Concealed carry clips

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fivesense

Joined
Jun 5, 2017
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The title should read "Deep Carry" clips. My mind gravitated toward firearms...

I've never purchased aftermarket clips for my EDC knives as it just never occurred to me- I didn't even realize it was a "thing" until browsing the forums. But now I'm considering a clip that will allow me to carry my PM2 a little deeper in my pocket.

General thoughts on the deep carry clips? How's the overall retention and comfort? Any drawbacks?
 
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Sorry, but I can't really help you.
I've got a couple folders with deep carry clips and while I prefer them I don't really know why other than not liking how it looks when a knife sticks up from my pocket.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Sorry, but I can't really help you.
I've got a couple folders with deep carry clips and while I prefer them I don't really know why other than not liking how it looks when a knife sticks up from my pocket.
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That's as good an answer as any. My question is really pretty broad anyway. But I like the idea of the knife sitting a little less conspicuously in my pocket (although the shiny silver clip is a bit of an indicator)!
 
fivesense said:
That's as good an answer as any. My question is really pretty broad anyway. But I like the idea of the knife sitting a little less conspicuously in my pocket (although the shiny silver clip is a bit of an indicator)!
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Technically here in California a folder has to be completely concealed, so a deep carry clip could be important if you live here but it's not a well known law or anything.
If you don't like a bright shiny clip you could find a black one.
I also prefer the clip to be at the bottom of the handle, I couldn't care less weather the blade is tip up or tip down but it's more comfortable in hand when the clip is at the bottom.
 
i dont see the point of them unless where one lives requires it for legal reasons. where i am no problem carrying openly or concealed and i find non deep carry clips make it easier to grab and use the knife. all that said im not against them just dont see the point. if a knife has one im fine with it. if it doesnt im fine with it.
 
jbmonkey said:
i dont see the point of them unless where one lives requires it for legal reasons. where i am no problem carrying openly or concealed and i find non deep carry clips make it easier to grab and use the knife. all that said im not against them just dont see the point. if a knife has one im fine with it. if it doesnt im fine with it.
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I can carry a bazooka and a samurai sword openly where I live; it's nice to live in a free state (I'm from CA originally). So it's less about the need to conceal than the desire to discreetly carry on business, etc... But otherwise, it really doesn't matter much to me either.

The other thing that's nice about the factory clip on my PM2 is that I can carry my keys in my pocket and the knife never contacts the keys. With my Military on the other hand, it's a little longer so the keys might smack against the scales every now and then. Again, a relatively insignificant issue.

I just wonder if there is some extra level of comfort or ergo benefit to the deep carry clips.

Sometimes I think folks just like to accessorize their knives like we might accessorize our firearms. Good hobby no matter how you slice it.
 
Man with no name said:
I live in California too and never heard of such a law. Do you know the penal code by chance?
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Not sure, I just know that it says any fixed blade must be completely unconcealed on your belt while a folder must be completely concealed.


It sounds to me like they consider all fixed blades to be a weapon and people should know you've got it, while at the same time they don't want you to carry a folder openly as it would scare people.
This is totally conflicting and makes no sense to me at all, but that's what it says.

You just have to look up the California knife law, however it will not included city and county ordinances.
 
fivesense said:
Sometimes I think folks just like to accessorize their knives like we might accessorize our firearms. Good hobby no matter how you slice it.
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I think you might be on to something there. Take my PM2 for example...acid washed blade & clip, Putman Anso scales previously, Flytanium copper scales currently, and I'm shopping for a custom backspacer for even a bit more flare. I do the same with many of my guns but the knives are more fun because I can carry them around and handle them more often.

As far as deep carry clips go, I can take or leave them and it really depends on the knife and clip. I don't feel the extra concealment is necessary (barring some legal reason). Generally I find them to create a bit more of a hot spot in the hand.
Some examples of "it depends":
  • The ZT 0550 Gen 1 did not use a deep carry clip but the Gen 2 does. I prefer the Gen 1 because the clip creates less of a hot spot for me.
  • The ZT 0808 factory clip is not deep carry but I found a deep carry clip (same design as the 0550) works better on this knife. It creates less of a hot spot than the factory clip and looks better in my opinion.
  • The ZT 0450 uses the same factory clip as the 0808 (not deep carry). I tried the 0550 deep carry version on it and hated it...terrible hot spot for me.
  • The deep carry clip on the ZT 0566 creates a mild hot spot for me but the same clip on the 0900 and 0909 works great for me, though it looks a bit goofy on the 0909 because it's so small.
  • I find Benchmade deep carry clips create a bit less of a hot spot than some others though I generally prefer their non-deep carry versions.
  • I just got a Graham GMT Stubby Razel and its deep carry clip is very unique. It looks more like a pen clip than a knife clip...very discreet. I'm not entirely sold on it yet though. It seems like it might break or bend easily if it got snagged and it does not seem to be user-replaceable.
  • I bought an MXG Gear deep carry for my PM2 and didn't like it...bad hot spot. I put that clip on a Karahawk and it works better.
So you'll probably need to buy and try to see if it's for you.

