How to wear knife?

[vthompson]

I am thinking about pursuing the look of the Longhunter due to my geographic location and I was wondering about something.
Which is more appropriate when wearing a knife? Wearing it horizontal or wearing it vertical? Is it documented in any book's which might have been the preferred way? Your help will be appreciated. Thank's.

[david32cal]

i would say either way would be correct.

[Loyalist Dave]

Depending on the knife, you should wear it so as not to lose it, but also to be able to get to it without too much struggle.  I gave up wearing the knife in a sheath stuck in my sash..., the knife and sheath kept jumping out and running off.  I use a sheath suspended vertical from my belt now..., but a different knife in a different sheath on a person with different body shape and different clothing would get different results, right?     I think folks wore them in the way it worked for them.  Huge knives "at the ready" in the sash were probably that way for self defense, I think.  I have seen fellows who do a sailor's impression wear it in a sheath in the center of the waist, in back...., you can get to it with either hand if stuck in the rigging of the ship (I don't foresee that problem for myself..,)  it does allow equal access for the hands but depending on the sheath plays the devil when you sit down on anything but a stool.  Do what works for you.

LD

[Gordon H.Kemp]

I know this is some off topic , but i"m curious as to how the belt axe was carried . was it (the axe) ever carried crosswise  as opposed to in a vertical position off the belt ? If a person carried a pack I would assume the axe was carried on the pack ?  I"m not talking about a hawk but a fair size working tool .

[BEAVERMAN]

Vern, I've seen a few that had a sheath that was made to slide on to the hunting pouch strap and hand down from there along the side of the pouch or could be taken off the strap and slid through the waist sash using the ear that the strap slid through as a keeper on the sash

[Puffer]

IMO, wear it/them as you would on a modern hunt or back packing foray.

As to "period"
Skinner (4"-5" blade) = where it is handy ( On the "poss. bag" as Jim said & see his ways he "mounts on some of his bags), on the belt ( Horizontal in a sheath  & out of the way.), in your boot top.etc.
Remember, this blade was his "utility blade (skinning,gutting, eating, & often patch knife.
"Big knife" - On or in your pack if not concerned with PD. If it is also for PD, then on your belt ( in a sheath & where you can access it when needed it.)

Puffer

[Puffer]

IMO, wear it/them as you would on a modern hunt or back packing foray.

As to "period"
Skinner (4"-5" blade) = where it is handy ( On the "poss. bag" as Jim said & see his ways he "mounts on some of his bags), on the belt ( Horizontal in a sheath  & out of the way.), in your boot top.etc.
Remember, this blade was his "utility blade (skinning,gutting, eating, & often patch knife.
"Big knife" - On or in your pack if not concerned with PD. If it is also for PD, then on your belt ( in a sheath & where you can access it
when needed it.)

As to Axe, most axes "carried" had short hafts. As to carry, if moving into area, then most likely,IMHO, on the Pack. If used in the "hunt"( butcering) then on the belt ( weak side)


Puffer

[ahuse2008]

one of the ways they wore them was cross draw which i think is a god way to wear them

[Loyalist Dave]

Yep, I've also seen folks with waistcoats wearing them in a sheath up under the armpit of their "weak" arm, to add to the idea of the cross -draw.   Don't know if a Pit-Knife rig is correct, or just some makers think it to be cool.

LD