Scout Horizontal Carry

MOCraig

MOCraig

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Apr 8, 2013
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Does anyone have experience "scout" or horizontal carrying their smaller Beckers? I'm thinking of the 11's or 14's, but even the tweeners might make sense.

If so, front/side carry or small of the back? EDC or woods work? Advantages or disadvantages?

I'm intrigued with the concept, but have only ever carried vertical belt sheaths. Specifically thinking about my 14, and whether I would like a scout-style carried left of the belt buckle for a cross hand draw.

Any pictures or comments would be welcome. :)
 
For almost as long as I've had it, I've carried my BK-16 crossdraw at about my 10-11 o'clock position. I keep a small kit with it, mostly a fire kit and a few other essentials. It's my goto woods setup, and comes with me everywhere that doesn't have a roof.

8748112978_79c8b7fabd_b.jpg


It's attached to the belt with a large Tek-lock, which suits my purposes quite well.

8748113436_2db7aff401_b.jpg


The sweet part is that the BK- 11 and 14 have a similar enough size envelope to let them fulfill this role as well.

As for scout carry, my arms don't like bending that way. I've been known to EDC a BK-14 here and there, I just keep it in a pocket sheath, or use the TDI clip with the stock sheath. put it in a pocket on your strong side and call it good.

Here's an ancient pic of my 14 with the TDI clip on the stock sheath... never even used a little :D
8249775433_6d707d25f8_o.jpg
 
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ThePointyEnd said:
For almost as long as I've had it, I've carried my BK-16 crossdraw at about my 10-11 o'clock position. I keep a small kit with it, mostly a fire kit and a few other essentials. It's my goto woods setup, and comes with me everywhere that doesn't have a roof.

8748112978_79c8b7fabd_b.jpg


It's attached to the belt with a large Tek-lock, which suits my purposes quite well.

8748113436_2db7aff401_b.jpg


The sweet part is that the BK- 11 and 14 have a similar enough size envelope to let them fulfill this role as well.
Click to expand...

I was wondering how small of back carry would work for using and re-sheathing. I think removal would be an easy thing, but am picturing putting it back might be a bit of a chore.

The method above, I think now, is what I'm thinking of mostly. I just dont know how easily the sheath would "print". I'm not worried about this in terms of true conceal carry, although I can legally do so with my CCW, but I don't care much for advertising, either.

I'm built tall and trim, and don't want to look like I'm carrying a baby on my belt, under a t-shirt!
 
Been carrying my 11 like this for about 2 years now. Left handed cross draw on the right side of the buckle. I can actually access it with both hands now that I've trained to do so.
Easily concealed with my shirt.

(this is an older pic)
IMG_0447_zps2f1a5abc.jpg


Sometimes I carry my 16 scout style in my back so I can reach with left hand.

The back carry is comfortable if you are out moving around but if you get in the car, it becomes uncomfortable.

When I made the sheath for my 11 scout style I originally made it to wear on the back but driving was so uncomfortable that I switched it to from carry.

Since my 11 sheath is only a little wider than my belt, I can move and bend down with no discomfort at all. It is the way to go in my opinion. I hardly even notice it it there.
 
Thanks for posting this question. Have been having the same internal debate myself as I think about the sheath for an upcoming mod (factory sheath will no longer be usable after the mod).
 
Dexwithers said:
Been carrying my 11 like this for about 2 years now. Left handed cross draw on the right side of the buckle. I can actually access it with both hands now that I've trained to do so.
Easily concealed with my shirt.

(this is an older pic)
IMG_0447_zps2f1a5abc.jpg


Sometimes I carry my 16 scout style in my back so I can reach with left hand.

The back carry is comfortable if you are out moving around but if you get in the car, it becomes uncomfortable.

When I made the sheath for my 11 scout style I originally made it to wear on the back but driving was so uncomfortable that I switched it to from carry.

Since my 11 sheath is only a little wider than my belt, I can move and bend down with no discomfort at all. It is the way to go in my opinion. I hardly even notice it it there.
Click to expand...

