Folder discussion- pocket clips and other design elements...

[J. Doyle]

This is a topic I've been mulling over for a while now. I'm curious what some you of you collectors, knife users and other makers feel about adding clips to your knife.

I'll share my own thoughts too but I want to hear some other opinions on the topic.

Personally, I don't like pocket clips on my folding knives....most of the time. Not because I don't like adding one or making one, but I feel they can often take away from or distract from the flow and design elements of the rest of the knife. I don't like feeling them in my hand when I'm using a knife either, though I realize the human hand is quite adaptable to a variety of shapes. They can also snag on things when you're walking past them. Twice in my life, I've lost pocket knives (less expensive factory knives fortunately) while walking through thick brush in the woods.

I know many high end art folders won't have a pocket clip. But what about knives with really cool or exotic materials? I can't see putting a clip on stag scales, I don't prefer them most of the time on ivory scales. If you have really cool exotic woods, I just don't care for covering up a large portion of one side of a cool scale material with a pocket clip.

And sometimes a maker can add details and embellishments to a scale that are really nice, then what....cover up one side with a clip?

Traditional slip joints are mostly pocket carried, I've seen few, if any that I can recall, with a clip. It seems like a liner lock or more modern folder almost HAS to have a clip according to most of the market.

So what do you think? Is a pocket clip a necessity? Is it a deal breaker on a sale if a knife doesn't have one?

What are other preferable carry methods? Is just plain old pocket carry still a thing?(for me it is) Or would a leather belt pouch or pocket slip be a more preferable option?

I'm sure I'll still make folders that have clips, and some that don't. It's much easier for me to design a knife and choose materials when I can do that without worrying about a pocket clip. For me it takes more forethought and planning to make a folder with a pocket clip.

Thoughts?

 

[RayseM]

Hi John -

My 2 ¢. One of your knives should come with a leather belt pouch or the option of a pocket slip.
I generally - for all the ways I carry and use a knife every day - have decided that a pocket clip is essential.

All your points of exotic materials and the flow of the lines could in fact provide an opportunity for a pocket
clip well designed to integrate seamlessly with some knife details and materials. Some Shiros provide excellent examples and some other custom makers have succeeded with this objective too.

Still back to my first point - the kind of knife you are inclined to build I wouldn't want to toss in a pocket but I wouldn't want them to be safe queens either. If you offered them with some leather option - a pocket slip, slip with a clip, or belt holster, you would continue the John Doyle tradition of exquisite knife packages. I could forego the pocket clip for such a knife.

Grow in grace my brother.

Ray

 

[Lorien]

I like the way you laid out your thoughts on the subject, John. Probably because I agree with you, lol!

not to sound absolutist but, to me, if a pocket clip interferes with the ergonomic interface, the knife is better without. Sometimes, a knife is not designed to be ergonomic, and in these cases, the clip is really an homage to the real thing since the knife is not likely designed to be used or carried. In these cases, the clip had better be thematically and aesthetically intrinsic to the whole of the knife, otherwise you have an inartful art knife which is pretty much my least favourite kind of knife

 

[Mike157]

Personally, I don’t like them, for most of the same reasons you stated. Badly done, they just plain get in the way and become instant hot spots. Well done, a simple clip blends in pretty well. Still, to me, they always seem like a forced after thought. An imperfect solution to pocket carry, that hasn’t been improved upon.

Having said all of that, most of the folders I carry every day have clips on them. Many people may not agree that pocket carry needs a solution. I actually prefer the idea of carrying a knife in-pocket with out a clip. When clips first started making their appearance, the first thing I did was remove them from my new knives. My main problem with pocket carry, was that every pair of pants I had, ended up with a hole worn in the right side pocket (where I carried the knife). Maybe I’m a bit OCD, but I really hate holes in my pockets (and losing things), and it seems the patch jobs I did wouldn’t last and weren’t all that glamorous.

