Leather sheath preferences

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Feb 11, 2016
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Do you have a favorite sheath style for your traditional " fixed blades " ?
Maybe just a style you don't like?

This is my favorite sheath type, a simple friction fit pouch style that's not too tight so I can draw my knife easily with one hand.
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This is my least favorite, it's the wrap around keeper strap that I don't like.
Doesn't really keep the knife in place, just stops it from falling all the way out, and it's just in the way.
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I can live with it on an existing sheath, but I'll definitely never make one this way.
 
I just got this amazing sheath for $6! I primarily bought it for my Case/Bose Eureka Jack and other folders, but it fits my little Candiru perfectly. (not my knife in pic)
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I just remembered, danglers I absolutely hate and will never use a dangler sheath.

My knife must be tight on my belt against my hip so it's always exactly where I want it to be.
I prefer a mid height ride too, nothing dropping too low or riding too high.
 
For me, it changed over time, for practical reasons. I started off liking open pouch sheaths best. But these days, I only use them if the retention is exceptionally good, for example with Bill's duramax duramax sheaths. If the retention is weak there is an issue when driving a car - too easy to loose a knife.

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Straps are safe in the car, so I use them quite a bit. I just have to be careful when removing the knife (so the strap isn't cut), got used to it after a while:

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With the right jeans, I also use Ulticlips, this is the most comfortable way to carry even a medium sized knife. The UF in the pic is special as the handle is relatively small, albeit still comfortable:

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Hickory n steel said:
I just remembered, danglers I absolutely hate and will never use a dangler sheath.

My knife must be tight on my belt against my hip so it's always exactly where I want it to be.
I prefer a mid height ride too, nothing dropping too low or riding too high.
Click to expand...
is mine a dangler? it seems to wear and ride differently depending on the knife in it. Very showy and not what i would go for in a working-knife situation. could deliver a potent wallop with a heavy folder in there as a monkey fist...slapjack
 
Generally a good fitted pouch sheath is all I need. I've never been able to warm up to danglers either, although sometimes if I'm hiking with a pack that has a waistbelt, it's the best option.

Pet peave - pocket sheaths for fixed blades that have wimpy clips, so the entire sheath comes out when you try to draw the knife. If you're going to make a pocket sheath, make it with a strong clip. Ulticlips are obviously more secure, but I find they have a tendency to chew up your pocket over time.
 
chuckgp said:
is mine a dangler? it seems to wear and ride differently depending on the knife in it. Very showy and not what i would go for in a working-knife situation. could deliver a potent wallop with a heavy folder in there as a monkey fist...slapjack
Click to expand...
Yes but we're talking fixed blades here.
I made one like that for a pocket knife once and it worked great but no longer use it since my pocket knives now go in my pocket organizer.

It's fixed blades where I don't like them, I don't wanna have to grab the bottom of the sheath with my other hand to draw my knife and I don't want my knife flopping around either.
 
I'll have to get pics later, but I'm not against keeper straps just type I've shown.

Btw for a keeper that gets in the way, I have in the past added a piece of shock cord to the keeper that pulls it out of the way when undone so you won't cut it.

Some sheath maker does this to their sheaths, not sure who but I saw their work and copied the idea before.
 
I can only agree with the 'no dangler' sentiment, I have avoided these because of two reasons:
1. I don't want the knife flip-flopping around.
2. I don't want to have to use 2 hands to remove the knife or replace the knife.

My ideals for leather sheaths would be as per ferider ferider post #5, or something like the Johnson and Randall sheaths.
For boot knives I like having a sturdy clip like the Kershaw Special Agent does. The plastic clip that the Cold Steel Braveheart has is atrocious! 😅
 
secure pouch or a flap sheath. Haven't tried a dangler yet. I can see the advantages of the dangler sheath tho.
I don't like keeper straps, either, especially those that don't have the keeper strap secured with a rivet, or something.
 
I'll still use the factory sheath at times because it's much nicer looking with the basket weave tooling and everything, but I just finished this one for it.
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The F&F came out pretty good in mist areas except for the stitching, not my best work but looks okay and is functionally exactly how I like my sheaths most.
 
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