Appreciate it - 2 years of experience with this carry, and by the looks and the Becker in the pic, you must carry it quite a bit.
 
MOCraig said:
Appreciate it - 2 years of experience with this carry, and by the looks and the Becker in the pic, you must carry it quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Carry it almost Every day man. This is my most used knife and setup, Here is a pic of how she looks today. It has served me real well.
59787501-D147-4B58-B720-1B3F15FE0C20_zpsgctjauc1.jpg
 
Just a note of caution for carrying in the 6 o'clock position, or small of the back; if you happen to fall backward to the ground, anything between your spine and the ground can cause an injury. Just sayin'.

Carry on.
 
I carry my bk11 horizontal at 9 o'clock in a kydex sheath and my bk2 at 6 o'clock in a leather sheath.

Once you try it, it's hard to go back from horizontal carry. It doesn't impede your flexibility or movement in any way like vertical carry does. It has the freedom of movement that a dangler offers and the solid mounting of a hip sheath.
It's the best of both worlds IMO.
 
Front scout/horizontal carry makes a LOT of sense for small-to-medium EDC/general purpose knives. :thumbup:

I'm not quite as sure about larger knives carried across the small of the back... but that may be just because I haven't experimented with that much. There are definitely some plusses to it...
 
I carry my 24 in a pocket mostly, however, I can rig it to the belt scout carry at the 11 o'clock using belt keepers. Here is an older pic of my 14 being carried in this manner using the factory sheath.



Of course, carrying the 24 in the custom pocket sheath (not pictured) in scout carry mode above is way better than the stock sheath. More streamlined, not as wide and just feels better. As you can see I have this leather belt that I've had for about 7 or 8 years now that has a "D" ring installed (for what purpose, I have no idea. And I never used the D ring until I started carrying a knife up front) which makes for a great retention device to hold the handle closer to the body.

I really need to update my pics, because I hardly ever wear jeans anymore....lol

By the way Dex. I love that sheath. I need something like that for my 24!!!
 
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Another 11 o'clock carry guy here. For about 3 years now with various fixed blades. Works incredibly well.

42aaf79e8f3db37bf35d3ae1963c60dc_zps7a8c4d76.jpg
 
For what it's worth, I built a wardrobe yesterday, and had tons of plastic and cardboard to process, so I carried my 11 cross-draw at about 10:00.
Concealed fixed blades are a no-no out here, so I don't even have a full horizontal setup - spine angles down in this one about 45 degrees.



Except hiking, camping, or doing lots of yard work I rarely hip carry as it is. I found cross-draw great for deployment and re-sheathing, much easier than pocketing and opening/closing a folder - and nearly unnoticeable most of the time. But sitting or squatting down in cramped quarters it did bump into stuff a couple times. Not as much as my 16 would have in traditional vertical carry at 3:00, but more-so than a folder in my pocket.
 
I carry my bk11 with a leatherman sheath left handed crossdraw for 6 months and love it, this is on me as long as I'm not in nyc

IMAG2049_zpse2e3909d.jpg
 
MOCraig said:
Does anyone have experience "scout" or horizontal carrying their smaller Beckers? I'm thinking of the 11's or 14's, but even the tweeners might make sense.

If so, front/side carry or small of the back? EDC or woods work? Advantages or disadvantages?

I'm intrigued with the concept, but have only ever carried vertical belt sheaths. Specifically thinking about my 14, and whether I would like a scout-style carried left of the belt buckle for a cross hand draw.

Any pictures or comments would be welcome. :)
Click to expand...

Before you buy a new sheath set up for scout carry, try it out to see if you like it. Thread a few zip ties through the holes in the stock sheath to make improvised belt loops. It's not pretty, sophisticated nor refined, but it'll work. :thumbup:

You can also do the same with paracord and a few knots.
 
I have para cord on my 14 and have carried it scout style for years. Can't even tell it is there even when sitting.
 
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