I’ve come to accept that, at least for me, the sometimes frayed pocket rim, occasional scratching of something I bump into, and the less than perfect design solution (but the best we have at this time) that I feel clips are, is more acceptable than a hole in the pocket. Clips do seem to make access a bit more convenient also.

Not having a clip on a folder that I’m interested in has never been a deal breaker. I do still carry clipless at times and if I’m going to carry the knife a lot, I’ll have an in the pocket pouch or slip sheath made for it - sometimes with a clip. I don’t like carrying things on my belt, unless it’s a fixed blade. If it’s small enough, that might be in my pocket also.

Yes, I dream of a clipless world (not that I would wish to force that on everyone else) where the folder is easily accessible and not wearing holes in my pockets. Mike

 

[Richard338]

The pocket clip on my BM910 flares out a little.
The first time I got into the front passenger seat of my new car it put a deep scratch into the plastic next to the seat.
I wish I had a pouch...

 

[J. Doyle]

Thanks for the great responses so far guys. Glad to see that I'm not completely alone on this. I'm still in the process of working through this stuff as I've only made 10 folders to date.....about half of those with clips.

I can appreciate Ray's first post because my folders aren't easily placed in the market. I don't really build the standard modern 'tactical' folders. They're certainly not traditional. They're not high end art knives but they're not 'field' or 'utility' grade either. They're kind of somewhere in between all of that.

When I first got into collecting custom folders, I was pocket clips all the time....but ran into the same issues that have been mentioned. So I went to old fashioned deep pocket carry and still find that to be the best method for me.

There is no doubt that a pocket clip is convenient and doesn't add much to bulk for carrying but they're not very efficient or comfortable in knife use. And if you're going to have a pocket clip, there's only a couple (or maybe only one) places to put them that even make sense, IMO. But I see a LOT of folders with pocket clips in locations that would be a deal breaker for me.

It seems to me like a small, compact as possible, snug fitting open top belt pouch or a pocket pouch with a belt clip sewn into it might be an attractive and versatile option.

 

[DevinT]

Talking to STeven G the other day and he recommends a small pocket sheath with a clip for pocket knives.

Hoss

 

[tiguy7]

View attachment 853911 View attachment 853912 View attachment 853913 I like to carry a knife on my placket so I can get to it with either hand even when seated. It also frees up pocket space for more knives. This knife came with a clipped leather sheath which required a two hand knife deployment. In the summer the sheath would be subjected to a hot, damp environment during physical activity.
I added a pocket clip to the knife by drilling and tapping 2-#0X80TPI holes in the Titanium. All the problems are solved. The knife weighs 55gm.

 

[mwschilling]

I've posted about this before on Bing's threads. I bought his first Bingalor made with beautiful green mammoth ivory. I love it but he purposefully didn't add a pocket clip so not to detract from design or materials. That was his decision and I can't say it was wrong. Then he made a smaller version of the Bingalor using mammoth I purchased to match the first. I requested a pocket clip because I prefer to have one if I am going to carry a folder. He made the clip from matching Damascus and it looks great IMO. That's the beauty of custom knives - you can have it your way if dealing with a willing maker. I think he's made some with and some without since then. Every folder I carry has a pocket clip. Others on display in my collection don't.

 

[Lorien]

I've discussed pocket clips with Bing on occasion, and even mocked one up out of aluminum as proof of concept for him to work from. When done correctly, a pocket clip can actually enhance the ergonomics by adding a little girth/palm swell, and I'm not aware of anyone who does this better than Bing

 

[Chris Meyer]

It's my opinion that most pocket clips are unnecessarily long. I find that a much shorter clip will still keep the knife in your pocket, yet stay out of the way in your hand.

 

[J. Doyle]

I completely subscribe to the 'shorter is better' mindset on pocket clips, if you're going to have one.

 

[SharpByCoop]

The purpose of a clip is for one to carry the folder protected on the inside of their pocket. It's also there at the ready when you need it. Very quickly extracted.

Many times it allows the hand to slip past the knife to retrieve stuff at the bottom and disallows the knife to fall down there with pocket stuff. Another benefit.

