There are numerous ways to protect yourself from potential and nefarious threats in the wilderness. One of them is arming yourself with a knife right in your prized boots! But how does one wear a knife in a boot? In our discussion today, we’re going to explore just about that. May it be due to your survival instinct, or you simply want to defend yourself, knowing how to wear a boot knife is not only necessary but is also crucial as these reasons warrant a technicality.
Later on, we’ll also dabble on some of the options on how to wear a knife in one of your boots. And right before we conclude, we’ll also be providing some of the most useful tips along with the precautions that you need to observe when wearing one.
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Why are boot knives useful?
Hikers wear boot knives for many reasons. But one of the more logical answers to this all boils down to being their defensive tools in emergency situations. Boot knives are also handy and can be accessed easily as you can locate them right on the side of your leg. Meanwhile, most of these knives are built to be slim, rendering them to be usable on a daily basis.
Moreover, boot knives are hidden so they can be oblivious to your threats while in the wild, humans or wild animals alike. As such, these knives are mostly used by men and women are into hunting, fishing, or any outdoor activity.
Things you’ll only need
A boot
Most seasoned hikers will recommend you to go for steel-toed boots as these can protect your feet from your chosen knife. Talking about protection, it is strongly discouraged to place your knife right beside your body as this can maim you by accident. In this regard, take into consideration the approximate length of this tool that should give you both ease and comfort while you carry it.
Tip: The length of your knife shouldn’t be that long as it could distract you and may get lost right in your body. On the other hand, your knife shouldn’t be that short as that tends to slide to the ground. While you can directly ask your seller for the right size, this decision should come from you as you’ll be the one to approximate the size. I’d highly recommend that you go to that shop first and try different sizes until you find the perfect one.
A string
The string will serve as the one that can attach your knife right in your boot. Ultimately, ensure that the boot that you’d be wearing are both comfortable and easy-to-wear, so the knife is easily accessible.
Step-by-step instructions (Assembling your boot knife)
1.) Probably the most important aspect of this preparation is ensuring that your knife is covered with a sheath. The sheath isn’t mostly provided to protect the knife but is given to safeguard your legs from getting cut or injured as you move.
2.) Next, get your feet inside the boots. Slide the knife carefully into one of those boots. Make certain that you place it on the side of the boot that you’d prefer to have it removed when you use it. As such, if you’re left-handed, place the knife on the left boot and vice-versa. When you get to place it on your dominant, stronger part, this should give you a safer and more accessible “knife draws”.
One of the hints that signals that you’ve placed it correctly is that the knife should be able to ride outside your boots without any discomfort or problem.
3.) Grab a durable piece of string such as shoelace. This should be tied to the exposed sheath right to your calf. Now, place the center of that line on the sheath’s flat edge area.
4.) Envelope or wrap the sheath in 2 – 3 turns while you wrap it too in your calf in 2 – 3 turns. Tie everything in place.
You can watch this short video to check on how to attach knives on your boots.
Other options to carry a boot knife
As boot knives take many uses and purposes, its methods of carrying them should also vary accordingly. And while these choices are numerous, it all comes down to that one that suits you best. Below are some of the known ways to carry your boot knives:
1.) Knives can be slipped into a boot that has a high ankle. Some of the knives that can be worn in this option are the Hickory paring knives that are adorned with leather sheaths that are made from home. You may also opt for bird and trout-style knives.
2.) Boot knives can also be with a sheath that is sewn directly on the boot’s leather. You may also stitch the straps right on the boot’s side. There are now offers that are available online that should make the sheaths fit on your boots. Some of these sheaths are equipped with “snap closures” while the other ones comes with accessible pouch-style sheaths.
Other tips and precautions
1.) For hikers or users that only have one pair of working boots or a knife for both footwear, you may opt to sewing the sheath right on these boots with the use of tools that work for leathers. Now, for those boots that don’t come with “pre-cut” holes, sew it through the canvas of your boots. To finish the task off, make certain that the sheath is wrapped in a web of the chord right on the boot’s inner part.
2.) Always carry your sheaths in a safe manner. As such, the sheath’s strap should always be secured to ensure your safety.
3.) The third tip should also serve as a precaution to all. This key warning is in regards to the carrying of legal weapons which include those that are concealed such as your boot knives. Be keen enough to investigate and ascertain the laws in which you can or can’t use boot knives so you could spare yourself from potential trouble. Updating yourself with your local laws about this weapon is very much crucial as most states decry the use of boot knives.
4.) So, just how do you choose the best boot knife? Most seasoned users would often recommend that your knife should range between three to five inches. As per the blade, it should double-edged (akin to a dagger). It should also feature a sharp tip that can rip through an object easily.
Perhaps the most important consideration that you need to keep in mind when choosing the best knife is its type of steel. While the rule of thumb states that the better the metal, the more likely it is going to be expensive, it is always practical to go for a knife that you can afford. Ask the seller in that shop for a steel that is durable and affordable at the same time.
Final thoughts
Strapping yourself with a boot knife is technically an easy task. But for that task to be successful, one must be equipped with the right know-hows such as the required things, the right sewing areas, right down to the type of blade and steel your boot knife features. Once all of these are chosen and worn efficiently, the value of your boot knife in terms of protecting and making your life in the wild better is all the more pronounced.
Did the article help you in the abovementioned topic? If you feel like sharing your experiences or you just want to provide some tips, feel free to sound them off in the comment section below.