Blade on the Inside or Outside of Pocket?

S

sharkattacksw

Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
626
Here's a question I don't think has been asked. When carrying in your back pocket, do you prefer the blade to be against the outside of the pocket or facing inward?

For example, I typically carry tip up in my right back pocket with the blade facing towards the inside of the pocket. When I draw the knife with my right hand, my thumb is automatically right next to the hole/thumb stud, making for a quick opening.

I like to carry knives like this, but due to the way some clips are positioned on the knife handle, it's not possible.

What are your preferences, or do you have any?

For some reason, I had it in my head that by having the spine of the knife against the outside of the pocket, there was less chance of the blade being pushed against the inside of the spine, possibly making contact.

Maybe I'm way out in left field on this one. I am a new guy, so forgive me if it's an odd question.

Cheers all.
 
Typically people prefer to carry with the spine of the closed blade riding next to the side of the pocket so that it pretty much eliminates the chance that the blade could unintentionally open in the pocket. Pretty sure most folders won't allow for the actual edge of the blade to come into contact with anything if inward pressure were to be applied. The knife is usually stopped by contact being made by the tang of the blade with some mechanism (help me out here guys - stop pin? Still kinda new :P) near the pivot.

As for me, I like carrying my knife in my right rear pocket and riding along the outside seam. I just find the knife carries more comfortably there. This however leaves tip-up knives ready to open in my pocket, never had a problem however (knock on wood).
 
I carry tip-up in my right front and tip-down in my right rear pocket.
Switching a tip-up clip to the left would let me carry it right rear.

I always carry with the blade opening towards the seam for safety.
 
I frequently carry a knife in my back right pocket, and have had these same thoughts. The knife I carry there is a Benchmade 941, which is tip up, so the spine faces into the pocket. Most of the time this isn't an issue, but there have been one or two times when I've been getting out my wallet, or putting my wallet away (always carried in right rear pocket) that it has caught on the 941's thumb studs, and caused the knife to open. Fortunately on the occasions this happened, I noticed before it caused me any harm (and so I just had to do what must have looked like a careful, foolish little dance to free my hand and wallet and close the knife...).

This experience hasn't stopped me from carrying that knife there, but it has taught me to be careful with it. I expect this issue would only affect you if you carry other things in the pocket (like me with my wallet). Otherwise, I see no reason that a tip-up knife with good detent shouldn't be carried in this position.
 
When I back pocket carry its most always tip up and facing inward (away from seam). I have all of my EDC knives setup for right front pocket carry and at work I carry 2 knives and have one in my RRear pocket, but I don't go through the trouble to change the clip position every time I rear pocket carry.
 
Whenever I clip a knife, it's always tip up regardless to whether it's in front or back pocket. Yes, that means the spine is not facing the seam in the back pocket, but I find that the curvature of my butt naturally compresses the spine against the handle. :D As such there's very little chance for the knife to open accidentally and bite me.
 
I never carry my folder in my back pocket, I find it uncomfortable plus I think it might be a bit of an easier target for pick pockets (just my opinion)

I carry clipped in right (side) pocket regardless of type of pants with tip up and blade spine facing the seam. I've been doing that for so long it feels natural.
 
I carry tip up in my back pocket, blade facing away from the seam, just for the thrill of stabbing myself in the palm when I reach for my knife.

I also do jumping jacks right before reaching for it, just to up the ante a little.
 
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