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

As a kid I lost pocket knives that fell out of my pocket, so I started using lanyards attached to a belt loop. Clips help keep your knife with you. Sheaths will do the same thing, but I don't like sheaths on belts for pocket knives.

I have pocket knives with clips, w/o clips and with sheaths. The WH pocket sheaths are a good compromise and I am always surprised that so few custom makers take that route. It gives you a clipped to the pocket knife, easy one-hand opening, but no clip on the blade.

I often just carry a knife in my pocket, but with nothing else. That works until I forget :) For pretty knives, I will use an in-pocket sheath or a WH clip sheath.

The worst clip is one that was not designed for the knife, just bought and screwed on. A lot of lower end or new custom makers do that. I like makers that inset the clip attachment point into the scale, like Terzuola and he even carries over to many of his factory-made designs. For many clip designs, insetting the attachment point makes them easier on the hand. That being said, Michael Zieba has some interesting clips and they are quite ergonomic but not all are inset.

A knife designer needs to think ahead and plan the clip just like they plan the rest of the design and build.
 
I am a no clip person. The one knife I have that does have a clip I have a lanyard on that I use in place of the clip to keep it (close at hand) and it works perfectly for that purpose.
 
I don’t carry folders clipped in a pocket

With that said most of my folders have clips ..... most folders do these days

I am way to active and if I depend on a clip I loose the knife

I also don’t carry a knife in my pocket .... I hate the feel

With that said when I do carry a folder it is in the same place as my edc fixed blade and that is in a horizontal sheath on my belt

The Sneath can be Leather or nylon

Here is a nice one from Paul Long



I wear suits a lot and pocket clips are a no no

Not because of anything other than they look stupid with dress pants

They wreck pants and they are not secure

I will say that I don’t mind a well designed pocket clip on a knife to facilitate IWB carry which I only do when I have to wear a knife very discreetly Ny city or Disney :)

Than the clip must be designed well

The best I’ve seen are by my buddy Matt Diskin

Matt’s clips are small they are mounted in a channel and held in by a set screw

The clip never becomes loose and works very well when you must utilize it











Gavin Hawk does a nice pivoting clip





So I don’t mind a well designed clip on my knife to facilitate certain types of carry in a pinch for the main way I carry in a horizontal sheath I don’t need one
 
Joe Caswell had the right idea on folder pocket-clips but most Makers would never go to the trouble or have the wherewithal he did to make such and the Users wouldn’t want to pay the price.

My friend Gus Cecchini has some neat designs, kind of like Joe’s, that ‘disappear’ when the blade is open.

I’ve edc’d a Boye folder for the past couple decades with a simple pocket-clip and have never experienced a problem.... I also carry a small SAK so I have scissors, a little screwdriver and a file....gotta be ready!
 
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everyone is different but here's what I like
In general the best pocket clips that come to mind are the one on Rockstead knives (Higo and TEI).
They are short, not too stiff and not flashy, they just work, there isn't emphasis on their clip design and execution other than the function.
Sebenza is another one that is done correctly IMO
The clip has to "spring" properly to be usable.

It seems like many of the pocket clips made on folders today are to show the makers skill and they forget about function.
The Matt Diskin D/A is one of the finest knives all around at the price point, but the clip is so stiff it's not really practical,
Rassenti is another one like this, excellent all around integral knife and a clip that doesn't really work on a practical level IMO.

Here's one Des Horn did at my request and to me is just perfect.
not too long, springy enough and not too flashy.

Lastly another thing that is important to me is how far the knife sticks out and shows above the pocket line, In other words I prefer a deep carry clip

regards

PS a couple of my pants have coin pockets, that works sometimes for slip joints,
otherwise in jeans, I've thought about having a vertical pocket sewn in to keep the knife in place.

jAqbSR9.jpg


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I require a pocket clip for a folder, or I won't carry it except in very unusual situations. Like maaaybe in a jacket pocket. I don't carry my traditionals for this reason, which makes me sad. Also, I never voluntarily carry a folding knife in a front pocket. Keys go in there, a tissue, change, other things. I hate getting my hands stuck, scraped, or whatever. And John's point about the clip getting caught on things is valid. One of the reasons I carry a folder is for discretion, so front-pocket is a poor choice for me.

Over the years I've settled on carrying almost exclusively IWB at about 4-o'clock. I carry tip-down, with the clip on the left side of the knife when that's possible. In my right hand, the clip isn't in my palm, so it doesn't bother me. Of course IWB is a lousy choice for carbon steel knives, so I won't put one of those in that spot anyway. The disadvantage of this location is it requires two hands to replace the knife, but if I'm pressed I'll throw it in a more accessible pocket temporarily and re-place it later.

