Sheaths and other carrying options.

[coote]

It should go without saying that I am seldom without a knife. I used to always carry a sheathknife when hunting or doing something serious in the bush, and up until recently the sheath would generally sit by my right hip.

A short while back I took to taping my sheath horizontally to my belt... and I would carry it under my pot belly in front. That way it doesn't catch as easily on the scrub when I am crashing through it, and it stays out of sight under my shirt or jacket. Plus I can grab it with either hand if necessary.

When I go out setting traps I use a knife alot. It is quick and convenient to pull a knife from a sheath, but it isn't as quick to get it back into the sheath when you are carrying a pack, holding something in your other hand, possibly wearing a lot of clothes, and you are in a hurry. So I have started carrying a cheap lockback with a hole in the blade that allows me to open it with one hand. When I am done with it I can close it with one hand and easily drop it back into my pocket. I feel that a folded knife is safe if I fall over, and I reckon I am less likely to lose it in a deep pocket compared to having it in a sheath when I am bush-bashing.

But deep inside I feel that a fixed blade is something I want to carry. So I am looking for sheath options that might make it easier for me to draw quickly (preferably with either hand)... and make it easier to stick the knife back in the sheath with one hand.

I would prefer the solution to be something I could make myself, but I am open to all ideas.

Any suggestions? My ideal fixed blade for a working knife would only be maybe three or four inches long, the handle could be slim, and it wouldn't need any sort of a guard.

Thanks in advance... Coote.

 

[pict]

Coote,

I have strapped a small knife upside down to my left pack strap at times. You can get at it with either hand and if it has a kydex sheath it is easy to put it away again.

For years now I have carried a Livesay NRGS neck knife that I have set up as a PSK. I like this set up very much.

Mac

 

[Thomas Linton]

Does your pack have a belt? If not, another idea is a cross draw location for the sheath.

Also, I have some sheaths that work fine by feel and others that you have to look at to insert the knife. Depends on the rig.

I have come out where pict's at. When I backpack, I use a necker or a sheath taped to a shoulder strap. A bigger knife may be in the back itself.

 

[Boats]

I can't post pictures, but it is easy enough to describe what I do. I carry a handmade crossdraw leather sheath carrying one of my BRKT Gameskeepers as my "go to" bush knife. I locate the sheath on the hip belt of my old Kelty external frame BP. I simply use two one inch wide "compression straps" (web belts) from REI as a "belt" around the right half of the hip belt (I am a southpaw). I have trimmed most of the excess from the two belts and resewn the cut ends. I also sewed in a pretty unobtrusive loop of cordura on the back of the hip belt that the straps can run through to prevent the lateral sliding of the rig.

What I do is make sure they both run through the belt cut out of the sheath and the hip belt loop. (Eventhough the sheath's belt cut out is now oriented "wrong" to the vertically located belts, the nylon straps easily and flatly contort themselves for this duty so no problems. I just "cross" them through.)

Then I ensure that both buckles lock at a point where they won't dig into me. The buckles are oriented so that they open opposite of one another in case something manages to unbuckle one or both. I cinch up the lower one as tight as possible and then I have a rubber "snubber" on the strap to keep it from slipping through the buckle. The one closest to the handle is left adjustable with a snubber further back on the tag end. I can usually draw and resheath the knife with no problem, and if I miss, (knock on wood) it is the hip belt that is likely to take the blow. However, if I ever have difficulty resheathing the knife, I pull the sheath out as far as the two belts working in concert will allow and can visually resheath the knife and re-cinch only the belt that was left adjustable.

It sounds more involved than it was, but it is fairly simple and what I would consider to be bombproof secure. Of course I also carry another knife in the extreme case that I somehow lose the pack, and I also take this sheath off the backpack and place it back on my body when stream crossing or rope hauling the pack vertically. The quick release buckles of the rig make it a literal snap to remove from the backpack.

 

[coote]

Thanks guys... good food for thought. Dang you folks have a fantastic assortment of knives over there to choose from.

