Gentlemen, just wanted some thoughts about having a fixed blade positioned on the same side as your concealed firearm.
Just thinking through scenarios, would it be more reasonable to have it on the off-hand side? Or MOB? If for whatever reason you’re in a fight for retention for your firearm while in holster or otherwise to be able to deploy your blade with your off hand?
I suppose this could also be a question for Mil or LE setup and not be about concealed. I always had my blade strong side on my armor.
At work when I wear soft armor I carry a TDI on my other strong side, 730ish, behind my spare mag. I normally either carry a fixed blade (brave-heart) at my 11 or 1 depending on what I am wearing.
If carrying a pistol CCW or especially LE, it is my opinion that you should be support side carrying or carrying in a position that is easily accessed from the support side. The blade is not the primary tool, the pistol is. The blade should be accessible with the support hand for weapon retention / weapon grab or similar scenarios.
Agreed, I never carry a pocket knife in a pocket. Usually clipped behind my belt (iwb) at or around 12 O’Clock. I’ve almost always have my gun on me so I carry a small folder (primarily for retention) but if I’m not carrying, I’ll carry a large folder in it’s place. I’ve toyed with the idea of a a small fixed blade at 12 and a small folder at my 6 or 9 but haven’t gotten around to it yet. As for strong side carry, I am against having much of anything on your gun side but everyone’s needs will differ.
I’m not one of those guys who like flicking open a big, bad, tactical looking knife in public to show everyone how badass I am so, depending on attire, I try to have a small leatherman on me for all of the small tasks. It is less intimidating than my folders and that way, I am not giving away the position of my fighting tools in public.
Oh and I hear guys talking about retention all the time. It is great to practice the shooting skills associated with weapon retention but don’t forget to practice deploying your knife realistically. That means FoF ideally but at least be able to open your knife efficiently in your preferred position with your strong hand and more importantly, your support hand. This is where a fixed blade shines.
I always have a knife, and it’s always on the support side.
I like to carry a fixed blade for speed of deployment. I am also aware of failures of the lock mechanism on folders, plus someone being able to trap the deploying hand.
I have a Spyderco Ronin that rides in a modified Uncle Mike’s pocket holster, with a Kydex sheath inside that. It sits in the left-hand pocket of my jeans. It’s curved to fit the pocket, and is invisible to observers.
And so I do not unduly raise eyebrows, I do the same as sboza. A Leatherman P4 Squirt rides in my watch pocket of my jeans. The pliers are handy, and it has a small blade useful for opening boxes, letters, etc.
A 642 rides in the right front pocket as a BUG.
It is a bit comforting to be able to have a hand on a 642 or a razor-sharp fixed blade if needed. I’ve researched weapon retention techniques espoused by Mike Janich, on how to cut someone off my pistol. I am honestly baffled at how few non-LEO’s pay any attention at all to retention techniques.
I have carried a knife for so long on the left side, it just feels weird using a knife with my right hand. And these days, one can find folders that are made for lefties.
I felt like support side would be the consensus while thinking through it. I’ve always gone with a reliable benchmade folder in my strong side pocket but after seeing some people who I know are very knowledgable on the subject carry a small fixed I’ve decided to try it. I wanted some affirmation on the positioning issue and you gentlemen have given good insight.
Hey smash, just to add or be more clear, while I do some knife work, I am far from an expert, but I think that carry position is more relevant as to accessibility of the knife by either hand, especially the support hand when carrying a firearm. Now if you carry more than one knife, well that solves that one.
F2S, I have never had to do that yet, but that is how I carry and the way in which I train for a retention at least with a fixed blade. My folders aren’t really conducive for doing that quickly, but I am looking into changing my choices in folders.
Exactly. I carry a Bloodshark at 11:00 at a slight forward cant. Very concealable and very quick access. IMHO a defensive knife should be a fixed blade and not a folder (some instructors call folders “broken knives”). Chances are that when you need it you will not have both hands available and you want a tool that can be quickly accessed and deployed with one hand. As F2S mentioned its also a great tool for primary weapon retention.
I have found this to be the perfect size for a CC fixed blade. Not that it needs to be this blade but this size and profile is great.
I will be doing a couple CCW/edged weapon classes in 2012 as this is an area that I need a lot more training in. I think training in this area (edged weapons) is critical and often overlooked.
They are kick ass looking knives but they are unavailable at this point. There was some discussion in his Ask the SME section and there were a few other choices although nothing appears to be worthy as an out of the box knife, at least without a trip to the belt sander (if there is my question was glossed over).
I ordered a Spyderco Bill Moran fixed blade with an owb, iwb, belt clip multi positional sheath. I don’t know how wonderful it will be but it met my requirements for positioning and it’s VG-10. $74 shipped on amazon. I can provide feedback after some use if anyone is interested.
There is a difference between “unavailable” and “backordered”. Like many “semi-custom” things in this world, there tends to be a wait associated with them. Whether it’s a kydex holster, a handmade belt, or a 1911… sometimes you have to wait for the custom stuff.
Ideally, I’d like to be able to get to a fixed blade with either hand. My primary consideration is other strong hand access… sure. Pistol is a nice “plan” for a go to weapon… but in close, already in grappling range when it gets to that force level, whatever… maybe a gun isn’t the most effective weapon for the situation… so, I like to have the ability to get to a blade with either hand.
This makes the position shown in the Kyle Defoor pic above attractive. OSH access into reverse grip, SH access into forward grip from the same position.
Often I’ll carry a fixed blade left hand side, right about 10 o’clock, handle forward. This is the fastest and easiest position for my LH to draw from. I will often carry a second blade in another position that my RH can access though, if I choose to put my blade here. Either vertically above my back RH pocket (above a wallet), or front of the body on the belt line as shown.
I think center line, tip angled towards groin it the place where I carry my expandable baton or knife.
In that spot, either hand can access, unless you are sitting on your hands or compromised some other way.
Both of the positions in Jim D’s last post are the ones I’m looking at, not at the same time… I’ll be trying it out at the 10 o’clock while in uniform on my 1.75" cobra belt. I will try both positions in civilian attire with my 1.5" Ares Ranger Belt. I won’t do the 12 o’clock position in uniform because of the Marine Corps uniform regulations and I don’t have any field ops coming up and more than likely would have it armor mounted anyway. I just want to see the Spyderco clip work on a 1.75"
