Am I the only one who hates pocket clips?

I've never had a problem. YMMV. If worried try it around your house for a day and see.
 
BladeScout BladeScout
I prefer a multi-blade traditional in my pocket over any single bladed knife.
As for single bladed folding knives, I'm "old school". I've had an Old Timer 6OT or 7OT or Buck 110 on my belt (along with a Stockman in my pocket) pretty much everyday since 1971.
I bought my first Buck 112 this year, and have been carrying it off and on for a couple months now, in it's sheath.
I also bought an Ontario RAT 1 (AUS 8 Blade) this year. I took the clip off, and carry it in a nylon belt sheath once in a while, instead of the Buck or Old Timer.

I don't plan on buying another "modern" OHO knife. If I do get another, it will be a RAT 1 or RAT 2 with a D2 blade, and the clip will be removed.
Reasons include:
I don't need one hand opening.
I don't care for the styling most of them have. (Especially the "tactical" style)
I don't like the clip. They can cause "hot spots" if you change your grip.
 
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I don't like pocket clips for the strange feel in my hand but I find it necessary/preferred for certain modes of carry. The thing is, it's easy enough to take one off, but it's harder to put one on when the knife doesn't come with one.
 
afishhunter said:
BladeScout BladeScout
I prefer a multi-blade traditional in my pocket over any single bladed knife.
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And thats perfectly fine. Traditional clip-less knives rock. I dont have as many as I do modern but I like them as well.
(As for single bladed, Im a fan of the single blade Barlow-style but I know what you meant:D).

afishhunter said:
BladeScout BladeScout
As for single bladed folding knives, I'm "old school". I've had an Old Timer 6OT or 7OT or Buck 110 on my belt (along with a Stockman in my pocket) pretty much everyday since 1971.
I bought my first Buck 112 this year, and have been carrying it off and on for a couple months now, in it's sheath.
I also bought an Ontario RAT 1 (AUS 8 Blade) this year. I took the clip off, and carry it in a nylon belt sheath once in a while, instead of the Buck or Old Timer.
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The Old Timer, the 110 and the 112 are fine in my book. I have a Buck 110, its old but still soldiers on. A great knife which heritage cant be denied.​

afishhunter said:
I don't plan on buying another "modern" OHO knife. If I do get another, it will be a RAT 1 or RAT 2 with a D2 blade, and the clip will be removed.
Reasons include:
I don't need one hand opening.
I don't care for the styling most of them have. (Especially the "tactical" style)
I don't like the clip. They can cause "hot spots" if you change your grip.
Click to expand...
I have a slew of OHO knives - mostly Spyderco blades. Its not that I NEED OHO but it sure is convenient and it certainly has its place. To each his own.
Some of the 'tacticlol' knives are good for a laugh. Its a trend and they sell to the basement ninjas.

Not liking clips is just fine.
It was more the wording; making pocket clips an object of hatred. Why not just pass them by, if one doesnt like them.

A thread heading of: 'I prefer my knives without a pocket clip - here is why yadda yadda yadda...' would have been just fine.​
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Augh! I didn't realize it was gonna be that limited. I saw the projected price and that WE was the OEM and figured it would be a full run.

Ah, well. At the very least it gives me hope for more blades in that genre.
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According to his IG, he "bumped up the the first batch to 300 total pieces so there will be a much better chance of grabbing one." Emphasis mine.

In the meanwhile, ooh-aah, look at this thing. And it has a pocket clip.

Blackstar.jpg
 
rogatsby said:
I've just started getting into pocket knives, and I have started off slow and cheap, with a Gerber, Kershaw, and Ka-Bar Folding Hunters (regular and mini).

I especially love the Doziers, as they are amazingly light, great for everyday use and just incredibly useful and durable.

The only problem I've had with all of these is the pocket clip. I get the concept, of course, because clips will presumably add to quicker deployment and secure retention (at least for some clips). The Dozier clips were fine for these aspects, as they are tight, firm, and secure.

