Ye Olde Boot Knife

[dovedescending]

I picked up a pair of Nocona cowboy boots a few weeks ago at a resale shop for $30. W00t. And as I've been wearing them, I've noticed that there seems to be plenty of space in the shaft for, well, carrying things. If for no other reason than the novelty, I'd like to get a boot knife, but how does one keep it in the boot? does it just knock around loose in the sheath/scabbard? Or what?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Two Ways

I have seen two ways of doing this.

One way is an ankle-strap sheath, worn so that the boot covers it.

The other is a clip-over sheath which actually clips to the boot with the sheath on the inside. Kind of like IWB but on a boot instead of a belt.

I haven't seen any other ways, but I'd be interested in knowing what other possibilities exist.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

You can get a knife sheath sew inside of the boot. Many CW renactors do this.

 

[metalart]

I like the idea of sewing a sheath in... I have only seen the clip on versions. Check with your local ordinances, some locals specifically forbid boot knives.

 

[Vonderek]

Seems like an interesting proposition but like the ankle holster for handguns of limited practicality unless sitting and wearing very loose pants. The miners and homesteaders of yesteryear regularly wore their pants tucked into their boots which made a boot knife more accessible.

Here is a clip on sheath that may interest you. It is on the front of the sheath so the flat backside of the sheath is what may contact your leg instead of the knife handle rubbing against your leg.

http://dragonleather.net/boot-knife-sheath-the-right-way/

 

[T.R.]

I attached sheath with a little gorilla glue and laced in with fishing line.

TR

 

[hso]

Have a boot maker install a sheath on each boot or a loop for a sheath to attach to.

You can also pick up a couple of kit knives with jig bone scales to attach so you can make a period set. One could be big and the other small.

 

[HiWayMan]

T.R. - Is that knife an Imperial, I can barely make out the stamp in the picture?

I recently picked one up at a yard sale for $4 and it has no maker's marks. It appears like your's in all other respects.

 

[Markus]

Looks like imperial to me. I have a Utica that lookks almost identical though. As to the OP question, i tried all kinds of stuff with boot knives in the Army and came to the conclusion that a boot is just not a good place to carry a knife. I probably lost half a dozen Gerber guardians in 7 years