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Anyone carry a boot knife?

5K views 36 replies 16 participants last post by  Wicked109 
#1 ·
Ordered this inexpensive, lightweight 2.1oz 7” OAL (3.4” blade) boot knife

A Schrade SCHF19

Includes leather sheath with thumbreak and clip for boot (or belt)

Will be my first dagger style knife... hoping it will be comfy affixed to my cowboy boots
Knife Blade Hunting knife Tool Hand
 
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#2 ·
Not exactly I've two small fixed blades but they are modified wharncliff blades. A Grab N Stab and a heavily modified CRKT Dragons Tooth.
Way back I did carry a cheap valor sports boot knife and later a AG Russel Sting1A before they were discontinued and got way pricey.
Do have 2 maybe 3 of the longer bladed Schrades as kind of expendable battle blades.
And one of the CRKT Stings as a keepsake.

Btw they do an excellent job for a low price point knife the dagger versions have a decent grind and are not difficult to sharpen.
 
#3 ·
Ordered this inexpensive, lightweight 2.1oz 7” OAL (3.4” blade) boot knife

A Schrade SCHF19

Includes leather sheath with thumbreak and clip for boot (or belt)

Will be my first dagger style knife... hoping it will be comfy affixed to my cowboy boots
View attachment 156740
I have those, packed in a box, somewhere. LOL!!!

I did use them when wearing boots in the woods.
 
#4 ·
Ordered this inexpensive, lightweight 2.1oz 7” OAL (3.4” blade) boot knife

A Schrade SCHF19

Includes leather sheath with thumbreak and clip for boot (or belt)

Will be my first dagger style knife... hoping it will be comfy affixed to my cowboy boots
View attachment 156740
Wore that exact knife for the better part of a year as a service tech. Had high leather work boots and it fit great.

Got lower boots and it just didn’t clip right or stay put.

Ended up attaching it to some molle on a Get Home Bag.

Quite serviceable knife.
 
#7 ·
Your question was does anyone carry a short boot knife? I think you meant as a defensive weapon. I have but will never will again, just no real defensive value in my view, people think they are but just ask any cop if there was ever a cop saved by a boot knife. I do not know of any. I carried knives and guns in boots in law enforcement and off duty. And I carried the original Gerber Mark II fighting knife in the military. The general rule is the blade must be 6 inches or more to be effective as a fighting blade, otherwise you are way too close to the other guy while you are making shallow stabs that will not necessarily shut him down, so there is lots of controversy about the value of a short knife when each of you must stab the other guy many times before one of you will then have a fatal or incapacitating wound. The guy with at least a 6 inch blade has the odds of winning. If both have short 3-4 inch blades then it is a bloody mess that lasts a long time and the only really effective strike would be to the head or jugular or the spine from the back, pretty hard to do when you are both fighting.

That being said, I did carry one often undercover when a gun was out. But if I could have a 22 or 25 I would always choose the gun. A mouse gun in 32 or 380 is pretty effective out to 20-30 feet on head shots and has 5-7 rounds and only weighs 10-12 ounces. Your short knife is only effective at arms length and a 4 inch blade only penetrates 4 inches, a 380 with ball ammo will penetrate 10-12 inches. And the gun is only about 6 inches long, barely into the top of the boot.

The other reason I do not carry one is that I can carry an traditional folder with the same blade length in a pocket or on a clip along the waist so I never have to bend over and pull up the jeans or any of that, my folders open one handed so they are already there near the hand and quick to deploy. And when the cops come, they just look like a big pocket knife not some dagger. It should not matter but it does if you use it.

They do carry well in a boot and you will not even notice it after a few days. That could also be said about the small handguns. FWIW
 
#10 ·
Your question was does anyone carry a short boot knife? I think you meant as a defensive weapon. I have but will never will again, just no real defensive value in my view, people think they are but just ask any cop if there was ever a cop saved by a boot knife. I do not know of any. I carried knives and guns in boots in law enforcement and off duty. And I carried the original Gerber Mark II fighting knife in the military. The general rule is the blade must be 6 inches or more to be effective as a fighting blade, otherwise you are way too close to the other guy while you are making shallow stabs that will not necessarily shut him down, so there is lots of controversy about the value of a short knife when each of you must stab the other guy many times before one of you will then have a fatal or incapacitating wound. The guy with at least a 6 inch blade has the odds of winning. If both have short 3-4 inch blades then it is a bloody mess that lasts a long time and the only really effective strike would be to the head or jugular or the spine from the back, pretty hard to do when you are both fighting.

That being said, I did carry one often undercover when a gun was out. But if I could have a 22 or 25 I would always choose the gun. A mouse gun in 32 or 380 is pretty effective out to 20-30 feet on head shots and has 5-7 rounds and only weighs 10-12 ounces. Your short knife is only effective at arms length and a 4 inch blade only penetrates 4 inches, a 380 with ball ammo will penetrate 10-12 inches. And the gun is only about 6 inches long, barely into the top of the boot.

The other reason I do not carry one is that I can carry an traditional folder with the same blade length in a pocket or on a clip along the waist so I never have to bend over and pull up the jeans or any of that, my folders open one handed so they are already there near the hand and quick to deploy. And when the cops come, they just look like a big pocket knife not some dagger. It should not matter but it does if you use it.

