J. Doyle
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2008
- Messages
- 8,204
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?
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?