Camp knife bail dilemma

Not my picture, but back in the days before knives had built in pocket clips, the scouts used to have this belt clip. You would run your belt through the slot, and then the knife would clip onto the metal clip by the bail and hang off your belt.
That way it could be easily accessed without having to dig in your pockets, and I guess helped keep the knife from getting lost.
I have also seen people clip knives with bails on them onto a similar clip on their tool pouches. You could also tie a string to it and use the knife as an improvised plumb bob, attach lanyards to keep from losing it while working over water or at heights, etc.
Lots of uses for the bail.

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Thanks to all who replied here.

I am on day 6 of carrying the knife and I have already gotten used to the bail. I haven’t needed the bail for anything yet and with my lifestyle, I don’t expect that I ever will but it’s not in my way either.

In keeping with the tradition of a Scout knife, the bail stays!
 
Railsplitter said:
Thanks to all who replied here.

I am on day 6 of carrying the knife and I have already gotten used to the bail. I haven’t needed the bail for anything yet and with my lifestyle, I don’t expect that I ever will but it’s not in my way either.

In keeping with the tradition of a Scout knife, the bail stays!
Click to expand...

Cool glad it GREW. on you..😉👍.......It usually takes me a few days to acclimate to a new.knife and.its quirks....
Takes a while.experimenting with hands\fingers placement for deployment of blade...😁.....

Glad you're enjoying it..👌
 
Railsplitter said:
Thanks to all who replied here.

I am on day 6 of carrying the knife and I have already gotten used to the bail. I haven’t needed the bail for anything yet and with my lifestyle, I don’t expect that I ever will but it’s not in my way either.

In keeping with the tradition of a Scout knife, the bail stays!
Click to expand...

here's an idea; try putting one go those little freedom button cell flashlights on a bead chain on the bail. That way you have your scout knife and some light all in one grab. Or a small button compass.
 
I choose both, some have them some don't. I removed the bail from the Camillus and I love it. I also have some with bails, it does make it easier to retrieve it out of my pocket. I like researching different lanyards to use. Additionally the one without the bail fits better in a pocket slip.
IMG_20250926_185206383.jpgIMG_20250926_185220416.jpgIMG_20250926_185133088.jpg
 
Well folks, I couldn’t take it anymore. It came to a point where I had to be honest with myself and admit that I wasn’t fully enjoying the knife with the bail attached.

I held off until early this month and shipped it out for a professional bail removal. Just got it back today.

Let the thrashing begin but I do feel much better now.

Special thanks to Bill DeShivs Bill DeShivs for performing the modification.

Before:
IMG_2017.jpeg
After:
IMG_2389.jpeg
IMG_2391.jpeg
 
Railsplitter said:
Well folks, I couldn’t take it anymore. It came to a point where I had to be honest with myself and admit that I wasn’t fully enjoying the knife with the bail attached.

I held off until early this month and shipped it out for a professional bail removal. Just got it back today.

Let the thrashing begin but I do feel much better now.

Special thanks to Bill DeShivs Bill DeShivs for performing the modification.

Before:
View attachment 3084969
After:
View attachment 3084970
View attachment 3084971
Click to expand...
Bill bailed you out alright :-) Nice work I say 👍
 
Railsplitter said:
Well folks, I couldn’t take it anymore. It came to a point where I had to be honest with myself and admit that I wasn’t fully enjoying the knife with the bail attached.

I held off until early this month and shipped it out for a professional bail removal. Just got it back today.

Let the thrashing begin but I do feel much better now.

Special thanks to Bill DeShivs Bill DeShivs for performing the modification.

Before:
View attachment 3084969
After:
View attachment 3084970
View attachment 3084971
Click to expand...
That is the most perfect bail-removal I have seen - doesn’t look like it ever had a bail to begin with.
 
black mamba said:
I've even considered grinding off the little tab the rings attach to.
Click to expand...
I've performed nubectomys on my Cadet, Recruit, and Tourist, because the nub digs into my palm when I use the main blade.
Mwm0hMU.jpg


On the other hand, I cobbled up fabricated a replacement bail for my old SI when I started using it when canoeing. (I had removed it when I was carrying the SI all the time.)
KVorS0E.jpg
 
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