Dress Pants Carry Question

Radjxf

Radjxf

Joined
Apr 8, 2006
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288
I work in an office (medical setting) and must wear dress pants, but no jacket required.

I'm looking for some ideas on knives (without clips or clips removed) that could be carried in thin dress slacks with minimal weight and as "concealed" as possible to avoid hassles with "anti-weapons" management and co-workers.

So far most of the knives I've tried (Delica 4 and Fallkniven BH9) have been too heavy, and ended up sideways in my pocket. Perhaps there's a thin, pocket sheath solution as well?

Wouldn't be used much at work, but mainly for self-protection as our employee parking area is far away, and loaded with drugged-up vagrants that security won't deal with.

Would prefer something relatively stainless, easy to open, light, slim profile and a steel with good edge-holding capabilities. Budget is preferably under $250.

Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
A ZDP/CF Spyderco Caly 3 or 3.5 may serve as a good option. I can't imagine them being much lighter than the delica, but the 3.5 I had was one of my lightest, slimmest knives. A CRKT Eros is incredibly light, as is a Benchmade 940-1.
 
Percevel L-10 if you are looking to spend $$, still within your budget.
Check out a black Higonokami-as slim and simple as they come.
A stainless Opinel No. 6
 
I know it's well below your max price, but what about a Kershaw Leek with D2 composite blade? There's a little safety ball on the back that's easy to use and it's super fast & light.
 
Thanks guys. I'm starting to think that weight may be a secondary problem vs. having some type of sheath of some sort to keep it in place. Otherwise everything kind of falls sideways and prints too much. I do like the 940-1, but it may be at the upper limit size-wise.
 
The William Henry E6 is a super light weight knife that is excellent for dress pants and it is priced at $275. The pocket clip is deep carry and looks like a pen more than a knife when in your pocket. Not sure how it will do in self defence though.
 
I'll second a stainless Leek. If you want a sheath look into Chris Reeve knives calfskin pocket sheath. It's beautifully made and comes in two sizes
 
a co worker used to carry a small custom stiletto fixed blade in a sheath that attached to his calf, much like a small pistol holster. Any decent leather guy should be able to make something like that.
 
Small Sebenza with the CRK sheath would fit the bill perfect. Slightly over your budget but might be able to find something reasonable on the exchange......such a great knife.
 
You can tuck a slim knife IWB, the clip concealed by your belt. I prefer this carry behind my hip, but it also works well just in front of the hip. As for protection between your building and the parking lot, something more substantial might be called for.
 
Radjxf: I faced a similar problem, a year or so ago, to the one you face now. I had a pair of shorts that had a pocket inside the right front pocket, probably for car keys or such, that became my knife pocket, as long as I was wearing those shorts. After deciding which knives would probably be my EDC, I measured the size of pocket that I would need, and had the Laundry put a pocket inside all of my right front trouser pockets. The knife is always where I know it will be, and it will be tip up. In the vertical position with the heavy end down, it doesn't print on my trouser leg when I'm walking or sitting, etc. A modest price, solved a huge problem. Try one pair of trousers and see how it works for you.
 
A small lightweight folder carried in the waistband with the clip behind the belt. I carry this way at about the 1 o'clock position and find it works well.

Tom
 
ZT 0770CF. Slim, elmax, sophisticated and smooth. BOOM, done!!!

The pocket clip is tiny, rides deep and is black; virtually invisible with dark slacks.
 
Benchmade Lightweight Axis, Plain Edge (model 530)
1.88 ounces!
$95
Problem solved :)
 
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Go your dress pants have an inner coin catcher pocket? I have a couple sets of pants that have an inner pocket at the bottom of my front pocket to keep change from moving around. I clip my pocket knives to it every day. Other than that, the Benchmade 530 is lightweight and under $100. I'd get the 530-1 as g10 is better than the nornyl. So it runs $130. Get a leather sheath to keep it upright and you should be good to go.
 
sword cane.

Ridiculous recommendations aside- you said you don't need to use the tool at work very much. What about bailing on your slim/light/minimal-print criteria and just keeping the right tool for the job in your attache/coat pocket/etc, which you can redeploy elsewhere when you head off to the car park?

Also- I am not sure that edge holding ability really matters. Some might disagree (we ALWAYS want our edges held!) But I say this for the following reason- edge endurance is more of an important criterion for working knives that get used on the regular. So, unless the knife in question (which I understand to be a self-defense tool) ends up field-dressing the daily or weekly vagrant, you really just need something pointy.
 
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Ghost_ryder_934 said:
Radjxf: I faced a similar problem, a year or so ago, to the one you face now. I had a pair of shorts that had a pocket inside the right front pocket, probably for car keys or such, that became my knife pocket, as long as I was wearing those shorts. After deciding which knives would probably be my EDC, I measured the size of pocket that I would need, and had the Laundry put a pocket inside all of my right front trouser pockets. The knife is always where I know it will be, and it will be tip up. In the vertical position with the heavy end down, it doesn't print on my trouser leg when I'm walking or sitting, etc. A modest price, solved a huge problem. Try one pair of trousers and see how it works for you.
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This is a great suggestion. It seems the problem isnt with the knife but rather the placement in the pocket. I have had similar pants with that little inner pocket. Works great for keeping your knife seperate from other stuff.
 
Radjxf said:
Thanks guys. I'm starting to think that weight may be a secondary problem vs. having some type of sheath of some sort to keep it in place. Otherwise everything kind of falls sideways and prints too much. I do like the 940-1, but it may be at the upper limit size-wise.
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You could also address the pants in question. I know that my more "shimmery" suit pants print so badly that they allow one to read the bloody tang stamp through the fabric. Other more robust options (maybe a slightly heavier khaki pant) will not print as badly, which would change your options? You might also just get something that fits on your key ring, and so you have it if you have your keys (although I hear that an overly weighty key set can damage a vehicle's ignition).
 
AG Russell 3.0in lockback would do you just fine. Its got a 2.5in VG10 blade in a super slim set of titanium scales. Its about as thick as 3 quarters. It also comes with a pocket sheath.

And IWB carry should be pretty feasible as well, particularly if the clips color matches that of your slacks/pants.
 
Radjxf said:
So far most of the knives I've tried (Delica 4 and Fallkniven BH9) have been too heavy
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If the Delica is too big and/or heavy then you are very limited. You might try something like a Dragonfly but it would be pretty limited for SD.

I am sensitive to what something weighs when dropped in my pocket, but when clipped in my jeans pocket I don't notice the weight at all. Weight can be more of an issue with pocket clips and light dress pants, but if you can't have clips at all then that doesn't help.

I would echo what a few others have said and recommend IWD with the clip hidden behind your belt.

The pocket in a pocket idea is interesting, and similarly you could have a thin leather pocket holster made that would hold a larger folder, similar to what some people use to carry a small revolver in their pocket. It would hold the knife in the right position for quick access and would not print.
 
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