Non-folding Knife

[Kc Fiedler]

I was taught to always carry a knife on your belt, for these two reasons: 1) if you lose all your gear (pack or whatnot) you still have your knife, and 2) if you need it for any sort of defensive action, it must be readily available.

How do you wear a belt with a knife on it and still wear the hip belt of your backpack properly? Just curious because I can't stand having a belt let alone a knife under my hip pads.

[Trance]

http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-S...+wesson+dagger

Smith and Wesson Boot knife. Lightweight, if you sharpen it alittle it cuts great. Looks like something you wouldnt want to get stuck with either, so it keeps the trail hobos at bay. I dont need a multitool with a screwdriver to hike the AT.

[Second Hand]

I come from the same school of thought as a lot of people on this thread. When I first started out I carried a Full tango knife w/ 550 cord handle and flint fire starter tied to it. I envisioned myself being stranded in the woods and needing to build shelters and make fires night after night.

I then switched down to a Swiss army knife that I carry with me everywhere I go.

I soon realized I didn't need screw drivers and other odds and ends on the trail, so I downsized to a smaller swiss army knife.

I prefer this over a fixed blade knife because I find the Scissors and tweezers to be the most useful on the trail.

[bfayer]

http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-S...+wesson+dagger

Smith and Wesson Boot knife. Lightweight, if you sharpen it alittle it cuts great. Looks like something you wouldnt want to get stuck with either, so it keeps the trail hobos at bay. I dont need a multitool with a screwdriver to hike the AT.

Concealing double edged knifes in VA is illegal. The knife itself is not illegal, but if you have it it better be in plain sight.

§ 18.2-308. Personal protection; carrying concealed weapons; when lawful to carry. A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, . . . (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, . . . or (v) any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor

The VA courts define "Dirk" as a double edged knife.

[Conure]

How do you wear a belt with a knife on it and still wear the hip belt of your backpack properly? Just curious because I can't stand having a belt let alone a knife under my hip pads.

I understand what you're asking but I don't know how to answer you. It doesn't, nor has it ever, been a problem for me. In the Scouts I wore a standard, canvas type belt (normal Scout wear). Afterward, when I started becoming more "fashionable" I started wearing 1 1/2 leather belts. That's all I ever wear anymore. Either belt has never given me any kind of issue with wearing a backpack and interfering with its padded hip belt.

Maybe its just me : )

One thing I will say though, like a knife, I don't go into the woods without a belt. If situations demand, I can use my belt for a tourniquet, safety line, burnish my knife blade, etc. Hell, in a survival situation I could even cut it into strips if need be. Thousand and one uses for a good leather belt.

I feel I need to make it clear that I am neither paranoid nor naive. What I was looking for in this post was a general idea of what types of non-folding knives people that bring them use, and where they carry it. I have every intention of carrying my knife, even though I am acutely aware that it is overkill for the AT, and I highly doubt it will ever leave its sheath. Still, for me, in my mind, not having my knife is like not having a life jacket on when in a boat. I much rather have it and never use it then not have it in that single, rare instance when it could save your life. Its how I've been taught.

I can tell you that I have been thankful to have a knife many times in the past but I've never needed one to survive, yet; except to get a particular solo survival merit badge way back when I was in the Scouts...hmmm, wonder if that's one they revised too : )

[Kc Fiedler]

Does the knife it's self ride below the pad of the belt when you carry it?

[Conure]

Does the knife it's self ride below the pad of the belt when you carry it?

Okay, I'm working from home so I was able to do some research...

I have an Osprey Atmos 65 that I am modifying for my AT hike, I just purchased this pack two weeks ago. I also have an old but still used external frame Jansport pack that I have had since I was seventeen and has been everywhere with me. I've just tested both packs wearing two different sheath knives (a six inch hunting knife and a 4 1/2 inch bush knife). I also tested wearing the knives on either side of my body...but then I realized what's going on.

First, the logistics and answer to your question:

The hip belt of both packs basically cover my belt, more or less. The knife's handle falls below both belts, allowing access to the knife without interference. Doesn't matter which side its on (just for the sake of conversation I will state that I primarily wear my knife on the side opposite my dominant hand--for me, that's my left side).

