Knife Retention Systems

[DancesWithKnives]

I am thinking about knife retention systems these days because I recently lost a blade. I was riding a Rokon 2WD motorbike in the nearby mountains. I had a CS Vaquero Grande in a kydex sheath clipped to my waistband over my left hip. I think that my position while riding caused my thigh to push it up and disengage the clip. No more knife.

Knife carry and retention systems always seem to be a compromise between security and easy access. You can tuck your knife securely inside a closed pack and greatly diminish the risk of loss, but then it's not very handy.

What do you favor for carrying (and hopefully keeping) your knives when out in the sticks?

DWK

[Bushman]

I had a custom pack made and I had two narrow pockets sewn into the inside top of it to hold my knife and folding saw. They are always there and while not easy access, they are always there. I've dropped my pocket knife out of my pocket too many times to risk not having my hunting knife when I really need it. My every day pocket knife is a little drop point that ended up in the couch cushions pretty often until I started keeping it in that little upper 4" jean pocket that hardly anyone ever uses.

I sure envy you being able to ride the Rokon right out your back door with your new place. Mine didn't get to go hunting last fall because I took the boat instead and I miss not taking it out more than I have been.

[DancesWithKnives]

Sounds like a great pack design. Thanks for the description.

Yes, the Rokon was a stupid idea when I lived in a condo in Los Smogeles. However, it is pretty handy around a ranch and in a rural area near the mountains. If you ride on the shoulder, the police don't seem too concerned about ATV use in a lightly populated, rural area. That permits you to ride to the trailhead without having to load and unload the vehicle from your truck.

There are several shepherd trailers in the local mountains and I've heard that some sheep have been taken by lions---which are supposedly an over-the-counter tag around here. Might be able to Rokon my way up there and help the sheep herders.

DWK

[Altjaeger]

:My every day knives ( a basic Cwiss army and a China made Buck ranch knife) just get stuck in my left side pocket. My quick dry kayaking clothes lose things out of the side pocket so I carry single blade folding knives (two Bucks and a Kershaw) with clips clipping one in the side pocket, one in a shirt pocket and one in the PFD. With all that back up in case of loss I of course have never lost one.:laugh:

When hunting my two everyday knives travel in my left pocket. My gutting and skinning knives are in the side pocket of my day pack. My other knives are in a butt pack back in camp.

[gailt]

heres a nice system,and they make good knives with 1095 steel.
http://www.eseeknives.com/sheaths.htm

[DancesWithKnives]

The ESEE knives have had a lot of positive buzz under their original name and I'm sure they'll continue to be well regarded. I have a Mad Dog ATAK2 with a similar carry system: Pressure fit kydex sheath backed up by a strap over the handle. Nice setup.

DWK