All About Pocket Knives

I guess I'm just anal about this, but every time I get a fixed blade knife that comes with a pouch style (like a Loveless) sheath, I am afraid I'm going to lose the knife if I carry it on the trail, or climbing, etc ...

Those of you that know me know I do two things:

1. I carry and use about half the knives I own
2. I camp, hike, climb, fish - basically do a lot of active stuff in the woods and mountains.

So, the question is ... am I crazy for feeling like I need to get retention style sheaths made for every fixed blade I want to actually carry?

I have a couple that I really want to carry in some upcoming trips, but man I would be sick if I lost 'em …

Thanks for your feedback,
Edge

A well made pouch sheath should retain the knife in almost any situation. Depending on the design of the knife, a sheath can be made with a little leather cam in it that will securely hold the knife in the sheath. You should be able to hold the sheath upside down and shake it vigorously without the knife falling out. Snaps fail, retaining straps get caught on brush, a good pouch sheath is the best answer. Should be 9 oz. leather with a good heavy gusset to protect the seams if sewn or stitched, and the wearer from the blade point pucturing the sheath in case of a fall. A loose pouch sheath can allow the knife to fall out in unusual situations. I lost one once in NY's Adirondack Mtns. while deer hunting. Took a tumble down a steep slope, it was a six mile hike back into the woods the next weekend to retrieve the knife, but I did find it.

Well, I know of at leat one that will fail the "inverted vigorous shake" test ... I'll have to try it on a couple others to see ...

Thanks for the feedback.

~ Edge

The "inverted shake test" doesn't really show how the sheath will perform. Worn on a belt, the tension created by the belt strengthens retention of the knife.

The vast majority of the sheaths I actually use are pouch-type sheaths, I've never lost a knife from one. (I've lost a knife and sheath, when I set it down for some reason--once found a Loveless and sheath that someone had left behind the same way--but never a knife from a sheath when the sheath was on my belt.)

YMMV, of course. I sort of look at it that a decent pouch sheath offers increased convenience and safety compared to most factory leather sheaths; to get that I'm willing to accept a slightly-increased risk of loss that so far has been purely hypothetical for me. I've lost enough of my own blood to know that problems with that stupid glove-snap and retaining strap on most factory sheaths, and the safety risk in falls etc are NOT hypothetical.

If you carry a backpack or even a fanny pack when out and about, why not put the knife inside it and not worry about it. It will be there when you need it and the slight inconvienience is, in my opinion, well worth the security of knowing the knife is safely stowed. I have a nice custom made fixed blade with a pouch type sheath that I acquired last year. It has been with me through one season of deer hunting thus far. I kept it in my pack while hunting and felt a lot more at ease with it there rather than on my belt.

I'm with Phil on this one.

Well I am against the grain on this one fella's...if, and I mean if,
you use a holster type sheath with a good tight keeper strap that
goes around the handle just below the butt cap, end pommel,
they cannot be beat.
You can try to move the knife in the sheath and it is as if all is one piece, sheath & knife, nothin moves
It will not push up when you set or lay down, and with the
end pommel part being much bigger in diameter than the handle,
no way it can slip out unless its un snapped
Look at a few of the Marble's sheaths that come with some of the
1999-2001 knives I have that come in the Bobcat box in my store
Top shelf leather and construction holster type sheaths
Will
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/clearcreekknives

You guys all know how much I respect each one of you, and I must defer to your superior experience and knowledge in most cases …

But my gut is just screaming at me on this one - yes, without a doubt "in my pack" is the most secure solution, but I want to be able to lay my hand on the knife when I need it, and my inner voice is telling me to get a retention sheath made for any knife I want to 'wear' on the trail … gotta go with the little voice on this one …

Thanks to all (Tank, Phil, Coffeecup, wizrd, stagman, et al) for the feedback and suggestions - you guys rock, as always.

VR,
Paul

philco wrote:If you carry a backpack or even a fanny pack when out and about, why not put the knife inside it and not worry about it. It will be there when you need it and the slight inconvienience is, in my opinion, well worth the security of knowing the knife is safely stowed. I have a nice custom made fixed blade with a pouch type sheath that I acquired last year. It has been with me through one season of deer hunting thus far. I kept it in my pack while hunting and felt a lot more at ease with it there rather than on my belt.

I lost a knife deer hunting that very way.It must have just caught on something and fell out on the trail.I never did find that knife"a Schrade hunter".I sure wish I had it in a pouch.philco is right on.

When I am on the trail I keep mine in fanny pack or in backpack. Works for me. I usually have a folding knife in my pocket, ready to use.

I want the knife on my belt, where I can't be separated from it. I've had to dump my gear--pack, coat, etc--a couple times when I fell through ice or got swept off my feet crossing a river. Having a knife at hand is comforting.

I remember reading an article on sheaths used by paratroopers in WWII. Kabars carried in traditional leather sheaths with RETENSION STRAP, and metal liner added around the edge to help keep the knife from punching through on landing.

I have always remembered that everytime I have slipped and taken a fall in the woods, and I always think of how great it is to have the added protection to keep my knife secure.

I used to make a fixed blade survival type knife back in 2000 that was big enough to chop wood with if need be. The sheath I settled on was a kydex lined leather sheath complete with a retension strap. Yes, the kydex would have held it just fine.....but I too like that added security. Plus the leather kept the kydex from clunking when you walked through the deer woods from tree to tree to make stalking deer easier.

Maybe I'm just old school, but I think a strap is much better than depending on a friction fit to hold what could possibly be the only tool you have to save your life should you get yourself in such a situation.

Some questions to ask yourself.

1: Will I get wet or is there a possibility? If so, the leather of my sheath will then get pliable. Will it continue to hold my knife?

2. Will I be in heavy brush where there is a chance of catching the handle on something and pulling it out?

3: Will I be in a situation where I will need the knife in a hurry: i.e to save your life.

4. What will the weather conditions be or possibly be? Will my chosen sheath be able to preform in those conditions?

When real life situations are introduced into the equation it is usually going to come down to leather sheath with a retension strap as the best means to carry a fixed blade knife. However, many of the kydex type materials have got their place right along with leather when made correctly.

While it can and will be debated as to what constitutes the best sheath it is my opinion that overall the best will be a leather sheath with a strap. But, that is just my opinion.

I guess it depends on the design of the pouch sheath. I have a few Finnish puukkos with dangler sheaths, and they are most secure I own.

Thanks again to all ... great conversation, and some great points made.

Now I need to find a sheathmaker that does quality custom work without (completely) breaking the bank ... need probably 2-3 sheaths made for starters ...

Any suggestions?

~ Edge