Deep carry - Help me out here

Y

YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast

BANNED
Gold Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
246
Greetings and happy Friday to you all!

For the last several years, I have been a Spyderco EDC guy, and I'm perfectly happy with the standard clip that comes with most Spydercos. The spoon style; I am NOT a fan of the wire clip and that actually ends up being a deal-breaker for me.

I actually like the way part of it sticks out of the pocket, makes it easier to grab. Never had a problem with it. Until last week, when my Kershaw Livewire arrived and I've been EDC'ing it every day since, thanks to my state making it legal (finally) to carry autos.

The only complaint I have with the knife is the deep carry clip. It actually makes it HARDER to draw, and I find myself struggling to get it out.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see the hype with "deep carry". It's kind of a pain in the ass. I also don't see the point. People see the clip on your pocket, they know it's a knife (even if they can't see the top 1/2" of it) so it's not helping you to conceal the knife. It certainly doesn't help a quick draw. So what am I missing? Why is everyone so invested in deep carry, and what trick am I missing to get the damn thing out of my pocket faster?

Thanks!
 
YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast said:
Greetings and happy Friday to you all!

For the last several years, I have been a Spyderco EDC guy, and I'm perfectly happy with the standard clip that comes with most Spydercos. The spoon style; I am NOT a fan of the wire clip and that actually ends up being a deal-breaker for me.

I actually like the way part of it sticks out of the pocket, makes it easier to grab. Never had a problem with it. Until last week, when my Kershaw Livewire arrived and I've been EDC'ing it every day since, thanks to my state making it legal (finally) to carry autos.

The only complaint I have with the knife is the deep carry clip. It actually makes it HARDER to draw, and I find myself struggling to get it out.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see the hype with "deep carry". It's kind of a pain in the ass. I also don't see the point. People see the clip on your pocket, they know it's a knife (even if they can't see the top 1/2" of it) so it's not helping you to conceal the knife. It certainly doesn't help a quick draw. So what am I missing? Why is everyone so invested in deep carry, and what trick am I missing to get the damn thing out of my pocket faster?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I'm not partial to any clip specifically, I clip it on the outside so it's easier to get.
It will be hard to explain this but there's a way to work the knife off your pants pocket by sticking your thumb inside your pocket and pulling down a bit then using your remaining fingers to pull the knife out by placing them on the bottom of the knife and essentially pulling up. Your thumb is keeping the lip of the pants pocket taught and your other fingers are pushing the knife up and off the pant material it's clipped to. Always worked for me even with tight clips
 
Kinda in agreement about deep carry clips. It makes no difference to me whether a knife has it or not to me, as I've not had any difficulty drawing one with a deep carry..

But I do agree that having more knife exposed above the pocket does inherently make it slightly easier to get to. I get some people want super discreet carry so I get the deep carry clips. But I'm in Alabama and every dude has a knife in their pocket, along with alot of the women 😂
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for the replies!


Fixedwing said:
A simple lanyard is all that is needed to retrieve a deep carry blade.
Click to expand...
I have an irrational fear that someone walking by will be able to grab it. LOL

Corton93 said:
Kinda in agreement about deep carry clips. It makes no difference to me whether a knife has it or not to me, as I've not had any difficulty drawing one with a deep carry..

But I do agree that having more knife exposed above the pocket does inherently make it slightly easier to get to. I get some people want super discreet carry so I get the deep carry clips. But I'm in Alabama and every dude has a knives in their pocket, along with alot of the women 😂
Click to expand...
Kinda feel like you'd stand out MORE if you DIDN'T have a knife! God bless Alabama!!

kreole said:
People don't notice your knife as easily, and non knife folks won't know it's a knife at all
Click to expand...
Yeah I still don't buy this. I don't see 1/2" of knife handle sticking out of your pocket is going to induce the pearl-clutching, but a clip won't. I live in a pretty darn blue state (for now) and I've been carrying non-deep clip knives for decades, including at work and such, and even in police stations/public events/town meetings/etc and I've yet to be called out on it. The one time I had someone say something to me was when I went to court for jury duty and totally forgot I had a knife. Court officer made me go back to my car to put it away, but otherwise didn't make a big deal about it.

I really don't think people care that much about pocket knives these days. They care more about your attitude and relative appearance. If you're not acting weird or anything, people won't give you a second thought. At least not where I live.
 
Honestly, I think this is much ado about pretty much nothing. It's easy enough to carry as one wishes, within or without the local ordinances...and taking responsibility for whichever path one chooses.

Here in western NC, if someone is concerned about your pocketknife, it's most likely because they want to see it.

Some municipalities in which I lived formerly, do, from my understanding, take umbrage at even the appearance of a clip...at which point it is probably wise to avoid having the matter come up. Otherwise...choose whichever you prefer. I have tons of both, it never really made me stand in front of the closet deep in thought over which way to jump.
 
YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast said:
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see the hype with "deep carry". It's kind of a pain in the ass
Click to expand...
NOPE , NOT JUST YOU.
I TOTALLY agree.
The only time I carry a deep carry is when it comes that way from the factory.
I've even been guilty of removing clips entirely and carrying the knife in a belt pouch (Cold Steel Ti Lite )

OH MY GOSH ! LOOK AT THAT BELT POUCH !
HE MUST BE A WILD MAN !
IF ONLY HE HAD A DEEP CARRY CLIP ON THAT DANGEROUS WEAPON I COULD RELAX !
😒🙃🥴
 
While I like both, I appreciate deep carry for two reasons.

First, it's less likely to draw attention.

Second, I have had on many, many occasions had my folder yanked from my pocket without me knowing while working or playing.

A deep carry clip gets the folder deeper in my pocket and the frequency is less.
 
YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast said:
wire clip and that actually ends up being a deal-breaker for me.
Click to expand...
I wanted to speak up for the wire clip.
I have had zero failures or problems with the wire clip. Spyderco uses tough steel for these clips and heat treats it right.
Do not confuse this miniscule looking but tough wire with what is used to make paper clips.
The two are worlds apart .

Sure it is possible to destroy the clip hooking it on a seat belt while jumping from a car that is on fire and rolling down a mountain (we've all done this at one time or another 🙄) but I submit a flat sheet metal clip would not hold up much if any better (Cold Steel clips excepted but I have to grind their clips to half thickness to make them pocketable).
I'm just saying . . .

I briefly pulled some drawers open and counted roughly fifty user Spydercos that I have with wire clips . Some a decade or more old .

Further more the Spyderco Siren and second Siren that is top shelf (S90V and Carbon Fiber ) both have wire clips .
The designer of the knife, Lance Clinton , is a HARD CORE salt water fisherman by trade . If he thought for a moment the clip was sub standard he most certainly would not have put it on his knife.
I have both of his knives by the way.
 
I am lucky to live where nobody cares what you carry (firearm or blade). I also tend to not tuck in shirts most of the time. If you are really worried about a clip showing, wear the knife inside your waistband with clip covered by your belt. Just a thought.
 
I’ve always found deep carry clips put a hot spot on my palm when gripping the knife; specifically on the hypothenar eminence. That tall spot on the very end of the handle was always weird for me (like a Benchmade 940 with a Bugout clip). Standard clips tend not to have that effect, unless they have sharp edges.

I too find pulling deep carry clipped knives from pockets more difficult than standard clipped ones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top