Knife carry - back of belt?

Okay, so I've seen a number of YouTube videos where people carry fixed blade knives on the very back of their belts. The suburbanite in me cringes when he sees this, as it looks like a great way to buy new seats for the car, the living room, etc. Up until now, I've contented myself with a fixed blade knife safely secured in my backpack, and a capable high quality folder clipped into my right pocket. Am I missing out on something, or do the people in the videos just enjoy buying new upholstery?

analog_peninsula said:

Okay, so I've seen a number of YouTube videos where people carry fixed blade knives on the very back of their belts. The suburbanite in me cringes when he sees this, as it looks like a great way to buy new seats for the car, the living room, etc. Up until now, I've contented myself with a fixed blade knife safely secured in my backpack, and a capable high quality folder clipped into my right pocket. Am I missing out on something, or do the people in the videos just enjoy buying new upholstery?

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Are you talking horizontally? As in scout carry? Someone mentioned they thought it was a safety concern once. I can kind of see that. Getting into an accident of some sort with a piece of steel across your spine could cause an issue I guess

Pocket carry is pretty comfortable. For <5” blades. If you have the pocket room that is

I find any sheath knife on my belt uncomfortable in a vehicle, never mind the possibility of damaging upholstery. I do exactly what you already do.

I think it’s the African equivalent of the guy who wears a drop leg holster for his Glock in deer camp.

Never know when you’re gonna need it! ;-)

never watched a utube on knife carry but Probably informative, for my self I carry a belt knife every day and leave it on my pants belt here a home. Ive learned the hard way ,when I dont ,I have to walk back to the house for it, usually to cut hay twine or a loose end rope, its just an everyday item . as far as a folding knife they are very unhandy to get to seated in a truck or on horse back, almost impossible unless you stand in the stirrup or dangle your leg. when packing a pistol on my belt in bear country its just too much to carry an addtional knife on my draw hand side, as you have to feel what you grasp first. and a phone billfold car keys in the pocket leaves no room for my folders.
you didnt specify how the middle of the back carry position was but the only way I would do it is horizontal with belt, I cover most of my knife handles with a leather glove finger to help with the grip as a bloody knife is hard to grip as in skinning an elk.
Ive got a scratch or 2 on my couch but I blame it on the dog, and like a scratch on the gun stock ,wish I hadnt done it but adds character. If the knife becomes loose I add a leather strap into the scabbard totighten it up, see belt pic .I learned after loosing an expensive knife on an elk hunt.
good question I hope we hear more .

analog_peninsula said:

Okay, so I've seen a number of YouTube videos where people carry fixed blade knives on the very back of their belts. The suburbanite in me cringes when he sees this, as it looks like a great way to buy new seats for the car, the living room, etc. Up until now, I've contented myself with a fixed blade knife safely secured in my backpack, and a capable high quality folder clipped into my right pocket. Am I missing out on something, or do the people in the videos just enjoy buying new upholstery?

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I have a separate "hunting belt." Cartridge carrier, range finder, small pair of shooting sticks, two knives, a small pouch to.hold essentials and a canteen in hot, dry country. Most, if not all of these things are on the belt during a hunt. When I get back to a vehicle or go inside there is no question about sitting with it on. Undo the buckle and everything comes off at one time. And yes the knives are in the back.

While it may not be a fixed blade, this is a sheath that I designed to hold a 110 Buck folder. It can be worn on one side or in the middle in the back. I don't care for a fixed blade knife on my belt, and this is a great way to have a knife with me if I don't have my pack on me at the time.

analog_peninsula said:

I've contented myself with a fixed blade knife safely secured in my backpack, and a capable high quality folder clipped into my right pocket

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I do the same.

I'll try to post a screenshot the next time I see the carry, but it's just a fixed blade in a sheath hung vertically in the very center of the back. Seems fine if you're walking or standing, but very awkward if you're sitting.

