Carry Options – Knife/Multitool
Tek-Lok
If you want the knife to ride rigid on the belt, this is by far the best option. You can add and remove the sheath without undoing the belt, and you can reorient the Tek-Lok on the sheath so that the knife carries horizontal, vertical, or slightly canted upward for a comfortable crossdraw. If you don’t have a ton of accessories added to the sheath, it is also 100% ambidextrous, meaning switching hands is easy to do, but more importantly, switching from a vertical right hand carry to a right hand scout carry (which requires moving the Tek-Lok from one side of the sheath to the other) is easy/possible. There is another very similar clip called the combat loop. I see both as equally versatile.
Soft Loops
These are rubber coated nylon loops with a pull the dot snap embedded. They can be attached to any given eyelet on a sheath, and therefore can be used to achieve many different angles and positions. Additionally, you can attach soft loops to molle or pals webbing. Finally, they can be used to wear a sheath inside or outside the waistband. These are extremely versatile and low profile, making them one of the best options out there. They are also fairly inexpensive, because they rarely require any custom doctoring on my end. I simply build the sheath and screw the loops into place.
Leather Scout Strap
This is a wide leather loop that goes over the spine of the sheath and has rugged pull the dot snaps (aka one-way fasteners) to allow for adding/removing the sheath without undoing the belt. It is the lowest profile option for scout/horizontal carry. Unfortunately, if the knife is large or really have l heavy, this method is less practical. It also only allows for horizontal carry positions, though it doesn’t require any removal or repositioning to switch hands; it is entirely ambidextrous as is.
Fixed Loop – Leather or Nylon
This is the same as the dangler, except the loop is fixed directly to the sheath, effectively cutting out the articulating D ring. It is a nice option for those who don’t want the sheath to swing freely, and who also don’t want the knife to be up high on the belt. Unlike conventional standoff plates or “drop plates”, the fixed loop provides all the benefits of the lower position, but eliminates the vulnerabilities. The plates can get creased or broken, but the loop will bend and flex under stress, while remaining stiff and sturdy under normal conditions.
Dangler – Leather or Nylon
This method allows you to suspend the knife from your belt, making it more comfortable to draw a longer blade as well as making your knife more accessible in cases where you might be wearing a shirt untucked, or a jacket. The dangler is a loop that goes up and over your belt, then through a D ring below the belt. The D ring is fixed directly to the sheath with an ultrastrong adapter, preventing creasing or breakage in the event that you snag the sheath while moving through the brush. The D ring gives the sheath the ability to sway a bit, so when you sit down, you are easily able to sweep the knife aside without the annoyance of banging it against your seat and feeling the counter pressures tug at your belt line. You can add a thigh strap to the design to turn a dangler into a drop-leg setup. If you choose nylon, you will have the option of a fixed loop or snaps. The snaps allow you to open the loop and slip it onto your belt, rather than having to weave your belt through the dangler loop.
Note: for both the dangler and the drop loop, I can add one way snaps to the nylon option, but not leather. The leather I use is simply too thick to accommodate the snap hardware. This means you’ll have to undo your belt and thread it through the leather loop.
Drop Leg – Leather or Nylon
As described above, it is simply a dangler with a leg strap. The leg strap can be achieved a number of different ways, to include anything from paracord woven through the eyelets on the sheath and an actual nylon strap connected to the sheath.
Molle Loks
If you want to attach your sheath to a pack or vest that has molle webbing, this is definitely the best option.
Baldric (2-point sling)
This is a 2 point rifle sling. It traditionally puts the sheath under your non dominant arm, near the hip, horizontal with the handle forward and blade edge down. Essentially it’s a hanging crossdraw. This is the first option we’ve discussed that doesn’t require a belt. Personally, it is one of 2 methods that I view as optimal for EVERYTHING except EDC around town, and particularly not in urban environments, for obvious reasons. You can adjust the sling so that it fits correctly when wearing anything from a heavy winter coat to nothing at all. The sling wears on your dominant shoulder and crosses your torso. The large contact area means that you can generally put the sheath anywhere on that orbit and it will stay put until you move it. It also means that you will hardly notice the weight of even heavier knives. Works well in combination with backpacks, all sorts of attire, and even wears comfortably UNDER a jacket. I love this setup. The ends of the sling have HK style clips which attach to the sheath at each end through a large D ring, meaning easy to remove and fast to reattach. Because there are so many quality options for slings, I will wait to discuss the actual sling prices until a customer expresses interest in this avenue specifically. I charge $25 to setup the sheath with the D ring attach points. And in case you’d like to know/research my top recommendation for a sling, it is the Beachin Tactical Baldric or Light Baldric sling (please visit their website for current pricing).
Chest/Back Harness
This is a versatile option that allows you to carry your knife in combination with a pack or other accessory which might limit belt carry options. Or perhaps you just want an option that isn’t dependent on wearing a belt. Chest carry is exceptionally comfortable and convenient. The new harness setup I’m offering is a collaborative effort between myself and Beachin Tactical. It is a 3 or 4 point harness that gives you the ability to attach to almost any sheath or holster and position it virtually anywhere on your chest or back. This is universal, so if you have a sheath you’re already happy with and just want to add the harness to the carry options, this will be a ready-to-install unit that you can purchase and add; no need to send your stuff to me! Chest carry is optimal for the medium to large knives in your collection. Not too large though. Consider the dimensions of your blade and how it would be positioned before deciding on a harness setup. That said, if you’re a ninja at heart, the harness DOES allow you to draw from the back…
IWB/Pocket – Ulticlip
There are several models of the ulticlip. I work with all of them, so please search through the current product lineup to see which ones are available. The ulticlip is easily the best choice for an inside the pocket sheath or holster. The clip is designed to grip onto the fabric of your pants, rather than a belt. The application translates very well to inside the waistband as well, clipped onto the waistband BEHIND the belt. This clip is not intended for any kind of outside the waistband application.
IWB – Grip Hook
This is a polymer plastic clip that facilitates IWB carry. It is ideal for small knives carried inside the waistband, as well as AIWB holsters.
IWB with Static Tether
The static tether utilizes a short paracord tether attached to your sheath or holster on one side and an anchored belt clip on the other. Generally, if you are ordering a single item, such as a small sheath, I would recommend a grip hook as that anchor. However, I have done many projects that included multiple parts, and I attached the paracord to another item riding on a Tek-Lok, for instance. The point is how it functions; you stow the “tethered” sheath IWB, and when you need it, simply grab the handle and pull. The paracord tether will catch and the sheath will pop off. This works very well for small fixed blades and for auto deploy sheaths on folding knives.
Paracord Necklace
Whether fixed blade or folder, a paracord necklace is a great way to carry your smaller blades. With fixed blades, it is most typical to suspend the sheath from the tip for a natural grip position and downward draw. As always, you’ll have the option of using the thumb ramp, but you can certainly “grip it n’ rip it” if need be. With most folders, you’ll have the option of an auto deploy sheath. This is a sheath that will engage the thumb studs or opening hole so that the blade opens automatically as you draw. Because there are so many different types of folders, I’ll need to see yours before I can confirm that this option is possible with the specific knife.