What features do you like in a large knife sheath

[redman2006]

I posted insheaths, but generated very little discussion.

I have a tops tahoma. This knife is completely out of character for me, and I need some help. The sheath it comes with is awful. Never having carried such a large knife, I was wondering what style of sheath is practical? What features do people like and dislike on one? What material is preferred? Do you like danglers? Pouches? Techlocs?

This is really just a fun knife for playing in the woods. I want to be able to attach it to a pack easily as well as belt carry. I live in the souteast, so moisture is a factor.

I just need some help deciding where to go from here.

Thanks

 

[gadunz]

I hunt rabbits on the edge of town for free dog food then keep walking to the shops.The ability to carry it horizontally on the back of my belt, under my jacket, to avoid getting arrested.
You'll be wanting a sheath with a clasp so you can carry it upside-down on your backpack strap without the knife falling out.

 

[redman2006]

Gad, I like the idea of horizontal carry, but I have no idea how often I would do so. I have never carried like that before.

Part of my thought process is one sheath that will do it all. Mole attachments for the pack, horizontal or vertical carry with a detachable dangler. A firesteel loop and maybe a small possibles pounce on it.

When I think about it, I wonder if that is too much to ask of one sheath.

If I were to get kydex, the retention would not require an extra strap. Leather is really nice, but for the woods in the wet area that I live, I am not sure if that is a good idea or not.

This knife will be used in the woods and around the house for any number of chores. It has come in handy as a minimachete for poke weed chopping already this summer. I am not really worried about any concealment, just ease of carry.

 

[VermontEdge]

I have a lot of fixed blades with leather sheaths, mostly pouch style with danglers, and I like them well enough.

However, I have to say that my favorite sheath is the one that came with my spypderco temperance 2. It's a kydex sheath with great retention and a G-Clip.

Without too much effort I can orient the g-clip for vertical or horizontal belt carry. The great thing about the clip, though, is that you don't have to feed your belt through it as you can just clip it to a pocket. Often times if I'm just fooling around in the woods or back yard I'll do this as I can easily detach the clip and I find it more comfortable.

I do also love carrying that sheath "scout style", horizontal and at the back of my belt.

Happy hunting! Good luck! A lot of custom kydex sheath makers give you the option of a G-Clip.

 

[gadunz]

If you're like me, you'll be lying awake at night, mentally designing the perfect sheath, occasionally turning on the bedside lamp to frantically draw diagrams. Good luck.

 

[redman2006]

Yep, but then I wonder if it will work since I have no practical experience with such a beast.

I have played with kydex on some smaller knives, but this project intimidates me a little for some reason.

 

[EChoil]

Constant horizontal carry of a large knife can be a pain in the butt unless you are a mountain man or Tonto. Be sure and choose wisely.

On a large knife I would go with a nice leather sheath. Personally I feel the advantages of leather over Kydex in such a case are many. A retaining strap on a leather sheath is nothing to dread. It's more security for the knife. Personally I would go with just a loop of the backer at the top of the sheath. Of course if you prefer you can go with a dangler, a slot in the leather, a small brass post on the exterior of the sheath so you can just jam it under your belt securely....anything. That part's up to you. I like a simple loop of the backer at the top of the sheath for a belt loop.

Water is no problem for a quality, reasonably maintained leather sheath. The only maintenance required is an occasional coat of mink oil or good commercial waterproofer if you are interested in maintaining total water repellency....and a good leather cleaner/preservative (such as Bick 4 or any good product without alcohol). If you smell alcohol at all avoid using it on leather.

BTW, you can opt for a sheath with a backer strap that will allow both horizontal and vertical carry. That way you can try the horizontal as well.

 

[adnj]

I spend a lot of time in the tropics. Horizontal carry is great for concealment or in a saddle but reheating is an issue. Leather is beautiful but I get mold and mildew on treated leather in days and moisture can be a problem. Pack carry ion baldric carry is something I do for knives/machetes that are extra long (18 inches or more) or won't be used while on the move.

- I prefer a pancake kydex with a dangler but the Pro Spec Combat Master is a great sheath, too. The dangler should be able to be clipped over the belt so it can be added/removed.
- There should be slots or a way to add a tie-down strap for the leg. That helps with one handed sheathing/withdrawal, too.
- an extra snap or strap to hold the blade in the sheath. Deep brush, climbing trees, crossing rivers, running, etc., demands it.
- someway to add a pocket to the front to carry firestarting gear, sharpening gear, an extra folder, or a small fixed blade.
- a way to add belt loops for horizontal carry so that if I need to, I can scout carry the blade.

