Leigh,

I am responding to your question, but hope I am not stealing this thread... and if I am... I hope a moderator will move it to a more appropriate section.

1st... I always carry at least two belt knives when in the bush. I am not sure what you call a belt knife, as some people only consider a fixed blade knife. I think it means any knife worn on a belt (and as usual... I could be wrong).

I always wear a SAK Farmer on the belt in a sheath I made. My wife also carries the same in a sheath she made (I insist that each member of the family make their own sheaths so they understand, and appreciate the work involved).

Hope this answers addresses your curiosity.

John

Here is photo of my wife's sheath both closed and open:





I also carry a fixed blade knife, being a Falkniven F1, with linen micarta scales, and convex grind.

Here a photo of the F1:



Here is photo of it on my belt in a sheath I made:



The following photo is more of a gratuitous shot showing the sheath next to a holster I made to match:

Leigh,

Sorry about the above... I can't figure out how to post the photos with a caption above... It works a lot easier on the forum I'm a partner of.

John

Nice looking leather, John.

HJ

If a moderator could fix the photos in my above post so they run under one another, I would appreciate it.

John

So, if I may ask, what's the idea behind carrying both a Trekker and a Farmer? They seem like they have about the same tools. I suppose the Farmer is a smaller SAK and could serve as a back up to the Trekker, and of course the Trekker has the advantage of having a locking blade.

HJ

Hikin_jim,

I don't carry both because I need both. I call it redundancy...

The Farmer is on my person... the Trekker is on my pack. Either one can be lost. Two is one... one is none.

The Trekker has the advantage of one hand open. In the event that one hand is injured, I could quickly put the Trekker into play.

Maybe I think differently than others... just the way I do business.

John

Completely understood, John. Absolutely makes sense. I was just wondering if I were missing something.

So, sounds like standard carry is three knives: Falkniven F1, Trekker, and Farmer? Sounds pretty good.

HJ

Outstanding! While I already carry an Altoids Tin Kit based on the instructions that came with my RSK Mk 5 knife, I plan on buying one of these to add to the gear I carry here in Afghanistan. It will probably find a home in my Fighting Load Carrier (FLC)that I wear over my body armor when outside the wire.

Cheers,
W-W

Hi, W-W,

I take it that the FLC is the vest that is now standard issue, yes? It replaced the older LBE (load bearing equipment) which consisted of a pistol belt and suspenders. Question for you if you have time: Isn't the FLC really warm in a country like Afghanistan?

HJ

Jim,

The Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) is a mesh type vest with MOLLE attachment points, the Interceptor Body Armor is what is HOT! Soldiers no longer use FLCs as they attach everything directly to their body armor. As a civilian contractor I travel to a variety of places where I do and don’t need all my kit attached to my armor so using the FLC keeps me from having to constantly reconfigure my gear, if I need my kit I just slip the FLC over my armor. The FLC it a handy way to keep my canteen, knife, and IFAK (trauma kit) handy, together in one place.

Cheers,
W-W