Do your knives disappear when you carry them?

rushane said:
Total opposite here: I've found my SAKs lying on the ground under my chair, and have several times heard them falling out. Never lost one. But, this is only when I'm in ODUs at work. Never with jeans.

Never lost a clipped knife.
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I've thought about running a poll about how folks lost their knives. I'm guessing far more people have lost knives because they came unclipped than lost them because they fell out of their pocket. Problem is, far more people use clips to carry their knives than use deep pocket carry . . . or at least I assume that's the case. So it would be difficult if not impossible to figure out comparable percentages. But the logic seems to favor deep pocket as a safer method of carry than clipped. Unlike a clipped knife, there's nothing that can snag on a knife that's deep in your pocket and pull it out accidentally, especially if you dedicate a pocket to carrying your knife only. But there are all sorts of things that can grab onto an exposed knife clip and pull your knife out of your pocket. And even though I can't prove that deep pocket carry is safer than clipped carry, stories about knives coming unclipped surface often enough to give me the willies.
 
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bld522 said:
I've thought about running a poll about how folks lost their knives. I'm guessing that far more folks have lost knives because they came unclipped than lost them because they fell out of their pocket. Problem is, far more people use clips to carry their knives than use deep pocket carry . . . or at least I assume that's the case. So it would be difficult if not impossible to figure out comparable percentages. But the logic seems to favor deep pocket as a safer method of carry than clipped. Unlike a clipped knife, there's nothing that can snag on a knife that's deep in your pocket and pull it out accidentally.
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They fell out of my pockets.
From shirt pockets when I bent over.
From pants pockets when sitting in chairs or cars, or from the ---dreaded, and never done anymore---running.

With clips, I've never had an issue.
I rolled a canoe trying to canoe out into Lake Erie, twice in the same day (I'm not very good at it, at least with huge waves the day after a storm :D).
I had to dry my SnG and Bedlam out afterward, and I figured oiling them might be a good idea, but I didn't lose them. :)

For being active, whether at work, climbing a rock face beyond the "No Climbing!" signs, or just climbing trees because hey, why not, clips are where it's at for me. :thumbup:
 
These days my Swisschamp doesn't get lost, because it's in a Velcro pouch, inside a zipped pocket of my backpack.
 
stabman said:
They fell out of my pockets.
From shirt pockets when I bent over.
From pants pockets when sitting in chairs or cars, or from the ---dreaded, and never done anymore---running.

With clips, I've never had an issue.
I rolled a canoe trying to canoe out into Lake Erie, twice in the same day (I'm not very good at it, at least with huge waves the day after a storm :D).
I had to dry my SnG and Bedlam out afterward, and I figured oiling them might be a good idea, but I didn't lose them. :)

For being active, whether at work, climbing a rock face beyond the "No Climbing!" signs, or just climbing trees because hey, why not, clips are where it's at for me. :thumbup:
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I'm hear you. Hiking, running around, gearing up at work, in and out of cars, on and off ATVs, riding my dirtbike (often on multi day trips), nothing has ever pulled a knife from my pocket in 20 years of carrying (mostly Spyderco, but also Benchmade) clipped to my FR pocket. I also carry my keys there. Never had one come out trying to get my keys either. But, I've found my SAK in my couch cushions, in my car, and at work where it randomly fell out multiple times.

But this is obviously a person by person issue. A hypothetical poll showing that most knives that are lost are due to clips wouldn't convince me to change. I have a 100% success rate going with clips, and I'm pretty active throughout the week.
 
bld522 said:
I've thought about running a poll about how folks lost their knives. I'm guessing far more people have lost knives because they came unclipped than lost them because they fell out of their pocket. Problem is, far more people use clips to carry their knives than use deep pocket carry . . . or at least I assume that's the case. So it would be difficult if not impossible to figure out comparable percentages. But the logic seems to favor deep pocket as a safer method of carry than clipped. Unlike a clipped knife, there's nothing that can snag on a knife that's deep in your pocket and pull it out accidentally, especially if you dedicate a pocket to carrying your knife only. But there are all sorts of things that can grab onto an exposed knife clip and pull your knife out of your pocket. And even though I can't prove that deep pocket carry is safer than clipped carry, stories about knives coming unclipped surface often enough to give me the willies.
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I'll put front slash pocket + deep carry clip up against deep carry retention all day! I loooove the Stryke pants. Added bonus: multiple ladies have commented that they are flattering :)
 
