What's the largest belt knife you'd comfortably EDC on your hip

[Hickory n steel]

Let’s see, I’ve carried a bayonet and machete while in uniform but those don’t count in my mind.

My Benchmade 162 has about a four and a half inch blade. So, I would say that is about it.

With the right sheath of course.
High on the belt is the way to go, IMO. Leather or maybe Kydex.
No ballistic nylon tactical garbage.
I have a Falcon from the OKC Ranger series that just sits because of the sheath.

I recently handled a EDC fixed blade from CPK. Very impressive.

High riding for sure, but I go that way with all belt knives.

 

[sabre cat]

High riding for sure, but I go that way with all belt knives.

I am considering shifting to a horizontal sheath carry for my larger folders. Full-size Griptilians and such. Just a thought.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[rxavage]

The Milwaukee tradesman fixed blade knife is about as perfect an edc I could ever want. The 4” blade doesn’t seem to intimidate or incite the reactions my gerber strongarm gets. Maybe it’s the red plastic handle ubiquitous to Milwaukee that soothes my coworkers, seeing as most of us use And carry their fastback hawkbill daily, along with many of their other tools. I don’t know, but I really like the tradesman and i can’t find better for the price.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I am considering shifting to a horizontal sheath carry for my larger folders. Full-size Griptilians and such. Just a thought.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Ask one of the excellent craftsman here to make you something ?

An idea I had but never tried before I switched to traditionals was a lanyard that hooked to your belt loop , the idea being you put the pocket clip throw one belt loop then clip the lanyard to another to secure it.

 

[sabre cat]

Ask one of the excellent craftsman here to make you something ?

An idea I had but never tried before I switched to traditionals was a lanyard that hooked to your belt loop , the idea being you put the pocket clip throw one belt loop then clip the lanyard to another to secure it.

Over the last few years I have found myself using knives that weigh less and less.

Now I’m beginning to want less stuff in my pockets. That’s why I am considering horizontal carry.
One of the reasons, anyway.

I think having a long lanyard on my knife would be counterproductive to clearing out my pockets.

However, most lanyards hook to a knife with a bail or lanyard hole. Having one connect to a pocket clip is a cool idea. I wish I had thought of it.

 

[justjed]

What would be my biggest fixed blade for EDC? Hopefully, the one I just got. White River Knives Sendero Classic, 4.5" blade, 9.2" overall, thin, light, with a regular lo-ride drop sheath. Bought this to be 'THE ONE', and so far it feels like a solid choice.

 

[Hickory n steel]

What would be my biggest fixed blade for EDC? Hopefully, the one I just got. White River Knives Sendero Classic, 4.5" blade, 9.2" overall, thin, light, with a regular lo-ride drop sheath. Bought this to be 'THE ONE', and so far it feels like a solid choice.

Sounds like a nice knife and a good size for just about anything.

I'm still hoping to find " the edc belt knife " I already know the details I'm after and while there's really no " the one " I just want to have what I'd consider the perfect EDC belt knife. Just knowing what it is and having it is enough even if I still rotate it out for others.

 

[Crimson Cloud]

What would be my biggest fixed blade for EDC? Hopefully, the one I just got. White River Knives Sendero Classic, 4.5" blade, 9.2" overall, thin, light, with a regular lo-ride drop sheath. Bought this to be 'THE ONE', and so far it feels like a solid choice.

Congrats on the new knife. I've looked at that Jerry Fisk Sendero Classic a lot, and it seems to be a great design: low weight and a thinner blade stock at 0.0130", which should make it a really nice slicer. Glad it comes with a good sheath as well. White River is working with some really good knife makers, including Owen Baker, Jr., to produce excellent knives.

 

[cbach8tw]

Sounds like a nice knife and a good size for just about anything.

I'm still hoping to find " the edc belt knife " I already know the details I'm after and while there's really no " the one " I just want to have what I'd consider the perfect EDC belt knife. Just knowing what it is and having it is enough even if I still rotate it out for others.

