Recommendation? Carrying traditional knives

[el gigantor]

I never did understand clips on knives. Why struggle with a clip, when it is so much easier to just reach in your pocket and pull your knife out?

I can only speak for myself, but I can’t stand when my knife is sitting horizontally in my pocket. It’s uncomfortable every step I take. I vastly prefer when the knife is held in place vertically at all times and clips allow that to be possible.

EDIT: Spelling.

 

[ZHoovie]

I can only speak for myself, but I can’t stand when my knife in sitting horizontally in my pocket. It’s uncomfortable every step I take. I vastly prefer when the knife is held in place vertically at all times and clips allow that to be possible.

Agreed. If they happen to slide sideways & stay it'll drive me up a wall sometimes. Some models are fine & wont cause an issue but others always find a way to make it awkward. Always depends on the knife & clothes I'm wearing, I just plan accordingly. Always good to have options

 

[storyofmyknife]

Great to see that you are wanting to carry Traditionals . You are still young enough to have time to figure it out . Myself I usually carry a knife in each pocket and do not feel that they are bouncing around . Do you want a Knife in your pocket or a bunch of other Stuff ??? If I want to carry keys in my pocket and keep a knife in a slip if I want to protect it . Do you want a knife in the pocket or a bunch of other stuff ????? It sounds like you need a Slip with a Clip and a knife with a Lanyard Hole or Bale or a Belt Mounted Slip and you have some good advice by @LastRodeo and ZHoovie . Have fun in figuring it all out and finding an EDC and a way to carry it .

Harry

For now what I want is a knife in the slip in the front left pocket with my phone. That’s where I’ve always carried my knife so I’m used to it at this point. And even when I have a larger knife, it doesn’t get in the way of the phone so I’m not too worried about the slip getting in the way either.

 

[storyofmyknife]

I never did understand clips on knives. Why struggle with a clip, when it is so much easier to just reach in your pocket and pull your knife out? Having to reach past a clipped knife to access my keys is also annoying. Adding a sleeve or pouch seems like it would even further complicate the process.

I’m so used to where my knife is clipped, that it’s just habit to reach for it there. I know it’s not a perfect example, but it’s like changing your conceal carry position after years of keeping it in the same place. It just throws you off.

And yes I know reaching for my knife isn’t going to be life or death like it could with a gun, but it’s the best example I could come up with

 

[ZHoovie]

S storyofmyknife I hope we're not coming across as attacking your choices, I can guarantee it's absolutely not the case. There's alot of different choices & no one fits all solution. Everyone has their own preferences, I switch mine up all the time depending what I'm doing that day. Btw I agree with the built in muscle memory over the years, I'm definitely guilty of that as well

 

[Just Tom.]

I’m so used to where my knife is clipped, that it’s just habit to reach for it there.

There is absolutely no reason for you to change what you are comfortable with - hopefully you find a good solution

S storyofmyknife I hope we're not coming across as attacking your choices, I can guarantee it's absolutely not the case.

Agreed.

 

[storyofmyknife]

S storyofmyknife I hope we're not coming across as attacking your choices, I can guarantee it's absolutely not the case.

No I didn’t feel attacked at all. In fact I genuinely appreciate all the feedback and input. All the different slips yall have shown and linked are all great options and some of the other suggestions are great too. I feel like an idiot for not thinking to just put it next to my phone like was suggested earlier (probably because I was so set on a clip ever since I started carrying knives) I’ll try that for a bit since it’s similar to where I have my knife clipped, and I wouldn’t have to buy anything. I had thought of the watch pocket, but 1, I’m left handed, and 2, that’s where my SAK rides. But thank you again everyone!

 

[7east]

I like to carry this kind of knife in this kind of slip.

https://imgur.com/a/IIh52Ua

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks for the mention L lambertiana ! For those folks not familar with this idea, here's a few pics. A Buckaroo Pouch is basically a slip with a tether that can go to a belt loop or to your belt. Pull on the tether and the slip will come out. Pinch the bottom of the slip and this makes your folder easy to get to. Open er up and do what needs doing, let the pouch hang. Done cutting, fold er up, put er back in the pouch and tuck the pouch back in your pocket. Its handy.

We make the pouch out of water buffalo leather. We've tested this leather for months to make sure it didn't tarnish up or corrode bolsters or HC steel. The testing was simple. Made up a prototype and stuck such a folder in it. The knife had nickel silver bolsters and a HC blade. I checked it every few days for bout three months. It was fine. The knife in the pouch was left on the bathroom counter, near the shower all this time. The tether on the Buckaroo Pouch is made from a strong but supple oil tan. On pure numbers we probably sell more of these guys than any other single item we make. Anyhoo. While I tend to use my left front pocket, it'll work in any pocket that ya choose as these pics show.

Right rear pocket:

 

[5K Qs]

I've also done the safety pin method as mentioned by birdsbeaks in the past. It works really well, but I kind of got tired of taking off the pin and putting it back on every day.

I have a safety pin forming a little knife compartment in my left front pocket in every pair of pants I wear regularly. Once I get the safety pin set up where I want it, I never remove the pin when I wash the pants or put the pants on shelf or hanger, or pack pants in a bag for travel. I can't recall a safety pin ever coming open accidentally while wearing or washing the pants.