I carry fairly large folders, clipped in the right front pocket of my tight jeans. These knives range from a Paramilitary 2 up through a Military and a ZT 0561. I fiddle with them during the day but for the most part I can't tell that they are there. Sometimes on weekends I am changing clothes or whatever and don't have a knife on me, sometimes I do. During those times I will suddenly have the thought that I don't know if I have a knife on me or not. I can't tell without actually feeling for it with my hand.
 
In my experience, being able to comfortably carry anything every day means matching it with the right clothes and other accessories. I learned this with guns: with a good holster, belt and trousers, a full size revolver like my GP-100 can be carried all day every day without discomfort.

I lead a very active life, I walk a lot, travel a lot, etc. I know that something that feels just a bit uncomfortable while eating breakfast at home will be a huge pain in the butt after a few hours. So I've got different EDC combinations depending on what I'm wearing and what I'll be doing. For instance, today I had to wear sports clothing so I carried a couple of FRN handled Spydercos which fit the pockets perfectly and are narrow enough to allow me to keep my phone or wallet in the same pocket. Tomorrow morning should be cold, so I might throw an Adamas in my coat pocket. It just disappears in there and it's quite comfortable to open with gloves.
 
bld522 said:
For sure. That's part of the reason I don't use pocket clips. I simply don't trust them. And I don't like to advertise that I'm carrying either. What's in my pocket is nobody's business but mine.

This much is know for a fact. If I kept a knife clipped to my pocket, I'd constantly be fiddling with it to make sure it hadn't fallen out. And that's not something I want to have on my mind day in and day out. Fortunately, I've never lost a knife I kept deep in my pocket. I don't tend to spend much time upside down and gravity hasn't failed me yet. :)
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All of the above.

Re: Clips I think people are built differently and wear different cuts of clothing...some have no problem losing clipped knives. Others can't seem to keep them clipped. And then factor in the different kinds of clips....

I've used slipcases for a long time. When my knife is in a slipcase it disappears, not only to me but to others; when it's not, I'm aware of it in my pocket and people surely see it there.
 
I carry mine clipped in my back right pocket, but far to the outside (towards my side rather than the middle of my back) so that I dont sit on it. From here I can take it out easily, but its less glaring to people Im around (its behind me and my shirt also usually covers most of it). This also allows me to have my waved kershaw emerson 6K ready to go at a moments notice, should it be necessary, without alerting anyone until the last min that i have a knife (sometimes I carry it in addition to a friendlier edc if Im going somewhere unfamiliar, sketchy, etc)

I have never lost a knife carrying this way, but I also find myself habitually checking to make sure its there. This isnt much of a problem because since its in the back, I can usually just casually feel for the clip while straightening my shirt or adjusting my pants, etc.

But for certain situations, I prefer to carry IWB, like when wearing slacks, thin sport shorts, sweat pants, etc. More comfortable, almost impossible to loose, totally concealed, and easier to feel against my body (which helps me make sure I always have it). Also, since I used to carry at 4 oclock IWB exclusively when I was younger, it feels very natural and I can get to it as easily as if it were in my pocket. Plus, no one knows its there unless I take it out.
 
I wear a uniform at work. There's a slightly concealed side pocket in those trousers where I clip my knife into. This keeps my front pockets free. I prefer black deep carry pocketclips because those pretty much blend in with the fabric.

In my off time when I wear jeans I carry in my front right pocket eventhough I'm a lefty. I guess I'm weird like that ;)
I don't like carrying knives unclipped completely in my pocket because there's always some degree of dirt in there which will enter the pivot point of your knife. I'm kind of OCD about keeping my blades razorsharp and dirtfree (unless I'm using them ofcourse).
 