Wat are the details? Are you still searching for it?

 

[Chronovore]

Out in the woods, it doesn't really matter. So long as it isn't terribly uncomfortable, it's fine.

Around town is another story. Lots of people are uninformed or misinformed about knives, guns, etc. Not having them in their daily lives, they can become uncomfortable or scared at the sight of them. I know there is a school of thought that says "too bad for those people". Aside from being considerate of those people, I don't like the idea of people being scared or uncomfortable around me.

So a knife has to be discrete for me to wear it on my belt. With dark pants, something like Le Duck virtually disappears when worn horizontally under a Dunlop. Otherwise, a cover garment is needed. Lately, I've been trying out the QSP Neckmuck. It's quite comfortable when worn high on a Tek-Lok. I'll eventually get a review up.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Wat are the details? Are you still searching for it?

Not exactly searching, I just kind of have an idea what my ideal knife would be.

Pretty much about like this but with scales, it's simple enough I'll probably just make it.

 

[cbach8tw]

Not exactly searching, I just kind of have an idea what my ideal knife would be.

Pretty much about like this but with scales, it's simple enough I'll probably just make it.

Very nice, this looks very much like the JK Hurley Creek Lite, it comes with scales in 01 in 3/32 or the regular HC comes in different thicknesses, I have one in 3/16. It also reminds me of the White River knives small game or the Always there knife (no scales). Or the ESEE cr2.5 Camp-Lore.

 

[JParanee]

The problem isn’t the size of the knife...... it’s the sheath systems that are utilized in the Western Hemisphere

in a long by gone era when men carried large blades they did not employ belt sheaths that connected at the top and let the knife hang down and slap against the leg

this type of carry is idiotic and the leg ties that accompany this style are even more so

blade cultures have always utilized sash carry

when carrying a blade in this fashion the blade is free floating and pulled tight along the center line where it is secure and readily available

quick to draw and easy to move to different positions for sitting , riding etc

utilizing a simple stud and quality sheath a 10 inch Bowie can carry very well and not slap on your leg like an idiot

you can rotate to in front of hip cross draw to behind hip in a second and again pulling it tight to your center line makes for great mobility and fast draw

you can even go iwb to conceal if need be


Here is a vintage pick of Bill Bagwell doing a rope cut where you can see a knife worn behind hip




Studs can be a simple button like on this classic from Diskin



and like this modern Fighter from Wheeler with custom leather and stud



Or something elaborate like on this Foster that utilizes a wart hog ivory I shot years ago



you can go really crazy and shoulder rig if you have a suit on






On small blades I like horizontal crossdraw either in sash or belt









There are many types of sash style carry sheaths

 

[Dogdrawz]

SMATCHET!
sorry bout that

 

[Hickory n steel]

Very nice, this looks very much like the JK Hurley Creek Lite, it comes with scales in 01 in 3/32 or the regular HC comes in different thicknesses, I have one in 3/16. It also reminds me of the White River knives small game or the Always there knife (no scales). Or the ESEE cr2.5 Camp-Lore.

The GEC H20 drop point seems about perfect and they were less than $50 when available, if they bring them back out I'll buy one but otherwise I think I'll either buy some 1095 from JANTZ or just buy a carbide drill bit and add some scales to this file knife like I contemplated doing when I first made it.

 

[justjed]

I agree, there are better ways to carry MOST knives. And when I feel the need to carry a larger blade, the HOW is decided by the expected use. But this thread is about EVERY DAY carry. For me, that really means every day. And for now, that's a 4-1/2" blade, just over 9" overall.

 

[22-rimfire]

Sounds like a nice knife and a good size for just about anything.

I'm still hoping to find " the edc belt knife " I already know the details I'm after and while there's really no " the one " I just want to have what I'd consider the perfect EDC belt knife. Just knowing what it is and having it is enough even if I still rotate it out for others.