- GT

 

[afishhunter]

I can’t stand when my knife is sitting horizontally in my pocket. It’s uncomfortable every step I take.

??? I don't notice the knives laying horizontal in my pocket (currently a Case 10375 stockman (4.25 inch closed) and a Bench Made 318 Proper (3.625 inch closed ... I think ...) when walking or sitting.

A knife clipped vertical in my front pocket? Depending on the knife, I have to move it to a coat or cargo pocket, or even to my boot, because it jabs me in the thigh/hip when I sit, if clipped to my pocket.
They also make it more difficult to reach into said pocket for whatever else is in there that I need.

Try clipping your keys to your belt or belt loop (where they belong) and a belt phone holster.
Several of the staff at the Assisted Living keep their "smart" phone in their rear pocket, or tucked in the back of their pants. ALL of them have a cracked/broken screen.[/i]
Front pocket carry is not an viable option when helping some of the residents ... and the size of some "smart" phones these days ... they barely fit in a jeans front pocket.

S'not like the Samsung cellphone I had back in the 20 double aughts ... it folded smaller than a pack of Camel or Lucky Strike non-filter cigarettes (I still toted it in a leather belt pouch/sheath) traditionally carried in a rolled up T shirt sleeve at work (laborer) & play.
Admittedly, it was a "stupid" phone, that could not access the Internet ... It only knew how to make a phone call ... when in range of a tower ... wasn't worth a gnat's butt burp, during the voyage from St. Croix, USVI to Tampa, FL, on the boss' charter yacht for a refitting.

 

[ZHoovie]

I get what you're saying afishhunter ,
I agree with you on the key placement. Everyone's different though. I know some people that only carry very few keys, like one house key & a car key for instance. Front pocket carry may work for them. Me personally on the other hand have what my wife calls my "grandpa keys" a large brass belt clip with keys for the cars, house, shop, parents house, my dad's shop, ect. I try to keep the weight down & not carry what I rarely use (there's plenty more keys for various other things or vehicles we don't drive daily)
The phone in the front pocket doesn't work well for me though. It always rides in the back pocket or in the cargo pocket if I'm wearing that style of pants/shorts. I've never had a broken screen, but then again I always take it out before I sit down. Maybe that's the secret your staff may be missing I've also noticed some brands of phones are more prone to cracking than others. My Motorolas have never broken a screen & they've taken some hard hits over the years.
Back to the knife subject. I've found a brand of jeans that have a huge "watch" pocket, as in fit a Buck 110 or other knives in the 5 inch length. They have become a favorite of mine. It holds those large knives vertical in the "watch" pocket & still allows you to use the front right for whatever else you need to carry.

 

[afishhunter]

Two or 3 keys?!?
How is that even possible?!?
I have more keys than that just for my bicycle (ok ... ok ... adult tricycle) locks.

(I want to ensure it and all three wheels/tyres are there when I can't use it as a "wheelchair" when shipping at the grocer's and Walmart, or need to visit the SS office, for example, and I have to park it outside ...next to a shopping cart corral ... lamp post ... bench ... tree ... and lock it to that.
Wheels are locked to the frame, as well, of course. )

 

[AxF]

I have a safety pin forming a little knife compartment in my left front pocket in every pair of pants I wear regularly. Once I get the safety pin set up where I want it, I never remove the pin when I wash the pants or put the pants on shelf or hanger, or pack pants in a bag for travel. I can't recall a safety pin ever coming open accidentally while wearing or washing the pants.

- GT

I can't believe I never thought of just leaving the pin there. I guess I was worried about the pin rusting from the wash or tearing a hole in the fabric of my pocket from being jostled around over time. If I get tired/annoyed by my current carry situation I'll give the pin method another try. I don't ever really see myself carrying a slip despite my love for leather.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[5K Qs]

I can't believe I never thought of just leaving the pin there. I guess I was worried about the pin rusting from the wash or tearing a hole in the fabric of my pocket from being jostled around over time. If I get tired/annoyed by my current carry situation I'll give the pin method another try. I don't ever really see myself carrying a slip despite my love for leather.

Thanks for the reply!

You're welcome.
One phrase of your comment above reminded me that I DID have to move a pin after several years in the pocket of a very worn pair of jeans because the holes in the pocket fabric that the pin made eventually did start enlarging and the pin would sometimes get twisted around. But I just moved the pin over (and maybe up or down, too) a quarter-inch or so and was good to go.

- GT

 

[aji1]

For now what I want is a knife in the slip in the front left pocket with my phone.

That's what I do. Right pocket is keys, Space Pen, and maybe some coins or other small doo-dads. Left pocket is my phone and knife in a leather slip. The slip is more to protect the (stupidly) expensive phone from the blade spine or tang than to keep the knife pristine.

Gratuitous photo of a nice knife with it's personal slip.

 

[jc57]

I used to be more picky about it, but these days loose in right front pocket is how I carry slip joints. Nothing else in that pocket to scratch them up. Key chain goes in left.

 

[Zornhau]

The knife isn't the problem, it's the phone. More pants need to be available with a phone pocket on the leg. And then I can't use the phone without my glasses, so I need yet another pocket. My solution is to leave the phone at home, it's not like anybody actually calls me.