Bike innertube as pocket knife "sheath"

S

Spaniel1967

Joined
Aug 18, 2019
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15
The safest way imho to pocket carry a pocket knife is using the clip to align the blade edge against a pocket seam. Further on the safety seam, I prefer tip down since if the blade partially opens it can't catch on the pocket and open further during extraction.

I have never liked pocket clip carry, however.

I used to carry my pocket knife loose in my front pocket until I had an accidental partial opening inside my pocket. It was an AFCK with a big round hole and my handkerchief wedged partially into the hole and pulled the blade slightly out of the handle. Since the return spring (lockback) was so weak, the blade didn't snap itself back in. I got a slight finger poke - I got away easy.

Since then I've looked for ways to more safely pocket carry my rotation of pocket knifes.

So far I've only found two ways:

1. An actual sheath, thin nylon, covering the pocket knife in the pocket. REI sells a couple of sizes. However is you don't cut off the Velcro flap, the knife is no longer very available; and even if you cut off the Velcro flap, these nylon sheaths are usually so snug they don't slide off the pocket knive.

2. My current preferred sheath: a racing bike innertube, cut to length, stapled at bottom. In my pocket the knive is positioned upright, in the innertube which covers have the handle, and held in place by a combination of compact wallet with handkerchief over wallet and pocket knife.

I just pull the pocket knife up and out of the innertube sheath; the innertube sheath remains in pocket.

I still think lockbacks with enough tension to snap the blade back into the handle when opened up to 1/2 an inch are the safest. There's generally not enough movement or room in my front pants pockets to allow an accidental opening more than that. Also I haven't had a problem with thumbstuds; it's those large opening holes that catch things (keys being the worst).

That having been said, if you get stuck with lemons, make lemonade. The Ernie Emerson Wave opener is a good example. Emerson was apparently experimenting with a prong to "catch" an opponents blade in close quarters combat when his prototype customers reported back to him that the prong was catching on their pockets and whipping the blade open during extraction - an incidental "defect" that quickly became a feature. The only two requirements? Tip up carry and edge against pocket seam carry - using the feature doesn't require a pocket clip, but for safety the pocket clip is essential, since the Emersons are one line of knives DESIGNED to catch and open.

Oh. Yeah. I like Emersons so I work around my dislike of pocket clip carry by - that's right - carrying an Emerson tip down in my innertube half-sheath. Afterall, tip down the Wave prong won't accidentally catch on my pocket, and once extracted there's always the opening disk as an alternative. Well...there's another use for the Wave prong, but I'll post separately.
 
You just need to find the right pair of jeans with a built in pocket.
8t0w.jpg
 
Or you can just carry it in your back pocket where nothing else is carried.
 
Spaniel1967 said:
The safest way imho to pocket carry a pocket knife is using the clip to align the blade edge against a pocket seam. Further on the safety seam, I prefer tip down since if the blade partially opens it can't catch on the pocket and open further during extraction.

I have never liked pocket clip carry, however.

I used to carry my pocket knife loose in my front pocket until I had an accidental partial opening inside my pocket. It was an AFCK with a big round hole and my handkerchief wedged partially into the hole and pulled the blade slightly out of the handle. Since the return spring (lockback) was so weak, the blade didn't snap itself back in. I got a slight finger poke - I got away easy.

Since then I've looked for ways to more safely pocket carry my rotation of pocket knifes.

So far I've only found two ways:

1. An actual sheath, thin nylon, covering the pocket knife in the pocket. REI sells a couple of sizes. However is you don't cut off the Velcro flap, the knife is no longer very available; and even if you cut off the Velcro flap, these nylon sheaths are usually so snug they don't slide off the pocket knive.

2. My current preferred sheath: a racing bike innertube, cut to length, stapled at bottom. In my pocket the knive is positioned upright, in the innertube which covers have the handle, and held in place by a combination of compact wallet with handkerchief over wallet and pocket knife.

I just pull the pocket knife up and out of the innertube sheath; the innertube sheath remains in pocket.

I still think lockbacks with enough tension to snap the blade back into the handle when opened up to 1/2 an inch are the safest. There's generally not enough movement or room in my front pants pockets to allow an accidental opening more than that. Also I haven't had a problem with thumbstuds; it's those large opening holes that catch things (keys being the worst).

That having been said, if you get stuck with lemons, make lemonade. The Ernie Emerson Wave opener is a good example. Emerson was apparently experimenting with a prong to "catch" an opponents blade in close quarters combat when his prototype customers reported back to him that the prong was catching on their pockets and whipping the blade open during extraction - an incidental "defect" that quickly became a feature. The only two requirements? Tip up carry and edge against pocket seam carry - using the feature doesn't require a pocket clip, but for safety the pocket clip is essential, since the Emersons are one line of knives DESIGNED to catch and open.

Oh. Yeah. I like Emersons so I work around my dislike of pocket clip carry by - that's right - carrying an Emerson tip down in my innertube half-sheath. Afterall, tip down the Wave prong won't accidentally catch on my pocket, and once extracted there's always the opening disk as an alternative. Well...there's another use for the Wave prong, but I'll post separately.
Click to expand...
Well.....why you not cut rings from that bike inner tube ........and wrap one around your knife ,rest keep in back pocket . I can bet that blade will never accidentally open :) Inner tube sheath :D
 
Natlek said:
Well.....why you not cut rings from that bike inner tube ........and wrap one around your knife ,rest keep in back pocket . I can bet that blade will never accidentally open :) Inner tube sheath :D
Click to expand...