I always know im carrying clipped to front right, it doesnt bother me but always knowing helps me out when someone needs something cut, i work in a sporting goods store so everyone has a knife and always needs one to break down boxes and cut open blister packs. I have no problem with it clipped, the funny part is i forget i have house keys but on the drop of the dime i know i got a nice sharp blade ready to go.
 
I forget my knives are there, until I remember them and frantically check to make sure they're still accounted for. I lost a few slipjoints when I was younger on couches and vehicles. I haven't lost one in 20+ years and prefer using clips when not at work.
 
evilgreg said:
I carry clipped front right, mostly, and I forget it's there, until I need it for something. Mostly I carry one of these (slightly dated shot, but imagine a few more Southards and you get the idea):

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Outside of the thick and heavy 0801, which is my current yard beater knife, the rest are all thin/small/light enough to go unnoticed in my pocket, usually. They're all production knives, and users, so I don't have to worry about the world ending if something happens to them. That said, I'm looking to add some new customs to the lineup and I'm not sure that will change my behavior much.
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evilgreg you have an awesome collection of knives man! more than half of them are on myust try list!
 
As a lad, I lost a few pocket knives which later turned up under the couch cushion. That's when I developed a habit I have to this day. Whenever I stand up, I check my pockets for keys, wallet, and knife.
 
I'm always conscious about it and have a habit of feeling for it every now and then. That actually kept me from losing a customized sebenza years ago when I first started out. I was at an indoor rock climbing facility and as I was moving around when I was taking a break I felt my pocket for my knife and it wasn't there. My heart sank and probably looked like a deer in the headlights. Luckily it was laying on the mat a few feet away from me. Ever since then I make sure to leave it in the car if I know I'm doing something where it might fall out of my pocket, and when I have a knife in my pocket I always subconsciously check to see if it's there.
 
I never forget, I'm always checking.and making sure my knife is in my pocket. My small Sebenza 21 hangs from a piece of paracord around my neck, I always know it's there.
 
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I (temporarily) lost my ZT0801 when I had it about a week or so. I was taking out garbage, and the clip got snagged on the garbage bag. I didn't realize that it was gone until later, and it took me several hours to figure out that it was in the garbage can (doh!). Now I constantly feel for my knife, even more than before!
 
In and around the house I carry a larger blade using the pocketclip (pm1/pm2)
When I go out I carry a Delica or Mini Grip in my front pocket not showing a pocketclip due to my country laws (you need a valid reason to carry a knife, work related or something...)
I'm always aware I got a knife on me, because I never leave without one ;)
 
I've sent my ZDP-189 Dragonfly through the wash once because I clipped it to the bottom pocket of a pair of cargo shorts and completely forgot I was carrying it. It was a very rare occasion where I actually had 2 knives on me, with a larger one clipped to my front right pocket. When I got home, I took that one out, put it on my desk, and assumed I had unloaded everything - it's hard to notice an extra 1.2 ounces.

As for this pocket clip question, the knife was still clipped to the pocket when I retrieved it after being run through a washing machine - if a clip is well done, I'm not concerned in the slightest. I carry way too much stuff in my pockets as is, so it's nice to be able to grab my knife off the side and not have to rummage through them, and I've definitely had un-clipped non-knife stuff fall out of my pockets, when I'm leaning back on a couch, for example. However, this is largely due to clothing; I prefer to wear cargo shorts or something similarly baggy when I can, but if I'm wearing jeans or the like, I'd imagine carrying un-clipped wouldn't be a concern.
 
I wouldn't say I "forget about it" since I always have a knife on me, but it does go unnoticed. And every once in a while I'll put my thumb in my pocket to make sure I haven't lost it. I've been carrying my Kershaw Blur recently. It's a light knife but I'm always playing with it and flipping it so it's kind of hard to forget about :p.
 
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