk situation. Heck, you're probably more likely to get hit by a car than land on your knife and injure your spine, even if you ARE in a high slip-risk situation.

Just my opinion, of course.
Click to expand...
shane45-1911 said:
I have never been a fan of SOB (small of back) carry for firearms, or scout carry as it is called, for knives. Not because of the fear of injury, but I just find it impractical.

I think you need to put it into perspective. Many more people are injured in slip and fall accidents every year that AREN'T carrying anything. While the risk exists for a spinal injury, you are probably more likely to break an arm/leg/wrist/ankle/rib/neck in a serious fall.

I've been law enforcement for 30 years and I have not heard of anyone personally hurting their back if they carried SOB. There were lots of anecdotal stories bordering on mysticism floating around all the gun and LEO forums several years ago, preaching the dangers of SOB carry. I think it got wildly blown out of proportion, but the stories still haunt us today. The reality is that a typical officer's duty belt usually doesn't have a lot of empty real estate, and most officers are carrying something in their SOB, and/or behind both hips.

Are you planning on falling a lot? Seriously - I mean, are you hiking a lot where the risk of fall is greater, or are you simply walking around the city or the flat terrain of your back 40? If there is little risk of falling, go for it. You are probably more likely to get hit by a car, than fall and land on your knife if you aren't in a high slip-risk situation. Heck, you're probably more likely to get hit by a car than land on your knife and injure your spine, even if you ARE in a high slip-risk situation.

Just my opinion, of course.
Click to expand...
Yea I totally agree about the practicality of it, I don’t yet own a firearm but when I do get one I would ideally hope for appendix carry the only reason I wouldn’t carry my fixed blade appendix is because I’m a “bigger guy” and I run the Risk of cutting myself
 
Jordan1010 said:
i ToI have never been a fan of SOB (small of back) carry for firearms, or scout carry as it is called, for knives. Not because of the fear of injury, but I just find it impractical.


Yea I totally agree about the practicality of it, I don’t yet own a firearm but when I do get one I would ideally hope for appendix carry the only reason I wouldn’t carry my fixed blade appendix is because I’m a “bigger guy” and I run the Risk of cutting myself
Click to expand...
Well at least I have a fear of accidentally slightly moving the blade and cutting myself
 
IMHO, a lot of the minimal risk you’re discussing has to do with your rigging. Do you wear a belt, how thick and stiff, how the sheath attaches to it, how tight the knife fits in the sheath, how/where it hangs as you do your activities. There’s a lot of personal preference in that, and it takes some trial and error to dial it in.

The most successful guys I’ve seen at it are some variation of infantry, with a lot of stuff to carry and can’t have it falling off when somebody shoots at you. Seems like a lot of them are pretty good at tinkering, sewing/weaving/leather/kydex/ducttaping their stuff in various configurations to suit their body geometry.

I do it with my tool belts, job sites can definitely present some slip risk.

Just don’t expect your first solution to be your last. Try some lash up, then refine it a little at a time.

Parker
 
Kobun-CCW.jpg
Kobun-CCW2.jpg


I've been experimenting with a paracord harness for my CS kobun
Pretty much a figure 8 with a cobra weave in non knife side
 
Back carry works for a backup blade. If you’re using the blade it’s a pain to re sheath.

I carry horizontal at my 10-11 o’clock, handle pointing in for right hand draw. I also belt carry and pocket carry with an ulticlip. All depends on the size of the knife and where Im going/ what I’m doing.
 
How big the knife?

My favorite carry for a sub 7” OAL is horizontal carry on the belt at about 10:30 to 11:30. Almost running from the belt buckle to the hip pointer.

I don’t typically edc anything larger. When I do, it’s vertical at 3:00

My concern with SOB is re-sheathing. I want to be able to see the process without doing a big twist.

I’ve never given much thought to what happens if I fall. Generally, I just try to stay upright :)
 
SOB (small of the back) carry is pretty common in our world and we deal with horses that can get broncy on occasion. I have heard those stories too and I can see that there would be some merit with a firearm with its greater bulk carried SOB. But I can guarantee ya this, for every officer that got injured by falling on a handcuff case there's hundreds of thousands that didn't. Was the fall severe enough that he was gonna get injured anyways? We never hear that part of the story. Lots of injuries from falls out there were folks didn't land on anything, quien sabe?

Anyhoo the wife at our recent branding:

4ufNSob.jpg


TkQ3Yph.jpg


Other folks too:

Mary Kay with the worming:

xSjzjFv.jpg


My daughter carries behind the hip too:

qKSGaWg.jpg


Cmgyupu.jpg


Wife again at a different branding:

uWcm1Eb.jpg


The wife fixing fence:

9Nb24r0.jpg


F9f9toN.jpg


Our farrier's assistant:

SMaHROC.png


This young lady carries a rather large knife SOB as well as a good sized Glock on her hip:

9r2uSqz.jpg


iJID0vG.png


This guy carries the largest knife I make, a Sonoran Camp Knife the same way:

HCX9dUo.png


Anyhoo ya get the idea its pretty popular in the cowboy world.
 
Injury aside.... idk about That.

But, picture yourself in line at the grocery store, or gas station........ATM....wherever. People are right up beside you, and behind you....... you know.... In public.
Where are Your hands?
Where/how does your arm and hands situation themselves on Your body? (hint hint..... let's pretend you are at a urinal)

If you are carrying for protection, where is the Bad guy?
Is he going to try to catch you off guard? Maybe out of your sight? Perhaps even blind-side you from behind?

Why would you carry SOB??? Seems to me that is practically giving him something................ Here, take This..... and "____" me!

I carry Something at 11:00, and Something at 1:00
 
Whenever sitting generally, or driving a car are involved, (a) 7:00 - 9:00 or (b) 15:00 - 17:00 are the only fixed carry options for me. Which of the two depends on if and where I carry a folder as well (typically smaller than the fixed blade).
 
Blade Length: 3.875""
Overall Length: 8.75""
Blade Thickness: 3/16""
In the sheath the Blade is fairly thin. My purpose for carrying is mainly self Defence and edc, my belt is a fairly thin leather belt and I’m using a tek lok. would anybody have some recommendations for carrying it concealed-ish
 
Jordan1010 said:
Blade Length: 3.875""
Overall Length: 8.75""
Blade Thickness: 3/16""
In the sheath the Blade is fairly thin. My purpose for carrying is mainly self Defence and edc, my belt is a fairly thin leather belt and I’m using a tek lok. would anybody have some recommendations for carrying it concealed-ish
Click to expand...
It doesn’t have to be iwb but I want it preferably less noticeable
 
The retention on the sheath makes it difficult to unsheath upside down in the front, I messed up my shoulder a bit tryna unsheath upside down in the front
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top