But as I've used them, I have really started to hate pocket clips in general. They tend to dig into your hand, get caught on things, and generally feel like a weird growth on an otherwise great knife. I've borrowed some other knives, including some Spydercos from friends, and I get the same feeling with any pocket clip I encounter - even those who many praise as being well designed.

But every review of any folding knife I ever see or read always goes into great detail about the pocket clip, as if it were such an integral part of the knife and cannot be done without.

So I decided to take the clips off my Doziers, and wow, I enjoy them even more. In fact, I took the clips off of all of my knives, and they all seem better in the hand with very little inconvenience from just throwing the knife into my pocket.

Another thing with clips is that they seem to advertise the fact that you are carrying a knife.

Does anyone else hate pocket clips and remove them, or does everyone love and obsess over them as virtually every folding knife review suggests? In fact, I have seen reviews where people criticize the design or quality of the pocket clip, but never one where they actually state they remove the clip altogether. It's almost as if pocket clips are viewed as de rigueur, when in my experience they seem rather superfluous and cumbersome.

Thanks for any input.
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Hate them. Have bought them as gifts because that's what recipients liked, but won't buy one for myself. I love traditional slipjoints, fixed blades (like bowies, hunters, etc.), traditional switchblades (like stilettos), lockbacks (e.g., Buck 110), chef knives, etc. I have used all kinds of knives on a daily basis--that is, thousands of times (I'm 57)--and have NEVER felt the need for a pocket clip, or, for that matter, a one-hander. If I need to protect myself, I'm reaching for my gun.
Clips destroy the aesthetics of a beautiful knife, and interfere with the grip. Hey, man has used knives for THOUSANDS of years without the need for pocket clips. For some reason, the younger generation feels they are necessary.
 
Prester John said:
Hate them. Have bought them as gifts because that's what recipients liked, but won't buy one for myself. I love traditional slipjoints, fixed blades (like bowies, hunters, etc.), traditional switchblades (like stilettos), lockbacks (e.g., Buck 110), chef knives, etc. I have used all kinds of knives on a daily basis--that is, thousands of times (I'm 57)--and have NEVER felt the need for a pocket clip, or, for that matter, a one-hander. If I need to protect myself, I'm reaching for my gun.
Clips destroy the aesthetics of a beautiful knife, and interfere with the grip. Hey, man has used knives for THOUSANDS of years without the need for pocket clips. For some reason, the younger generation feels they are necessary.
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Mankind also died from diphtheria for thousands of years but now these new-fangled youngsters all insist on vaccines!

Nothing against those that prefer to go clipless, but I'll take my computers, cars, modern medicine and pocket clips, thanks. ;)
 
On work days, I have to do 100% discreet carry--i.e: no clips hanging out of my pocket and declaring the presence of my knife like a bright red flag. Because of that, clips are a pest for me. They beat up badly on my pants pockets and on my leg, too. If/when I carry a beefier knife on a non-work day, I don’t have to be so underground about it and I can live with clips.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Mankind also died from diphtheria for thousands of years but now these new-fangled youngsters all insist on vaccines!

Nothing against those that prefer to go clipless, but I'll take my computers, cars, modern medicine and pocket clips, thanks. ;)
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Well, I DO like air conditioning (Texas is HOT) and hot showers!
 
I didn’t know how much I relied on the pocket clip until I managed to snap the clip on my Ruike in two when it got caught on the edge of someone’s toolbox at work. I couldn’t keep the knife in my pocket because it kept turning sideways in the bottom of my pocket all night, and at 3.5 in, that tends to obnoxious. Luckily I got the replacement shortly after, so I didn’t have to wait long.
 
I used to avoid knives that had them. Then, I removed them from those that had them. Now I assume that every knife I buy (not a "traditional" buyer) will have them, and I don't remove them.
 
rogatsby said:
I've just started getting into pocket knives, and I have started off slow and cheap, with a Gerber, Kershaw, and Ka-Bar Folding Hunters (regular and mini).

