Which knife sheath has the most secure "lock"?

golok · May 11, 2003

I have seen a variety of knife sheaths. A few have what seem to be a secure "no-falling-off" system.

A minority are not so snug in the "fitting" dept. Some knives wobble when they are in the sheath. Some sheaths are designed for upside down carry.

Keeping all these factors in mind, which ones at best offer the best overall "secure lock-down" system?

That means no matter what happens, that knife is not going to come out accidentally or ejected from the sheath.

JamesA · May 11, 2003

I'm sidestepping your question, but the AG Russell Deer Hunter and similar.

Kennieyk · May 11, 2003

Sheath: Made of Prylon, Left or right side mounting, Tec-lock included. I think all these types are very nice . I dont think it would ever come out . This is a mod sheath . I think extream ratio
has another type you can carry them upside down if you like !

RL · May 11, 2003

Hi Golok,

I'm not 100% sure but I would think something with a locking device such as the Timberline Zambezi or Kellam Ranger Puuko (and perhaps even the Reeve Nkonka)

Apart from that, any sheath that is parachute "jump qualified" should do...I believe that such sheaths must have at least two means of retention (usually tight kydex and a thumb-break strap that fits over the handle).

RL

TorzJohnson · May 11, 2003

The Dozier Straight Personal has these nice little divots carved out of the micarta scales:

The kydex sheath that comes with it is perfectly (and I mean perfectly) fitted, i.e. it has divots molded into it as well. Once the knife goes into the sheath (with a nice little snap) it ain't going anywhere until you pull it out. Seriously, the sheath is responsible for half of my enjoyment of this knife.

bquinlan · May 11, 2003

Bob Dozier made a kydex horizontal belt sheath for my favorite fixed blade (which he also made). Pressing my thumb in the right place opens the kydex and allows me to draw the knife smoothly and easily. Without that thumb pressure I cannot pull the knife out using my full strength with one hand. The kydex holds it like a vise.

I have more faith in that kydex sheath than I do in most of my traditional snap-strap closed sheaths. Snaps can come undone under sufficient force and straps can sometimes slip aside enough to release the knife.

--Bob Q

VampyreWolf · May 11, 2003

Eric "Normark" of On/Scene Tactical makes a sweet, really secure rig. They aren't jump qualified(strip of duct-tape fixes that though), but he can adjust tension to whatever you want. I've had ppl at work try to take it out of the belt rig when they wanted to use it(and asked me before trying), and tug on it a lot without anything. My fb03 lum tanto(spyderco) is set up for a rear cant(tip forward, edge back), and has to have force applied to the spine side of the opening to get it out, and even then has to be close to straight out.

Crayola · May 11, 2003

TOPS makes some sheaths (like for the Steel Eagle model) which incorporates a pin. The pin has a ball bearing in the tip and the pin is attached to a ring. The pin goes through a hole in the knife handle. To get the knife out of the sheath, you have to pull the pin from the handle. I thought that was an interesting retention device.

Angus McGunnigl · May 11, 2003

I have a Buck SPecial that is very secure.

Even if the snap became unsnapped, the leather is so stiff, that it'll stay put.

Mongo · May 11, 2003

I have 3 Doziers, and all of them fit ultra securely. Another choice that no one has mentioned yet is Kenny Rowe's pin-lock system for fixed blades. Great stuff!