Deep Carry vs. Non-Deep Carry. Compare and Contrast.

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Lockup1109

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Jun 1, 2014
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The past couple of years or so i have seen this trend/move by knife manufacturers, moving in the direction of Deep carry clips, Super deep carry clips ect... i am perplexed at this. I realize some people like to be "discrete" when they carry a knife due to differing locals and work settings. I am personally not a fan of deep carry clips at all, so much so that 99% of the time i will not buy a knife with a deep carry clip, unless it is able to be changed out to non deep carry.
I like knives to stick out of my pocket enough so that i can get a good grasp around the handle, the deeper the knife is in the pocket the harder this is to achieve, especially with full sized knives (3.5"+ blades). I've notices a lot of knives in the full sized range getting Deep carry clips standard lately, while their smaller counterparts usually receive non deep carry clips, which in my opinion is backwards. a smaller knife deeper in the pocket is still easier to grasp than a larger knife deeper in the pocket, whereas you would not need to do as much of a shuffle to deploy it.

perfect example are Zt's new 0452cf and 0450, the clips should have been done the other way around, with the deep carry clip on the smaller knife, if at all. I would like to see manufacturers start making it an option on their higher end knives, hopefully they will come across this thread and take heed of this situation, which turns me off to a lot of Great designs lately.

the spyderco military is a perfect example of a well executed clip location, regardless of being tip down only (gasp), the knife sticks out about 3/4" from the pocket, making extraction and deployment less of a shuffle/fumble around the handle. I use my knives for work every single day, i am not a collector or purveyor of fine knives, although i have a few many would consider expensive. They all get used, and i love when they poke out enough where grabbing them is easy.

I'd love to hear everyone elses opinions on Deep Carry vs "Pokin out" haha.
 
I certainly see your point. Spyderco does a great of making functional knives, and if you look at a defensive folder like the Yojimbo 2, there is quite a bit sticking out for the very reason of quicker deployment. I suspect most that prefer deep carry either don't see their knife as a self defense tool or see discreet carry as more important than ease of access. I like deep carry clips in situations where I don't want my knife to be easily seen, especially if I don't think I will be using it much. If I know I will be using it often or if I am in a shady area, I always prefer regular clips. If not for needing discretion at times I would never prefer deep.
 
When I carry clipped I prefer deep carry. Two reasons:

It's more secure in my pocket to be deeper. I'm clip-loss paranoid anyway. I don't trust them.

Discretion. I'm not one who likes to advertise that I'm carrying. I prefer black clips too.
 
I don't like "deep carry" clips.
I like to be able to get the knife out easier when I want to cut things.

Besides, no one seems to notice the knives clipped in my pockets (guess they aren't staring near my crotch...should I be offended?), and if they do, they don't care.
 
thanks for the reply, i see this as even more of an incentive for designers and manufacturers to give the option of two different clips, even if not included in the price, they should at least try and use the same screw pattern for multiple clips, kind of like benchmade/emersons 3 screw clip can be interchanged with benchmades 2 screw deep carry clips. just as an example of course.
 
jstn said:
...... I suspect most that prefer deep carry either don't see their knife as a self defense tool or see discreet carry as more important than ease of access.......
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:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
I don't have many with deep carry clips I think there kinda a pain to get outa my pocket sometimes but on the other hand I like the way they look and I especially like to carry them if I'm going somewhere where I don't want a knife sticking out of my pocket.
 
The police are probably the only ones you have to worry about i would assume, other civilians cant dictate what you carry or where you carry it, they ( the police) know what a knife clip looks like, deep carry or not, if its legal to be carrying i wouldnt worry much what others think. I feel it makes more sense for it to be easily accessible. I know when I'm working and using my knife probably 10-20 times a day it is much easier not to have a deep carry clip. This is what i hope knife manufacturers will come to realize, not everyone carries a knife for defensive purposes or just to carry it. They need to start making it optional, i think it would increase sales on many models.
 
Deep clips mean the handle of the knife wreaking less havoc with your pants.

Sometimes the best answer is more practical; less tactical.
 
stabman said:
How do you figure that?
I never noticed deeper carry wearing pants less.
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On any of my high riding knives they rub the watch pocket/key ring raw. Kuhl, Levis, Merril, Arcteryx.

Obviously the type of handle and tip up/tip down plays into the formula also.
 
Danke42 said:
On any of my high riding knives they rub the watch pocket/key ring raw. Kuhl, Levis, Merril, Arcteryx.

Obviously the type of handle and tip up/tip down plays into the formula also.
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I could see that.
I only had one pair of jeans that wore in that area; all others had the wear right at the seam of the pocket.
Probably the style of pants/pockets comes into play as well.
 
No real preference here. I never experienced an issue getting a deep carry out of my pocket, I also consider tight pockets more of a no-go for pants, then clip style a no-go on a knife (I prefer relaxed fit). If I had to choose I guess I would probably say regular clip. But deep clips don't bother me in the slightest...
 
I'd much prefer smart clip hole positioning along with a standard clip style. A perfect example of this is something like the Benchmade Kulgera. When you use a standard clip, a good amount of the handle is exposed. If you want a deep carry clip, you can simply buy a standard after market clip. That's an ideal solution.
 
tokerblue said:
I'd much prefer smart clip hole positioning along with a standard clip style. A perfect example of this is something like the Benchmade Kulgera. When you use a standard clip, a good amount of the handle is exposed. If you want a deep carry clip, you can simply buy a standard after market clip. That's an ideal solution.
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exactly my point. all large manufacturers should take note of that, its one of the good things about benchmade, map pricing amongst other things aside.
 
Totally agree. You saved me some typing

Mike

strategy9 said:
No real preference here. I never experienced an issue getting a deep carry out of my pocket, I also consider tight pockets more of a no-go for pants, then clip style a no-go on a knife (I prefer relaxed fit). If I had to choose I guess I would probably say regular clip. But deep clips don't bother me in the slightest...
Click to expand...
 
stabman said:
I could see that.
I only had one pair of jeans that wore in that area; all others had the wear right at the seam of the pocket.
Probably the style of pants/pockets comes into play as well.
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And how many times you have to take the knife out to "look" at it.
 
I don't mind deep carry as long as I can put a lanyard on it for easy removal otherwise Emerson's clips are perfectly placed IMHO
 
Depends on the knife, the clip and the situation. I'm hugely in favor of the solution that A.G. Russell offers on a few knives, ship it with one of each and let the customer pick.
 
Lockup1109 said:
perfect example are Zt's new 0452cf and 0450, the clips should have been done the other way around, with the deep carry clip on the smaller knife, if at all. I would like to see manufacturers start making it an option on their higher end knives, hopefully they will come across this thread and take heed of this situation, which turns me off to a lot of Great designs lately.
Click to expand...

I was writing a review of the 0450 on another site and mentioned *exactly* the same thing. I bought the 0450 as an office EDC knife, and the only thing I didn't like was the clip, mainly because the clip on the 0452 is my favorite ZT/Kershaw clip style and maybe of any brand I own. It did seem like they got the clip choice backward between the two models.
 
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