Now, the realization:

The knife sheaths I use, one I made and the other was a custom purchase, are of the style that has the belt loop reaching up and over the knife handle, almost like a separate part of the sheath itself, not the type that has the belt loop sewn behind the knife handle. This drops the knife down about 2 1/2 inches from the belt. To validate, I dug out one my knives' old sheaths--sheez, the things you do for WB : )--and, sure enough, it had the belt loop sewn behind the knife's handle; and, sure enough, it interfered with the hip belt. So there you have it, not much of a mystery after all.

Quick answer, yes the knife rides below the hip belt but only due to a certain style of sheath.

[Kc Fiedler]

Okay, I'm working from home so I was able to do some research...

I have an Osprey Atmos 65 that I am modifying for my AT hike, I just purchased this pack two weeks ago. I also have an old but still used external frame Jansport pack that I have had since I was seventeen and has been everywhere with me. I've just tested both packs wearing two different sheath knives (a six inch hunting knife and a 4 1/2 inch bush knife). I also tested wearing the knives on either side of my body...but then I realized what's going on.

First, the logistics and answer to your question:

The hip belt of both packs basically cover my belt, more or less. The knife's handle falls below both belts, allowing access to the knife without interference. Doesn't matter which side its on (just for the sake of conversation I will state that I primarily wear my knife on the side opposite my dominant hand--for me, that's my left side).

Now, the realization:

The knife sheaths I use, one I made and the other was a custom purchase, are of the style that has the belt loop reaching up and over the knife handle, almost like a separate part of the sheath itself, not the type that has the belt loop sewn behind the knife handle. This drops the knife down about 2 1/2 inches from the belt. To validate, I dug out one my knives' old sheaths--sheez, the things you do for WB : )--and, sure enough, it had the belt loop sewn behind the knife's handle; and, sure enough, it interfered with the hip belt. So there you have it, not much of a mystery after all.

Quick answer, yes the knife rides below the hip belt but only due to a certain style of sheath.

Mystery solved!

[Conure]

Mystery solved!

Yes. And I can definitely appreciate your apprehension of "how the hell is that possible!"

[squeezebox]

Would I have to get one of those idiot Sylvester Stylone hair cuts before I bought the knife. let alone his time in porn movies.

[Glogg]

I carried a non-folding knife on the AT in 2012. It was a Victorinox 3.5" paring knife. For a sheath, I used the plastic sleeve it came in, the bottom end reinforced with duct tape. For storage, it lived in the mesh front pocket of my ULA Circuit. I used it for cutting cheese, slicing sausage, and carving a pair of chopsticks once when I left my spoon in a hostel.

[Toon]

I always use neck knives while hiking. A knife is worthless if u gotta dig it out of your pack in a hurry. I recommend this
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/CR23...r-Survival-Kit

Sent from my SPH-M820-BST using Tapatalk 2

[Toon]

I always use neck knives while hiking. A knife is worthless if u gotta dig it out of your pack in a hurry. I recommend this
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/CR23...r-Survival-Kit

Sent from my SPH-M820-BST using Tapatalk 2

Plus it only weights. .9 oz hard to beat that.

Sent from my SPH-M820-BST using Tapatalk 2

[Kc Fiedler]

I've seen a couple people mention having to get to a knife quickly. What situations have you found yourself in that require instant access to your knives?

[aficion]

I've seen a couple people mention having to get to a knife quickly. What situations have you found yourself in that require instant access to your knives?

You fall in a lake and get entangled in someones trot line.

[Kc Fiedler]

You fall in a lake and get entangled in someones trot line.

Hate it when that happens.

[aficion]

Hate it when that happens.

OK it hasn't happened yet but I am capable. What about if you wake up to find the creepy girl you bought drinks for has bound your feet with para cord and is in the process of hitching you to her pack mule?

[WILLIAM HAYES]

a swiss army knife I have seen everthing on the trail from machetes to axes

[Kc Fiedler]

OK it hasn't happened yet but I am capable. What about if you wake up to find the creepy girl you bought drinks for has bound your feet with para cord and is in the process of hitching you to her pack mule?

Hahaha way to bring in that other thread. That was pretty funny I gotta give you kudos.

[SunnyWalker]

Toon: Pretty nice neck knife. A little more "sportier" then the Buck Hartsook. Shorter blade though . . . maybe. Hartsook is pretty small and short itself. Weight on it is also .9 oz., like the knife you left as an example.