They do carry well in a boot and you will not even notice it after a few days. That could also be said about the small handguns. FWIW
It's all about where you place that Bullet or BLADE placement into the head ,neck or torso arm pits or crotch will most likely stop the attack and result in death. The .22 LR , .32 , .380 is no mouse gun all of these rounds are deadly and will kill with shots to the head neck or torso and will in most cases stop and attacker and result in their death.
 
#8 ·
Great points Ranger4

I may just go back to carrying a BUG in my boots

I carry an EDC pocket knife already... So my BUN (backup knife) may be moot

I'd probably just cut myself with dagger style knife anyway
 
#12 ·
Great points Ranger4

I may just go back to carrying a BUG in my boots

I carry an EDC pocket knife already... So my BUN (backup knife) may be moot

I'd probably just cut myself with dagger style knife anyway
LOL You can cut your self with them for sure. Not trashing you whatsoever just the concept has long been on in cop circles and the military from where I spent my life. Like Black Rifle I just think of there is a choice of a tiny gun or a short boot knife, if legal, the gun in the better choice. And I must chuckle at myself when you mention cutting your self. I had the Gerber Mark II fighting knife from my military days that I kept in my mobility bag and when I would travel I needed a knife for fishing or general use, so I often used it. A dagger is not a good utility knife, the back side of the blade kept razor sharp will slice fingers to the bone. Proper use of the knife would prevent that but when you need something cut quick, well, sometimes they slip.

I still have the original Gerber Guardian Neck Knife, smaller than yours, that I carried for years after the second gun and in places where guns were illegal. I sold my fighting knife because it's serial number made it a hot item and I am old, not going to be where I need one. My neck knife has an early serial as well, it is the rare camo knife and scabbard, but so far cannot find a value so probably it will die with me.

Carry it for a while then decide. My comment is simply that any tiny gun gives you more and safer options. And just for a historical thought, many of us actually carried a plastic dagger in past years. They were sharp and strong enough to drive through plywood. Seems silly now.
 
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#9 ·
Ordered this inexpensive, lightweight 2.1oz 7” OAL (3.4” blade) boot knife

A Schrade SCHF19

Includes leather sheath with thumbreak and clip for boot (or belt)

Will be my first dagger style knife... hoping it will be comfy affixed to my cowboy boots
View attachment 156740
I am a combat Infantry veteran I've never carried a boot knife ever. I never take a boot knife to a gun fight . I do carry a Ruger LCP II LITE RACK .22LR pistol as back up to my 9mm Hellcat Pistol in an ankle holster . I do how ever carry several different pocket knifes from time to time and one straight knife on my belt when hunting. I do how every keep my pocket knife razor sharp they all will shave hair. The 3 blade Sow Belly is the every day knife pocket knife. the 5" folders I carry from time to time on my belt in a leather belt case.
 
#11 ·
I would not want to be stuck by that that thing . Nor would I want to be placed in the position of having to defend myself with a knife. I carry a two handguns for self defense .but always have a razor sharp hair shaving pocket knife on my person.
 
#13 ·
Broke out the extremely comfortable neoprene ankle holster (from Renegade Gear) and the 6.6oz 7+1 KelTec P32 loaded with 60gr Speer JHP

I may just 'can' the idea of a boot knife and start wearing this backup gun

Fits nicely and rides where I can reach the retention strap (velcro) and gun with relative ease

Footwear Shoe Leg Human leg Boot
 
#14 ·
Broke out the extremely comfortable neoprene ankle holster (from Renegade Gear) and the 6.6oz 7+1 KelTec P32 loaded with 60gr Speer JHP

I may just 'can' the idea of a boot knife and start wearing this backup gun

Fits nicely and rides where I can reach the retention strap (velcro) and gun with relative ease

View attachment 156768
Now that TRUMPS the hell out of a boot knife ! never ever take a knife to a gun fight.
 
#15 ·
Never let anyone tell you the .32 ACP won't stop an attacker . Any shot to the Head ,Neck ,Torso at zero to 21 feet 99% of the time will put your attacker down .75% of the time it will result in the Death of the attacker. Its all about shot placement to the Head Neck Torso that results in dropping an attacker.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Its not a boot knife but I have a Fox Knives Karambit with the wave feature. Set up to be carried strong side but I also have a Fox Knives tanto also with the wave feature which is set up for weak side carry. Mostly carry the tanto one vs the karambit.


For those that dont know the wave feature is a hook type cut out in the blade that Emerson Knives came up with. Fox uses it. It allows the knife when carried folded in the pocket to be auto deployed when you pull it out of your pocket a certain way. Its faster opening than a switch blade. Even when closed you can still use it as an impact weapon.

Not a big fan of the boot carry as its hard and slower to get too.

If Im going to use my knife as a defensive tool, (which is what the Fox knives are for) its because Im already at a deadly force level and I cant use my gun or.... probably because i cant get to my gun.

Hence why its carried on the opposite side as my gun.

