I've noticed through casual browsing that machetes are becoming more and more popular. I'm curious how people are carrying them. Looking around I havent seen many sheaths available, and what I have found look pretty chep/crappy. I've been playing wth kydex for a while making holsters and such and this has me curious. I would like ot see some sheaths or carry meathods people are using to give me some ideas for making my own. I think Im going to place an order with machete specialist for a couple blades this week to play with and make sheaths for. Any ideas, info or pics would be helpful.
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Machete sheath, how do you carry it
- Thread starter SGTCap
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I use a self-made cross-belt for my heavier pieces, but usually belt carry.
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I'd bet that in South America that most don't even own a sheath for their machetes. They are just carried and used often.
Even the cheaper sheaths do the job, they are often light weight. An expensive sheath adds cost to an inexpensive blade, IMO. Bark River can turn a $25 Ontario machete into a $160 machete, I'd say $60 of that is the nice leather sheath.
I like the idea of kydex sheaths, I love the ESEE Junglas sheath, check that one out. Many lash points is great for backpacks, that how I carry mine, or a shoulder strap, which doesn't work so well for me, I need a waist strap to keep mine in place like 42blades.
Even the cheaper sheaths do the job, they are often light weight. An expensive sheath adds cost to an inexpensive blade, IMO. Bark River can turn a $25 Ontario machete into a $160 machete, I'd say $60 of that is the nice leather sheath.
I like the idea of kydex sheaths, I love the ESEE Junglas sheath, check that one out. Many lash points is great for backpacks, that how I carry mine, or a shoulder strap, which doesn't work so well for me, I need a waist strap to keep mine in place like 42blades.
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The cross belt both keeps the machete from flopping around like it would on just a shoulder strap alone, and also evenly distributes the weight across the left hip and right shoulder. 
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Most people roll with them on the side of the opposite that they are using. Lots of central american rigs go over the shoulder like this, but only when traveling. I don't use mine in that configuration that often because I'm always on the ground looking for stuff.
Some flip quick frogs around and use them like a tuck under
Some flip quick frogs around and use them like a tuck under
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I have a Mexican knife that has a sheath with a leather collar and a flap feeding out of it like a hook or a stud that allows it to just be tucked under the belt. Really quite secure there like that! I wish more sheaths had a similar feature, as it's a handy way to carry it hands-free without having to undo your belt.
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I made a sheath out of PVC pipe which I'm certain could be improved, but it works for now. I typically carry it in my trunk.
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I strap mine to the side of my pack. If I dump the pack at camp and go collect firewood, I like to lash it horizontally to my belt, at least until camp is built and I have my stock for burning good to go.
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A very true comment. We just carry them through the straps on our packs, or wrap them in some cloth and stuff them in between the pack and our backs.
I made the sheathes for my machetes out of thin-wall PVC drain pipe which I heated, flattened, and shaped. Made belt loop with same material. Afterwards I painted it with gray spray vinyl paint. Lastly I wrapped sheath with paracord. Worked out beautifully in the jungles of Hawai'i. 
I carry my bigger knives in Kydex and sometimes depending on what pack I carry I might carry it one of the slash pockets.
It just depends on what I am doing at the time. But most of the time I carry like in these pics.
This pic was taken a couple of days back. I carried this way till I got over the bridge and into the woods.
Then I switched to this carry, which I really like. for walking through the woods.
Today I carried a different big knife. but still carried it this way.
It really makes for a handy way to get at my knife when I need to.
I make my own knives and make my own kydex sheaths so I get to make the the way I want.
I have the kydex press that it 24" so I can do some long sheaths if need be pretty easy.
Anyways that is what I carry my bigger knives in and the way I carry them.
Bryan
It just depends on what I am doing at the time. But most of the time I carry like in these pics.
This pic was taken a couple of days back. I carried this way till I got over the bridge and into the woods.
Then I switched to this carry, which I really like. for walking through the woods.
Today I carried a different big knife. but still carried it this way.
It really makes for a handy way to get at my knife when I need to.
I make my own knives and make my own kydex sheaths so I get to make the the way I want.
I have the kydex press that it 24" so I can do some long sheaths if need be pretty easy.
Anyways that is what I carry my bigger knives in and the way I carry them.
Bryan
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2007
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- 3,503
I like to wear mine weakside/Crossdraw. I'm a southpaw so I had to mod my Condor Leather sheath for my Golok to wear crossdraw on my right hip. Now if I can figure out a way to mod my Parang sheath to wear crossdraw on my right hip then I will be set !
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- Mar 29, 2006
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- 1,466
I also used plastic pipe to make a sheath. Carry it cross draw or slung over the shoulder with a baldric rig. The sheath makes a decent cutting board in camp too.
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- May 17, 2006
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I like the PVC sheaths, never done one, but I wanna try.I made the sheathes for my machetes out of thin-wall PVC drain pipe which I heated, flattened, and shaped. Made belt loop with same material. Afterwards I painted it with gray spray vinyl paint. Lastly I wrapped sheath with paracord. Worked out beautifully in the jungles of Hawai'i.
I like that top machete too!
I like that style of carry, do you have any close up pictures of that rig?I carry my bigger knives in Kydex and sometimes depending on what pack I carry I might carry it one of the slash pockets.
It just depends on what I am doing at the time. But most of the time I carry like in these pics.
This pic was taken a couple of days back. I carried this way till I got over the bridge and into the woods.
Then I switched to this carry, which I really like. for walking through the woods.
Today I carried a different big knife. but still carried it this way.
It really makes for a handy way to get at my knife when I need to.
I make my own knives and make my own kydex sheaths so I get to make the the way I want.
I have the kydex press that it 24" so I can do some long sheaths if need be pretty easy.
Anyways that is what I carry my bigger knives in and the way I carry them.
Bryan
Good pictures too.
I like that sheath a lot. Need to go make one for my 12" OM.I also used plastic pipe to make a sheath. Carry it cross draw or slung over the shoulder with a baldric rig. The sheath makes a decent cutting board in camp too.
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- May 17, 2006
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- 4,290
Hi all,
bearthedog, I just string the 550 cord through the nearest hollow rivits on the sheath near the handle and then sling it over my shoulder. Left or right side it works either way.
Bryan
Thanks. I guess the real question is, what you got there? Is it your design?
-RB
