Adapting to what works now .
I realize that this may sound silly but what exactly is a Waist Coat?
I don't like to keep a lot in my pockets. Well, what I dont like is the times sitting on the bottom of my pocket. Suspending things just so they are safe within the pocket is great so long as they don't just sit there. I had to laugh a bit when you described the MT sheath and loo. The belt loop spacing on certain pants is something to consider. Certain sheaths do work themselves around to the next loop. I don't mind a sheath on my belt for the most part. How it sits is most important. High riding sheaths are a no go for me. I'm a thin guy but they can still poke and reaching for my tool is not as fluid as I'd like. I like to carry about the 4ish o'clock position for some items and the 6ish o'clock for others. I'm a lefty but I manage well with both hands.
The S biner on the pouch/belt loop has made the biggest difference. So nice to get the weight of a pliers tool out of the pocket, without losing function, or putting myself at risk of entanglement on machinery or engine bay components.You probably know it as a vest. The third piece of a three piece suit. Over here, a vest is something worn under a shirt.
This:(Image removed from quote.)Pretty fancy, too!
Personally I got tired of having a sheath on my belt because I kept bumping into things with it and it looked bad when I had to have client meetings. So I switched it around completely; and just have a 111mm SAK in my pocket as my edc and then carry my Surge on the belt of my work pants.I have been doing this for the past 2 - 3 weeks now and so far I am pretty happy with this solution.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, I don't like the look of sheaths either. I'd have never worn them while working, and they've only become an acceptable (to me) option since I'm home most of the time. I might consider keeping it on when leaving the house if I'm wearing a long enough jacket to cover it, but would otherwise pick a different carry method away from home, to avoid the wannabe Batman look.
I only use horizontal belt sheaths. I learnt that trick from biking and it's even more important for car use. I make my own sheaths and they are designed to be tight on the belt. Tight enough that they don't shift, full stop. I had to wear my LM sheath last week, it was moving all over the place. I had to adjust it constantly, was rather annoying.Oh and I wish I could wear waistcoats but I'm rather 'economy sized' to be able to pull it off. Oh for my youth...
I'm actually playing with the idea of going the other direction. Now that my EDC knife is a single layer homemade 91mm SAK, total cost about 17 quid (considerably less if I mod a used SAK), I'm wondering why I'm bothering with the sheath. The tool is small, light and heck, at that price it's practically disposable. Why not just chuck it in my pocket? That said, a sheath just works. I might make me a smaller one specifically for this SAK. My current sheath is designed for slightly bigger knives.(Image removed from quote.)
How far round do you wear a horizontal sheath? I have tried horizontal carry, but found there was a higher chance of dropsies - either opening the flap and the tool falls out before I've grabbed it, or trying to get the damn thing back in there. Also, if you do happen to brush against something and pull the flap open, with vertical carry, the tool is more likely to stay put. Just my own experience.
I have it on my right side, under my arm at 3 o'clock if that makes sense? I don't find stuff catches on it to open, I design them snug to the belt even at the top but my sheaths are tight enough that stuff won't fall out even if the sheath did open. Not just my homemade ones but also my LM Charge sheath (which is very tight actually). I always put a second snap on my homemade sheaths (sort of my trademark) because I like feeling more secure. Reinserting just works, never found it a problem if you always know where the sheath is on your belt, i.e. if it's not moving all over the shop.(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)
I know what you mean. I never stuck at it (horizontal carry) long enough for familiarity to help I think if I was going to make my own, I'd go for the flap down the long edge, so it would still be top opening when worn horizontally.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with
What tool are you carrying on your belt? If I get the design working OK I'll knock you one up. Be warned, might take a while though, I'm in the middle of a new business venture.
Very kind of you, Ben, but I'm actually starting to dabble with that myself I've got about 1/4 side of tooling leather, plus a box full of coloured offcuts from an upholstery maker It's one of the few armchair hobby type things that I can dip in and out of when health permits Although, if I do make a complete hash of it, I might take you up on your offer later
Nice! I've used Leather4craft.co.uk for leather to date. Good supplier with some nice high end stuff. Not cheap but free postage.
Thanks for the tip, I'll check them out I've got the basic stuff I need, and am just waiting for some more thread coming in. I'm going for functional rather than decorative, as my vision ain't good enough to see if the tip of the needle/awl is actually where I think it is, so my stitching will likely be ugly but bombproof
Nice thread!! In my experience horizontally carried sheaths have a much less chance of moving or sliding off/falling to the ground than vertical carry systems, the friction is usually higher.(Image removed from quote.)I like horizontal carry, and most days I wear a minimum of two sheaths on the belt, usually 4. I always try to compensate and balance both sides of the hips , so if I carry a sheath at 4 o'clock I put the other one at 7 to 8 o'clock, and if I have 2 sheaths on one side, I put two on the other (or a bigger, heavier loaded one on the other end) (Image removed from quote.)the vertical and horizontal compatible sheaths are my favorite kind, snap over velcro is prefered, and leather over nylon or cordura (Image removed from quote.)my folders and knives ride in the pockets always, the pouches and belt carry are for smartphone, pliers tools, some SAKs, lights, keys and other gear (loupes, tweezers, prybars...) and they always get covered but he shirt, T-shirt, jacket or work vest (Image removed from quote.)