Since I dont willingly plan on getting into a knife fight with someone, if Im pulling the knife out its probably because Im already in a close in physical struggle with someone or maybe im already on the ground and we are in a grappling situation or worst case scenario Im on my back in the guard position and my attacker is on top of me.

So at that point knife blade size or my attacker's reach is going to be inconsequential and my knife at that point in a deadly force encounter is going to be a "get off me tool" (multiple repeated stabs into whatever I can get is still better than nothing if its going to save your life) and use that to allow me to get or make space to either get away completely and/or get to a position where I can draw my pistol if I couldn't do it before.
 
#17 ·
Well you have now heard the cops and military position on knife carry but the call is yours and gun carry is about the most personal thing you can do in self defense. The Keltec 32 and 380 were the design that started all the current plastic pocket carry movement. As I recall, the 32 only weighs like 6.6 ounces, about like a hand full of Kleenex, LOL I carried a 32 Seacamp as a BUG gun for years and never felt anything but secure with it.

The one thought I have is that when I carried the gun in cowboy boots, I often carried it in the left boot for a right hand draw. You might try it, just stoop, pull the jeans up with the left hand and draw with the right hand. The weak link is that if you are close, your face is an easy target so you have to step back on the right leg and quickly do the stoop and draw. It is a big deal when split seconds count. What ever carry methods work best for you just practice them a few times. I learned the hard way sometimes narrow legged pants are hard to get up quick.

Then again, boots come in pairs, nothing says you cannot put something in each of them.
 
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#19 ·
Looking through my field desk, I have a letter opener that looks a lot like your knife. Here is a picture.

Strap

Actually, this letter opener has a serial number and is 39 years old. I think they were only marketed to military people with the camo knife and sheath. Black ones were sold as the Gerber Guardian since around 1981. If anyone has ever see one of these with both the knife and sheath camo, I would appreciate a shout. I know they have collectors interest and I cannot find them in Gerber catalogs, ebay or anywhere. I sold my vintage Mark II for a tidy profit, so I am curious as to this one's value.

When we bought them they marketed them to military people as the "neck knife", hence the little clasp at the bottom. The little tab actually was designed for them to hook onto web gear upside down so you could use it to cut yourself out of a parachute if you were hung in a tree, although we have better knives for that. And of course they could be used for stabbing frogs, hence the name, frog sticker. Boot knife, neck knife, frog sticker, whatever.
 
#20 · (Edited)
That is my wife's favorite knife only hers is black not camo. She uses it for big game gutting and anything else she needs it for. Me, I like a non folder for hunting and have carried a uncle henry stockman since 1982 everyday for--- because I have since I was 6 or seven. I have never and will never carry a boot knife. Too long to get into action and in most places it is considered a concealed weapon. At least in Colorado my CCW is only valid for a firearm. The clip on a folder if showing is not considered a concealed weapon.
 
#22 ·
Your wife sounds like a classy lady. Very few ladies have the skill to gut a deer, or shoot one for that matter. You are a blessed man. That double edge makes it hard to dress a deer for me because of the blade angle. Only tried it once or twice with the bigger Gerber Mark II.

The old stockman works for everything. I remember taking one to basic training in 1970. They took it from me when I got there and gave it back the day I left. Lost in along the way, but just happen to have a newer one in my dresser where I keep my keys and handgun. My new one is Case brand.

A few years ago I got one of those removable blade knives free from the Rocky Mountain Elk magazine. Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite, a gimmicky little thing. I have now dressed 6 deer with it and highly recommend them. Not for regular knife use, just for gutting, skinning and the like.

A fellow cannot have too many knives. I suspect that the members of this forum have dozens each. Sure a bunch around my place.
 
#23 ·
Ten Man, You never unpacked yet? LOL
No. It has been one thing after another in the way of getting unpacked. We got moved into this house just in time for Thanksgiving, last year. Then it was the Holiday Season, then the COVID shutdown of everything, while I was trying to get the "new" house in shape for TEOTWAWKI. :oops:
 
#29 ·
It arrived

It's horribly small... Looked at it and put it back in the box

Note the difference in handle size from a plain pocket knife

Handle is so small I would cut myself if I ever tried to use it

They can sell it when I die... with all the other junk I've collected

Tool Office equipment Office instrument Antique tool Stationery
 
#31 ·
It arrived

It's horribly small... Looked at it and put it back in the box

Note the difference in handle size from a plain pocket knife

Handle is so small I would cut myself if I ever tried to use it

They can sell it when I die... with all the other junk I've collected

View attachment 157264
Yah, that’s not the one I carried. Will try to find it for comparison.
 
#36 ·
Do they make knives for flip flops? That and tennis shoes is about all I wear since I retired back in 2012. I do wear a folding box cutter clipped to the pocket of my Bermuda shorts. :ROFLMAO:
 
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#37 ·
I bought five and still have three Combat Commander Boot Knives by United Cutlery. I made two elegant knife display stands and presented them to two extrordinary AF Warriors that I had the pleasure to work with. Below is the knives I used. Note: one side of the knife has the text the other side doesn't have any writing and faces outward when displayed.
Everyday carry Fashion accessory Metal Font Composite material
 
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