But... if one wanted a choice having an IMMEDIATELY replaceable clip without a driver, THAT would be innovative.

The clip is only there to keep it in your pocket from dropping. It doesn't need much strength?

Modern small magnets on a clip and/or in a well for the clip might work and serve twice. The options with a magnet might bear considering? One could have a clip remain on the cloth with the knife broken free when needed, or have the clip pull off and a cover in it's place.

Not sure I've seen this done, but I'll bet it has been. It's a brainstorm moment.

Aside: 90% of Custom fixed blades come with leather sheaths. 90% of Custom folders (without a clip) come with no sheath.

Hmmmm.......

 

[sheathmaker]

Well, Brother Doyle, my opinion is necessarily skewed to the "no clip" side. I carry a custom folder daily and have for years, and it's right here now on my belt in a nice little compact fully leather lined Full Shark pouch, and my custom slip joints are all in flap top inside the pocket slip sheaths. The main reason I like this type carry IS NOT because I can make anything I want, it's because that's the way In prefer to carry. I have removed countless clips for my clients and put the knives in any number of different style of belt folder sheaths and also inside the pocket slip sheaths.

So for me personally as a collector and potential buyer, the clip is not necessary.......on the contrary, I don't want one.

Edit to add: All you "no clip" guys....I'm at your service

Paul

 

[Justin Presson]

I personally feel like for an EDC framelock or linerlock it needs a pocket clip. I am one who has my cell phone in one pocket and I front pocket carry a Trayvax wallet in the other front pocket, add car keys in there and I dont want my knife rattling around with either
I have been carrying the slip joint I made and an old slip joint from my Grandpa laterly which neither have clips and I stick it in that little wothless pocket that is above your normal pocket. But the slip joint I made is carbon fiber and thin so disappears in that little pocket. While not as fast getting out as the framelock its still doable.

JP

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

IMO, most pocket clips detract from the aesthetic appeal of a knife. They come across as afterthoughts.

But there are exceptions. Where the design of the clip is well integrated into the overall knife. IMO, here is one (please forgive my lousy photography):

 

[Chris Montgomery]

I fall firmly into the no clip category. But that' how I have always carried. You won't find me without at least one knife on me at all times. From my earliest memories the men I knew carried a knife in the same way, granted most were an old slip joint of some variety.

I own two knives with clips, both the folding utility type you can but at a hardware store along with the replaceable blades for them. For home improvement or construction projects is the only time I want a pocket clip.
In my everyday life I have no need for fast into action knives so that influences my preferences also. I use knives multiple times daily in my profession and still have no need of a pocket clip. In fact they are not allowed in the work place due to the likelyhood of scratches on a customer' car we have in for repairs.

Chris

 

[gudspelr]

I find this to be an interesting discussion. I have a few knives without clips, but the ones that are carried often are overwhelmingly equipped with a clip. I always carry a few things in my pockets and adding a knife down there along with them is not my favorite way to do things. I don’t like having to fish around for it when I need it and the clip option keeps it separate.

With that said, I’ve been a victim of bending the clip or marking something because I caught it while walking. I hate that. I also find that while I like the function of a clip, I can very much dislike the clip on a given knife. A relatively cheap factory knife that I carry pretty often, in my opinion, has a fairly terrible mounting point which leaves more knife sticking up from my pocket than I like. I agree completely with some comments already made about clips potentially detracting greatly from an otherwise very nice knife. One thing I’ve jever tried (and not sure I’ve really seen much of) are the inside the pocket “sheath” things? I’m definitely googling that and at some point may try it. I like the idea of the knife being secure in something to keep from clunking around with other hard stuff in my pocket. I like the idea of one on the belt, but I just don’t think I could get used to carrying a pocket knife on my belt...


Jeremy

 

[J. Doyle]

One problem I see is that you guys need to stop carrying stuff in your pocket with your knife. Right front pocket (if you're right handed) dedicated for your knife only, 3 other pockets for anything/everything else.

 

[RayseM]

^ Hey John, don't make this our problem

Ray