 

[22-rimfire]

I prefer a dangler type sheath for larger knives carried on the belt. I also tend to prefer leather sheaths, but kydex is good. I would never carry the Tops in an urban environment. Too big and threatening and difficult to conceal. Basically, it simply is un-necessary outside the woods or trail.

I also don't care for the top edge being sharpened. That pushes it into the weapon category for me. Maybe it's a false edge. Can't tell by the pictures.

 

[Mike45ACP]

My number one concern is security and position, everything else is a distant 3rd. I don't ever want to lose a knife or have it fall out at an inoppertune time. I also want it to be in the proper position at all times. Anything else is gravy.

Mike

 

[redman2006]

Thanks for all the help. My concern with leather is not damage to the leather, but to the knife. I have rusted a stainless handgun in a leather holster because it got soaked on a motorcycle trip. It was in the holster for about 8 hours after I hit a driving rain.

I really like the leather look, but the practical side says kydex.

I agree, security is #1. I do not need to loose the knife. I have already seeded the trail and pasture with lost knives, no need to add to them.

As to the top edge being sharpened, I agree. I was going to order the unsharpened version, but the price for this one on the used market was so reasonable, I decided to go for it. I may dull that out at some point. Personally, if I were to design this knife, I would have carried it forward without a swedge, but it still works well.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I am still wide open to all of them.

 

[redman2006]

The pro spec combat master looks an awful lot like what came with it. I am really unimpressed with the one from the factory. I do know that Tops/Redfeather/Tran are putting out a decent kydex sheath now, but I would like to look at other options since I would have to pony up for that one anyway.

 

[hiwa]

I have had good success with Spec-ops sheaths , but replaced the crappy plastic liners with kydex that I made. Great sheaths , but the liner is a joke.

 

[chiral.grolim]

For a large knife, i am a fan of kydex, and to be specific I am a fan of KiahDex - sheath-maker Kiah is a member of this forum and makes the sheaths for Survive! Knives. His sheath for the GSO-10 has eyelets and slots in the right places, and the newer models also feature his full-blade drain-channel, very innovative. He also includes a G-clip that I prefer to mount on the front of the sheath for attaching other belt-looped items.

The newer ones:

My older one:

Of late, I've kept the blade strapped to my thigh via a leg-strap and Universal Kydex Sheath Extension: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1298783-Universal-Kydex-Sheath-Extension

[video=youtube;COKvk-AcNzk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COKvk-AcNzk[/video]

The Universal Kydex Sheath Extension allows me to carry the blade horizontal or vertical or at a custom-angle, riding high or low or dangler-style, and attaches to a variety of plastic/kydex sheaths from various makers/producers including ever S!K model. I also use it on my Azwelke sheath for a Rodent 9, to which I attached the ESEE tin-pouch and a simple firesteel holder:

You can make your own firesteel holders out of a folded piece of plastic or leather, you can also make "straps" for attaching pouches, etc. across the front of the sheath.

A leather belt-loop is more comfortable than plastic, especially if you might wear it on your waste beneath a back-pack's waste-strap. Otherwise, the Spyderco G-clip and Tek-Lok are both very effective, as is the AB-3 clip which can be used to attach the sheath to a pack:

An alternative is "baldric"-style = shoulder-strap. On the R9 and GSO-10, this allows me to keep the knife secure behind my back (under a jacket if desired) and pull it around for use when needed:

Skip to ~1:30 until ~2:00 to see what I mean

[video]https://youtu.be/jNyRf8jgdvU?t=1m30s[/video]

 

[redman2006]

This is very similar to what I had in mind. Thanks

EDIT: and he is not taking orders. Nuts

 

[gadunz]

Lanyard it with a long thin chain dog leash, Chihuahua type.

 

[AreBeeBee]

What feature? Left-handedness. Oh, and make it out of leather.

 

[herisson]

The pivotal belt dangler sheath provided by Condor with its machetes and big knives is a great quality thick leather sheath. It covers all my needs and is really unobtrusive in every situation. As far as I know they don't sell them single, and that's a pity.

 

[redman2006]

Are,
I like the kydex for the reversibility. I am right handed, but I could see a place for reversing the carry.

 

[craytab]

I agree with chiral. Kydex is the way to go on a big knife. Lots of good makers are out there. I have stuff from Mashedcat, azwelke, redhill, etc...

What you like and how you attach it is a personal preference. Like most things in the knife worl you may not know what works best for you until you try it.

For me, I outfit most of my sheathes with an Esee 5/6 clip plate. This is perfect for me but some people hate it.