This instructable will show you how you can make a cheap horizontal sheath using any of the all-purpose ones that are traditionally oriented vertically but have the holes and belt slots available. It will be stabilized on its own belt. If your sheath does not have these holes but has room, it seems like it would be easy to drill them out so long as you are certain that doing so will not make the sheath fall apart. However, this is beyond the scope of this project.
I began this project after seeing a few people wearing their survival knives against the small of their back in the horizontal position. It can sometimes be a nuisance when you are out camping or backpacking and you have a larger knife hanging vertically below your belt, flopping around and sometimes hitting your leg when you walk. This was especially the case with my newly purchased Ka-Bar. It has a 7" blade, full length over 12". Aside from this, it is a more natural motion to withdraw the knife in this position, as your hanging arms and hands are already comfortably aligned with how you take out the knife. These are all little details that can often make the difference between a so-so experience and an enjoyable one.
I began this project after seeing a few people wearing their survival knives against the small of their back in the horizontal position. It can sometimes be a nuisance when you are out camping or backpacking and you have a larger knife hanging vertically below your belt, flopping around and sometimes hitting your leg when you walk. This was especially the case with my newly purchased Ka-Bar. It has a 7" blade, full length over 12". Aside from this, it is a more natural motion to withdraw the knife in this position, as your hanging arms and hands are already comfortably aligned with how you take out the knife. These are all little details that can often make the difference between a so-so experience and an enjoyable one.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
You will need the following:
1) Sheath that has the holes around the edge
2) 40" x 3/4" Webbing Strap with side-release buckle ($2.50)
2) 40" of nylon cord or paracord ($4 for 50ft)
It would also help to have:
1) Lighter
2) Rubberband or twist-tie
3) Fork to undo and retry stopper knot
The nylon cord and strap can both be bought from REI or any other outdoor type store. 40" webbing strap because I am a size 32" waist. Go bigger if you will need a bit more to function as a belt.
The strap will be used as the knife's independent belt. I tried other designs where you could just feed the belt you were wearing through it, but the sheath would slide around, which made it difficult to locate the knife (a big no-no!) and made it difficult to both draw and resheath the knife reliably.
1) Sheath that has the holes around the edge
2) 40" x 3/4" Webbing Strap with side-release buckle ($2.50)
2) 40" of nylon cord or paracord ($4 for 50ft)
It would also help to have:
1) Lighter
2) Rubberband or twist-tie
3) Fork to undo and retry stopper knot
The nylon cord and strap can both be bought from REI or any other outdoor type store. 40" webbing strap because I am a size 32" waist. Go bigger if you will need a bit more to function as a belt.
The strap will be used as the knife's independent belt. I tried other designs where you could just feed the belt you were wearing through it, but the sheath would slide around, which made it difficult to locate the knife (a big no-no!) and made it difficult to both draw and resheath the knife reliably.
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how is the knife secured in the sheath though i cant tell from the pics.
kabars are sexy i almost bought one today actually :)