Anyone ditch the clip?

D

dogstar

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Jan 23, 2011
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I just got a Buck Vantage Select small, and I am really enjoying the knife. I'm a pocket knife guy at heart so I am ambivalent about the pocket clip. The clip on the Vantage is widely lauded for its ambidextrous, deep pocket design.

Clip pros: it keeps the knife in the same spot so you know where to reach for it. Also, it keeps the knife from moving around, which makes it much less noticeable when you're carrying it. A clipped knife stays upright and tidy, while horizontal knife in the pocket seems to get in the way.

Clip cons: I much prefer the clean lines of the knife sans clip. The vantage is actually quite slim without the clip, which makes it a nice pocket knife. The clip also makes deploying/holding the knife awkward in my off hand. Also, the shiny clip at my pocket opening says "I've got a knife." Oddly enough, I have not found a clean way to extract the knife in the deep tip up position, which negates any deployment advantages.

I alternate using and detaching the clip. I'm guessing most people on this forum have a more tactical mindset, and prefer to use the clip. Anyone out there ditch the clip and carry their folder in the pocket?
 
Clips,
Hand me a knife that feels better in my hand with the clip on rather than off and I will leave the clip on. (Has not happened so far.). :D
 
Me too. They come off the day I get it home.

I LOVE the theory of the clip, but I'm about 350 pounds, and there are so many reasons it doesn't work for me.

1. My big hands scrape against it EVERY TIME I reach in the pocket.
2. I've got pretty wide hips and I've had the clip "catch" on lots of things...lawn chairs, theater seats, etc. I cut too sharply around a corner once in a Lowes (Hardware) store and the Endura I was carrying caught the metal shelf and broke, but not before launching the knife across the aisle about 10 feet. Embarrassing.
3. The "feel" as mentioned earlier.
4. I have a personal feeling it's not as "secure" as when it's deep in my pocket, and this is especially important when in uniform on duty. GRANTED, the "clip" is THE STATUS SYMBOL/MARK/CONVERSATION STARTER for the tactical/LEO/Military person here of late (edited to add: or Internet forum geeks also) and most EXPECT to see it on someone who is like minded. I'm as tactical as they come, and I'm SOOOOO past all that it doesn't bother me.

External pockets SPECIFICALLY for the knife (or the magazine pockets on tactical pants) can alleviate some of these, but along the same lines, I have went to Blackhawk pants almost exclusively for off duty/training/teaching, and they have a piece of cloth or elastic in the right pocket that will keep a knife-even a clipless one-sitting upwards against the side of the pocket, so it's always in the same place and oriented the same way.
 
i am not a fan of clips, i dont like it showing. if i carry with a clip it iwb. years ago i stripped a screw on my chive. i decided today to get it fixed so i can get the clip off.
 
I go sans clip with my Mini Grip. It just feels so much better in hand without the clip. Generally,though, I prefer to have a clip.
 
Both my knives have clips and go on both sides of my hips off my belt. They hide nicely under my shirt and are incredibly easy to grab and use. Putting them away is a little tricky, but it doesn't take long to get used to and I can grab, use and put my knife back on the belt before anyone notices I ever had one to begin with. It only works with small knives though, the clips on large knives don't hold too well or are too big on the knife.
 
I understand the annoyances of carrying a clipped knife you mentioned, and relate to them.

but to me, nothing is worse than a knife loose or at the bottom of your pocket. either way is a compromise, but I always clip my knife.

If I couldn't live with reaching past the knife, it probably just give it its own pocket.
 
I'm Going To Be The Oddball Here.
I Love The Clip.
I Love Being Able To Clip It To My Pocket, My Shirt, My Waistband, My Backpack, And Really Anything.
I Love Being Able To Have The Knife In Short Reach.
And I'm So Used To The Pocket Clip That It Feels Odd In My Hand Without A Clip. Unless It's A Slipjoint Or SAK. And I Even Wish That Those Had Clips.
 
BladeChick777 said:
I'm Going To Be The Oddball Here.
I Love The Clip.
I Love Being Able To Clip It To My Pocket, My Shirt, My Waistband, My Backpack, And Really Anything.
I Love Being Able To Have The Knife In Short Reach.
And I'm So Used To The Pocket Clip That It Feels Odd In My Hand Without A Clip. Unless It's A Slipjoint Or SAK. And I Even Wish That Those Had Clips.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%
 
i like having a clip on my knives
it makes the knife easier to get to; i don't have to dig around for it at the bottom of my pocket.
Also, i don't like having my knife scratch other things i may have in my pocket.
 
I Understand Why Someone Wouldn't Like A Clip, But It's All Really Personal Preference.
I Don't Think It's Weird Some People Ditch The Clip, But Don't Find It Weird That I Love The Clip.
It's Like Someone Loving A Certain Knife(For Me It's The Benchmade Grip), And Others Hating Said Knife.
Neither Person Is Odd Or Wrong It's Just Personal Preference. =]
 
But I Am Glad I'm Not Alone On Loving Pocket Clips. :D
And I Really Do Think They Should Put Clips On SAK's.
 
I can't imagine a knife without a clip. I carry IWB, and it's hard to do that without a clip LOL. And in pocket, I'm always afraid of sitting down, and having it fall out, and the knife twists around in the pocket too.
 
I remove all the clips, but prefer a belt sheath for the bigger ones (BM grip, 710, buck 110's, etc.). Smaller ones go in the pocket.
 
I've thought about taking the clip off of my Manix 2, but it's so strong and sturdy and has yet to fail me even once so I leave it on. The second it stops functioning as intended it's coming off though.
 
I've tried mine without the clips, but it wasn't for me. I like my knife right on my pocket when i need it.
 
I like the clip for my front pocket knife. Having said that, there's always a clipless case knife in my back pocket next to my wallet; currently a cheetah cub.
 
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