I posted this picture over in the Kephart thread, but you might take a look at these two blades. I have been carrying the Condor Compact Kephart since the end of October every day and you don't even know it's there. Not much money. The Bark River Mini Kephart works for an edc knife too; it's just a tad larger but allows for a full grip.

 

[Horsewright]

Over the years I just have not found the need for a larger knife as an EDC. I do carry a fixed blade daily and have for 25 plus years. They are always carried in a horizontal crossdraw sheath. Most of mine run right around 5.5"oal range with a 2" blade. At our most recent branding. Thats a prototype castrator in my back pocket, not my edc.

This size of knife and the location and type of carry is perfect for some of the active things I do. A guy can bend over easy while doing groundwork:

Branding:

Heck ya can even have a 70 lb calf laying on it and its not bothering you. This little guy ran out of gas and needed a lift. He was way up on top of those mountains in the background.

I can get to my knife with either hand which is important to a roper. Its out of the way when I'm dallying (wrapping the rope around the saddle horn as a brake). Sometimes this has to be done very rapidly and if you have stuff that is in the way, you are gonna get in a wreck!

Not opposed to larger knives for specific things, just not what I EDC. We had to go up onto this high ridge where we'd found a tweaker/crankster encampment. The Sheriff's Dept had cleared it first and now we needed to clean er up. It was on a part of the ranch we hadn't ridden in a couple of years. We ended up hauling 4 or 5 tents, 10 sleeping bags, ice chests, packs and just junk down out of there. Here my buddy Tyler found a hammer. He's a tool guy, but he's also carrying a larger camp knife.

I had one with me too and they were handy for cutting down the stuff they had strung up in the brush and the trees:

We were able to bundle everything up in the tents and drag all the stuff down the mountain till we could get to it with a quad. Filled up a pick up.

Anyhoo that'd been a big job for my little EDC, a job for a bigger knife, but day in day out, my little guys haven't failed. Must not be alone in this though though cause I sure sell a lot of em. Bottom one is the one I'm carrying right now. It was a reject that I wasn't gonna sell so I kept it.

Its 5.5" bow to stern. As Joe's pics show, crossdraw carry has a decidedly other advantage too. It frees up the strong side for other accoutrements.

Notice that Tyler being a lefty has his knife on the right hip crossdraw and a Kimber revolver on his left, while I've got my Smith on the right side. Summertime in cow country the first round is always snake shot! When Tyler and I first found that tweaker village we had a young 16 year old gal riding with us. We were missing 6 head of cattle from our gather. As cowboss, it was my job to divide my crew up to look for this missing 6. I'd divided the crew into three separate groups and sent em off into the hinter lands looking for cattle. I'd brought Emma with us because her horse was being overly energetic and could use the VERY steep climb and the long ride we were gonna have. Tyler and I were both riding big circle horses so we were mounted for this ride. We climbed the ridge and saw a blue tarp where no blue tarp should be in a tree. We had Emma stay back and we rotated our cylinders so that the snake shot was the last shot and we each circled around in opposite directions to approach this encampment, gun in hand at the same time. It was abandoned but folks often ask why we carry on the ranch. Thats just one reason. Emma is gonna make a hand. She tried out that prototype castrater on the first calf she ever cut:

 

[GatorFlash1]

Spyderco Bill Moran Drop Point or Gayle Bradley Bowie, great for fixed blade carry IMHO. I carry the Moran, have since it was first released. Great for hunting, camping, etc. From my view most fixed blades are too big, too heavy, and not really needed for the intended tasks.

 

[22-rimfire]

The problem isn’t the size of the knife...... it’s the sheath systems that are utilized in the Western Hemisphere.
<snip>

I like wearing a sport coat with jeans and knife or gun concealed beneath. Very classy! The carry approach makes all the difference. That particular knife is a bit big for me personally, but to each his own.