I also keep my sheath knife in the backpack when hunting here. I'll only ever need it when dressing an animal and then I'll have to take off the pack anyway. I don't take a knife with me to Africa. It's pointless. They won't let me touch a carcass.

With a fixed blade on my belt, I prefer it hanging on a dangler… Total freedom of movement getting in or out of vehicles, sitting, climbing whatever the circumstance….. and removable

I keep a folder in my front, strong side pocket.. thats the only knife I keep on my person..

other knives, multi-tool, etc.. all get hauled around in my pack..

Wear your sheath knife on your strong side at 4-5 o'clock and it won't be a problem.

Light Victorinox folder on the belt.

Skinner in the backpak

I tried the horizontal back carry… didn’t like it at all.
I carry assisted folding knife on a pocket clip all the time everyday.
And a Von Gruff PH EDC vertical on my belt when hunting.
Everything else goes in a pack….

The knife Scout Position carry which is a horizontal fixed blade carry across the center of back belt loops is generally a weak hand technique. The strong hand will still have access to a clipped pocket folder or firearm. I carry a Leatherman tool in the bush in a vertical holster and do not carry a knife.

Think total utility, nothing more. I carry a pocket knife; 2.5 inch blade. It field dressed a Golden Wildebeest. I carry a 4.5 inch blade on my ammo belt and only wear it when I have to track. I also have a folding Buck knife I've carried since I went into Special Forces in 1972 (33yr career). I now carry that in my rucksack, but nothing on my pants belt. Snags too easily. Do you want "show" or "go"?

I went down the sheath knife on the hunting belt rabbit hole last year with an Esee RB3. I even bought a sheath of Etsy and wet formed it to the blade. Very cool package.

But, I learned there is no need for me to carry such a knife. While it looks cool, it has no practical application (bushcraft is not a thing for me while on safari) and is redundant to the daily use Benchmade folder I carry in my front pocket.

In practice, the sheath knife became a paper weight on my hunting belt and I was constantly fussing with it to keep it centered above my tailbone. I’m not going to help skin (that’s why God invented skinners), I’m not going to build a fire (they have one at the lodge) and I’m not going to brush out a blind (again, skinners/tracker job). I took it off and put in the day pack after 3 days of carrying it. I’m glad to have it but it will live in the pack.

What WAS useful was having a smaller flashlight, either in my pocket or on the belt. We had several nights tracking a bit in the dark or just walking back to the truck. PH’s and trackers default to phone lights - I was very glad to have a real flashlight and will carry it on the belt from now on. Worth the weight on the belt.

YMMV,

Good Luck.

Surefire on my belt, and headlight in my backpack

Javaman said:

I went down the sheath knife on the hunting belt rabbit hole last year with an Esee RB3. I even bought a sheath of Etsy and wet formed it to the blade. Very cool package.

But, I learned there is no need for me to carry such a knife. While it looks cool, it has no practical application (bushcraft is not a thing for me while on safari) and is redundant to the daily use Benchmade folder I carry in my front pocket.

In practice, the sheath knife became a paper weight on my hunting belt and I was constantly fussing with it to keep it centered above my tailbone. I’m not going to help skin (that’s why God invented skinners), I’m not going to build a fire (they have one at the lodge) and I’m not going to brush out a blind (again, skinners/tracker job). I took it off and put in the day pack after 3 days of carrying it. I’m glad to have it but it will live in the pack.

What WAS useful was having a smaller flashlight, either in my pocket or on the belt. We had several nights tracking a bit in the dark or just walking back to the truck. PH’s and trackers default to phone lights - I was very glad to have a real flashlight and will carry it on the belt from now on. Worth the weight on the belt.

YMMV,

Good Luck.

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You're right. There really is no need for client/hunter to carry a large belt knife on an African safari. The staff will take care of any cutting or skinning. I had one just because it "lives" on my hunting belt. In the US however, without guides or staff, you can't do without at least one good blade. I generally have two fixed blades and will use both when an animal is taken. I also have a small flashlight and a headlight in a pouch on my belt. Africa or North America having light is a big help.