My daughter's hair bands work as a wrap around rubber band; that's how I bundle knives sent in for sharpening, to prevent accidental opening during mailing. However I'm trying to balance safety vs. accessibility; and even for Amazon boxes, I need one-handed use, which means any rubber band just gets in the way. Thanks though. I have about three feet of unused bike innertube left over, and looking for ways to use it.
 
Spaniel1967 said:
The safest way imho to pocket carry a pocket knife is using the clip to align the blade edge against a pocket seam. Further on the safety seam, I prefer tip down since if the blade partially opens it can't catch on the pocket and open further during extraction.

I have never liked pocket clip carry, however.

I used to carry my pocket knife loose in my front pocket until I had an accidental partial opening inside my pocket. It was an AFCK with a big round hole and my handkerchief wedged partially into the hole and pulled the blade slightly out of the handle. Since the return spring (lockback) was so weak, the blade didn't snap itself back in. I got a slight finger poke - I got away easy.

Since then I've looked for ways to more safely pocket carry my rotation of pocket knifes.

So far I've only found two ways:

1. An actual sheath, thin nylon, covering the pocket knife in the pocket. REI sells a couple of sizes. However is you don't cut off the Velcro flap, the knife is no longer very available; and even if you cut off the Velcro flap, these nylon sheaths are usually so snug they don't slide off the pocket knive.

2. My current preferred sheath: a racing bike innertube, cut to length, stapled at bottom. In my pocket the knive is positioned upright, in the innertube which covers have the handle, and held in place by a combination of compact wallet with handkerchief over wallet and pocket knife.

I just pull the pocket knife up and out of the innertube sheath; the innertube sheath remains in pocket.

I still think lockbacks with enough tension to snap the blade back into the handle when opened up to 1/2 an inch are the safest. There's generally not enough movement or room in my front pants pockets to allow an accidental opening more than that. Also I haven't had a problem with thumbstuds; it's those large opening holes that catch things (keys being the worst).

That having been said, if you get stuck with lemons, make lemonade. The Ernie Emerson Wave opener is a good example. Emerson was apparently experimenting with a prong to "catch" an opponents blade in close quarters combat when his prototype customers reported back to him that the prong was catching on their pockets and whipping the blade open during extraction - an incidental "defect" that quickly became a feature. The only two requirements? Tip up carry and edge against pocket seam carry - using the feature doesn't require a pocket clip, but for safety the pocket clip is essential, since the Emersons are one line of knives DESIGNED to catch and open.

Oh. Yeah. I like Emersons so I work around my dislike of pocket clip carry by - that's right - carrying an Emerson tip down in my innertube half-sheath. Afterall, tip down the Wave prong won't accidentally catch on my pocket, and once extracted there's always the opening disk as an alternative. Well...there's another use for the Wave prong, but I'll post separately.
Click to expand...
You could use a kydex sheath like this one and tether it to your belt or belt loop. With the right length of cord, you pull it out of your pocket and the knife will pop out of the sheath.
Linos-Kydex-Sheath-for-Spyderco-Delica-Neck-Cord-BHQ-87287-er-large.jpg
 
If the bike inner tube sheath works for you, go for it. I personally know I wouldn't like this and have no problems with knives opening in my pocket. I can take or leave flippers and one hand opening is not critical to me overall. If I have a knife that I want to carry in my pocket that I don't want to be scratched up by coins or keys, I use a pocket slip. But that is rare.
 
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Spaniel1967 said:
..
I'm trying to balance safety vs. accessibility; and ..rubber band just gets in the way...I have about three feet of unused bike innertube left over, and looking for ways to use it.
Click to expand...
like the idea of reutilizing waste materials.
i found some old mouse pads had some form of cushion foam, which one could
easily refashioned into - cases... amongst
other things.
but the trick is to peel off and get
the glued remains off from the back
of the foam. which normally is some
form of petroleum based rubber.adhesive.
so yeah, its a matter of diy.
all it takes is a pair of scissors to cut
to size and some rubberised contact
glue to put it togather.
i can now see how some bicycle tube
can serve as a smooth internal lining
for that sheath build.
 
Fold over leather sheaths work great or anything similar to the Chris Reeve Calf skin sheath.

My slipjoints ride in those constantly.
 
:) I've never (so far) had any problem with any clip folder opening up in my pocket . Not in the whole 40 or so years I've carried clip folders . :confused:

But I don't carry any with a weak detent , and mostly back locks carried tip up .

But even with a couple of AO that I carried for some years ...no problem . Kershaw Blur and a ZT Scavenger . :cool:
 
The entire OP is confounding. The OP uses knife/knive/knifes/knives interchangeably, but manages to use a semicolon reasonably well. That’s my first odd observation. Next, use that inner tube if it works for you. I would be willing to bet cash that your problem with a knife afflicts probably less than .01% of the knife-carrying population. I have honestly never had reason to even address half of the things you brought up.
 
Get a one handed lockback, the nature of a lockback mechanism usually means a bit of tension in the closed position.
 
ScooterG said:
You just need to find the right pair of jeans with a built in pocket.
8t0w.jpg
Click to expand...

I have to ask, what are these called ?

The OP does have a point, even though pocket sheaths are cumbersome, IMO. On a related note, I like large folders, but do not want them to show. So this is what I do. Could be prettier, I know, but it's functional for me.

i-JZh9Rxk-XL.jpg
 
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