I especially love the Doziers, as they are amazingly light, great for everyday use and just incredibly useful and durable.

The only problem I've had with all of these is the pocket clip. I get the concept, of course, because clips will presumably add to quicker deployment and secure retention (at least for some clips). The Dozier clips were fine for these aspects, as they are tight, firm, and secure.

But as I've used them, I have really started to hate pocket clips in general. They tend to dig into your hand, get caught on things, and generally feel like a weird growth on an otherwise great knife. I've borrowed some other knives, including some Spydercos from friends, and I get the same feeling with any pocket clip I encounter - even those who many praise as being well designed.

But every review of any folding knife I ever see or read always goes into great detail about the pocket clip, as if it were such an integral part of the knife and cannot be done without.

So I decided to take the clips off my Doziers, and wow, I enjoy them even more. In fact, I took the clips off of all of my knives, and they all seem better in the hand with very little inconvenience from just throwing the knife into my pocket.

Another thing with clips is that they seem to advertise the fact that you are carrying a knife.

Does anyone else hate pocket clips and remove them, or does everyone love and obsess over them as virtually every folding knife review suggests? In fact, I have seen reviews where people criticize the design or quality of the pocket clip, but never one where they actually state they remove the clip altogether. It's almost as if pocket clips are viewed as de rigueur, when in my experience they seem rather superfluous and cumbersome.

Thanks for any input.
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Hi, I am a newbie just register here. I agree that i hate pocket clips whenever I bring my blades out with me especially the law here in my country is ridiculous strict. No hard feelings, all my folders currently are cold steel which known to be the fastest deployment knives if only you got it right but whenever I got new blades (folders), I will definitely unscrew the clip and keep it in the box. Putting the blade in my pocket or bag is good enough for really needed self defense, needlesss to say for edc usage, just take the blade out and use it. Rather than so troublesome (personal) to clip on my pocket.
 
Keith Sim said:
Hi, I am a newbie just register here. I agree that i hate pocket clips whenever I bring my blades out with me especially the law here in my country is ridiculous strict. No hard feelings, all my folders currently are cold steel which known to be the fastest deployment knives if only you got it right but whenever I got new blades (folders), I will definitely unscrew the clip and keep it in the box. Putting the blade in my pocket or bag is good enough for really needed self defense, needlesss to say for edc usage, just take the blade out and use it. Rather than so troublesome (personal) to clip on my pocket.
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Welcome Keith ! You might enjoy the Cold Steel subforum . My favorite brand ! :)

https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/cold-steel-knives.895/
 
I don't mind them, but never use them. I live in Chicago & the law is that your gun and or knife must be concealed. The use of a clip makes it unconcealed and if an LEO wants to give me a hard time, that's his excuse. In NYC people are busted daily for carrying a knife & using a clip. A couple of years ago some guy on another forum, posted that he was arrested, charged & had his Sebenza confiscated just because he used a clip & the knife was "visible". I know it's stupid, but that's the world we live in.
 
Clips have their place, I have knives with clips clipped to my pocket, I have slipjoints in the bottom of my pocket. It have knives in sheaths on my belt and in my pocket, I even have knives with clips in slipsheaths in my pocket and on my belt so if ya go by me? Yup.
 
Hmm, perhaps, a knife with a retractable clip that retracts into the handle when the blade is opened and out for use when closed needs to be designed.

Like those pens with retractable clips. Right?
 
wensynch said:
Hmm, perhaps, a knife with a retractable clip that retracts into the handle when the blade is opened and out for use when closed needs to be designed.

Like those pens with retractable clips. Right?
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Great idea ! I'm not sure if clips have been given the same design (for improved function) attention that they deserve . Mostly seem stuck on as an afterthought .
 
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