A few of the Graham Razel (bottom)...a very neat little knife
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Graham Razel in the small watch pocket, ZT 0808 in the main pocket with deep carry clip
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Few of the PM2 for some customizing fun
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PM2 and the Graham Razel
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I find its dependent on the knife itself. Most my knives are perfectly fine with the stock clip. But ill take my zt0450 for exemple. I nearly lost that knife last winter because it didnt have a deep carry clip. I guess the seam of my winter coat got caught between the blade and the handle or something like that. But when i reached to grab it well it wasnt clipped to my pocket anymore. to me it seems small knives are just more likely to get caught on stuff if they dont have a deep carry clip. The only other knife i want a deep carry for is the kershaw blur. That thing just rides way too high outside the pocket
 
Possible downsides are that the retention might not be as good because it is bent, as such they tend to stick up more and can cause hot-spots in your grip, and less knife sticking out of the pocket to get a good grip taking the knife out.

I love em, though.

Casey Lynch is great, but now hard to get a hold of (especially if you don't live in the USA). MXG Gear has been a pretty good alternative for me now.
 
I have a couple from MXG. Retention is very good and in some cases, I prefer a knife that rides lower and in other cases I hate the clip that comes with the knife. Yeah, you Spyderco shiney hourglass clip as well as most all ZTS.

Anyway, they are worth trying if you don't mind the expense.
 
fivesense said:
...General thoughts on the deep carry clips? How's the overall retention and comfort? Any drawbacks?
Click to expand...

I don't like them, personally. I've had knives that came with them before and one of my fav BM's, a micarta Grip from KW, came with one. I love the knife, don't care for the clip. Knives ride too deep with those clips... makes it hard for me to get hold of them and pull them out.

I'm in GA and we don't have any knife laws, to speak of, so I can carry what I want open or concealed. I just like to have a bit sticking out (no lanyards, please) to make them easier to grab.

I'll add this about the Para 2, which I carry about half the time. A deep carry clip will ride in a different position whether the knife is TU or TD. It'll change how the knife feels in your hand when you're actually using it. Could be a problem if you do a lot of cutting or hard cutting or cutting that requires different grip styles.
 
I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other on deep carry clips, but every knife I have that has one ends up getting a lanyard so it's easier to get out of my pocket... which kind of ruins the whole concealment aspect.
 
Armadew said:
Possible downsides are that the retention might not be as good because it is bent, as such they tend to stick up more and can cause hot-spots in your grip, and less knife sticking out of the pocket to get a good grip taking the knife out.

I love em, though.

Casey Lynch is great, but now hard to get a hold of (especially if you don't live in the USA). MXG Gear has been a pretty good alternative for me now.
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^This. Look up Casey Lynch. Not sure where is at producing them anymore but I have several on several knives (including a PM2) and they are great. And yes, retention can be less. With all my Benchmade Deep Carry clips I have to tighten them up quite a bit to get the retention I want.
 
Here's my opinion. If you buy a knife with a factory deep carry clip than there's a bonus. If i want to conceal my knife, i just put it in the pocket without using the clip. Some knives i have with crappy clips, i end up removing it altogether and just put the knife directly in my pocket or back pocket. No better way to conceal it. Maybe hang a lanyard off it to stick out of a pocket. If someone sees just the lanyard, they might think it can be a set of keys or pretty much anything
 
Hickory n steel said:
Technically here in California a folder has to be completely concealed, so a deep carry clip could be important if you live here but it's not a well known law or anything.
If you don't like a bright shiny clip you could find a black one.
I also prefer the clip to be at the bottom of the handle, I couldn't care less weather the blade is tip up or tip down but it's more comfortable in hand when the clip is at the bottom.
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This may be the case for your city/locality, but statewide, there is no such requirement to conceal a folding knife. Statewide, there are relatively few restrictions on folding knives, no length limits, double edged OK, locking/non-locking OK. Autos are the only real restriction on folders statewide.

Big cities like Los Angeles/SF may have the backwards laws requiring concealment, but thankfully those are not statewide. Always check your local restrictions.
 
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