I like those neck knives. I could make the knife, but the tricky little plastic sheaths are something I can't produce very easily...at least the ones that allow the handle of the knife to hang downwards. I am guessing that Pict's knife hangs with the handle uppermost.

One thing about neck knives is that I don't like the idea of having a strong cord around my neck in case it catches around something when I take a fall in the scrub. The fall is bad enough, but hanging myself would ruin my day completely. I guess the idea would be to use a cord that I could easily break.

The packstrap is an idea worth pursuing. I guess by having a big flap of leather or whatever at the entrance to the sheath I would minimise the chance of cutting something as I try to put the knife back in a hurry.

Some of my sheaths are made from thin conveyor belting that is used in a food processing factory. It doesn't look as good as leather, but it is sturdy and easy to keep clean.

Bye for now... Coote.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Coote I have only seen this so I can,t say how well it works . It looks good . I have seen a lockback carried horizontally on a belt like your sheath knife . The guy used a length of bicycle inner tube . The belt went through the tube and the knife was slipped into the tube which was just shorter than the knife . . I guess the trick would be to get the right size so it would be tight . So many kids bikes get thrown out around here that I wouldn,t have much of a problem . I almost always carry two knives a small folder in a pocket and a thin sheath knife in my back pocket . The folder is to keep my sheath knife sharp for emergencies .

 

[pict]

Coote,

My neck knife hangs straight down, handle at the bottom. You just reach up and give it a tug to draw. The kydex sheath holds it very secure.

As for the cord getting caught, in brush I usually drop it inside my shirt. I've been wearing neck knves for years and have never had one snag on anything. If it was ever a really dire situation I could always pluck the knife out and cut the cord.

Alot of the North Woods guys like to hang a Mora on a neck cord. They carry handle up and are easier to get back in the sheath. Mine takes two hands. Mac

 

[parnass]

Coote I have only seen this so I can,t say how well it works . It looks good . I have seen a lockback carried horizontally on a belt like your sheath knife . The guy used a length of bicycle inner tube . The belt went through the tube and the knife was slipped into the tube which was just shorter than the knife . ...

I think you are referring to my posts. It works well if you use the right sized inner tube to fit the knife.

I've been using my home made sheath with a Victorinox One Hand Trekker for a while and it is very comfortable. However, I use 2 hands to put the knife back in the tube due to the tight fit.

 

[Kevin the grey]

tHANKS parnass . That is surely the set-up I saw . That blade profile is the perfect one to ride with absolute security . The rubber conforms to it and I betcha you could do handstands and not have it come loose .

Hey Pict I tried to find that livesay neck knife . I couldn,t find it . Any links ?
It looks nice and not too expensive . How does that edge sharpen , cut and hold up ?

 

[coote]

Hmmm.... interesting thanks.

I was just thinking about that cord-wrapped handle on Pict's neck knife. I guess it makes it nice and slim for carrying...but is it hard on your hands when you have to do quite a bit of work with it?

 

[powells85]

I think you are referring to my posts. It works well if you use the right sized inner tube to fit the knife.

I've been using my home made sheath with a Victorinox One Hand Trekker for a while and it is very comfortable. However, I use 2 hands to put the knife back in the tube due to the tight fit.

Definitely a new one to me :thumbup:

 

[pict]

Kevin,

Unfortunately Newt has retired last I heard. His son in law, Darrel Parent is a stand-up guy who will be making some of his designs. The NRGS is parkerized 1095 steel it sharpens very well and holds an edge.

http://www.mtsequoyahknives.com/

Coote,

The cord wrapped handle doesn't tear up your hand. Actually I have it wrapped with just the "sheath" of the paracord so it fits in the kydex. The only problem with the cord wrap is that it does take a smell after lots of heavy sweat. It also absorbs fat and blood. I skinned a lynx with it in Alaska and had to change the wrap. That can be remedied by coating it in a laquer. I plan to rehandle it with micarta in the future. Mac

 

[Kevin the grey]

Thanks Pict. The Woo neck knife is something else . I like the looks of a tanto point . Kinda looks like a shark looking for something to munch on .

They are not too expensive either .