One alternative for me is to carry in one of my accessory pockets in work pants, but I'm a creature of habit, and prefer not to move a knife all over my body from day to day and forget where it is.

All that said, I've never had a custom folder, so you might want to reach for your salt shaker right about now. :p
 
Thanks for all the insights and discussion guys. I appreciate everyone's input.
 
well, I'm late to the party but here's my take on the pocket clip thing-

On a "gent's folder" I think a clip can ruin the line on the folder and obscure detail - none of my Hanson folders has a pocket clip and I don't miss it at all. I either carry in a pocket without anything else in there or in a little leather slip case.

Now, on a "utility folder" I often find a clip useful. If I'm outside doing chores or hiking or whatever I'm not wearing "nice" pants, so I don't mind if the clip wears on the pocket a little. I agree with Joe that Matt Diskin's clips work well for me - they don't slip and are a little lower profile. Honestly, Spydercos also have pretty good pocket clips too if I'm really doing beater stuff like opening fertilizer or mulch bags, or packages.

some guys are doing funky things with clips, like Zieba, and I think that is pretty neat when it complements the lines/concept of the knife

Bill Flynn
 
Interesting. This is the Custom and Handmade forum so probably should not get too far afield, but as far as utility or user mass produced knives,I agree that Spydercos have pretty good pocket clips. My Paramilitary 2 is one of the few knives that I clip to my pocket. I generally prefer a nylon belt sheath and have removed the pocket clips from most of my folders which had them. So I prefer an easily removable clip. I have a Diskin Fire and the clip is not my favorite. Neither is the one on my Brian Nadeau Typhoon. Both are great knives . . . would be better **for me** with an easily removable clip (YMMV).
 
the Diskin Fire pocket clip is about as good as one could ask for- it integrates well enough into the handle that it's not very noticeable, situates the knife nicely into the pocket, and when you do catch it on something, it's pretty easy to true up which I've had to do a couple of times. Usually getting into or out of a car
 
I have never caught a pocket clip on anything since started carrying pocket clipped knives in 2008 - a Spyderco Endura.
All my pocket knives except one have a clip now. Some deep carry but mostly not. Right hand front pocket. I carry a pocket knife every day all through the day, even when I am also wearing a fixed blade in a sheath. I don't doubt anyone's story of catching clips - just wonderin' how I've managed not to. o_O

Ray
 
I like where your head is at @j.doyle I like a clip on my “modern” knives. There are a few exceptions to that, so I’d say it depends on the knife (to answer your question). John, I believe that the clip option would just be another opportunity for you to highlight your thoughtfulness to design and your attention to details. While I agree with most that it might take away from the “flow” of the design, I believe that you would be able to incorporate a clip into the flow of your designs. I will say that I believe the majority of guys who actually carry and use their custom folders want a clip on their knife.
 
To me, a modern one-hand-opening knife is a work knife. I like such a knife to have a pocket clip, because the only reason I carry such a knife is when working, and usually only have the one hand free to grab and open the knife. For an EDC, I prefer and always carry a traditional pocket knife, without clip. Traditional pocket knives generally become unwieldy to carry when they exceed 4-4½" closed length. My favorite way to carry a non-clipped knife that is too large to pocket carry is on a horizontal belt sheath. So for my money, the best way to carry for the type of knives that you make would be a nicely lined horizontal belt sheath, and leave the clip off.
 
Of COURSE you knife is clipless and carried in a fancy pouch. :D
sheathmaker said:
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:cool:

Paul
Click to expand...
 
I'm really liking everybody's commentary and thoughts. Thanks to all contributing to this discussion.
 
They are what they are. They enable you to carry the knife in an inconspicuous way, yet keeping it very, very accessible. The trade off is that you need to be aware of how and when you carry it, since it is not as securely attached to your person as when you carry the knife in a sheath/case or deep in your pocket.

If you need to use a proper knife oftenly and want to carry it in a discreet way + the climate allows you not to have to carry a lot of clothes that can snag on the clip and you rarely need to do any climbing, crawling, squatting or walking through bushes etc., a pocket clip is probably optimal for you.

As with any knife carrying (or anything at all in life really), you just need to ask yourself exactly why you are doing it and if it really is the best option for you.
 
I had always carried folders with pocket clips until I purchased a Rockstead Sai. When I first received the knife I was wondering if I had made a mistake. I even emailed Rockstead about having a pocket clip added to the knife, but after using the provided leather belt sheath that it came with it has become my edc and I love it.
 
I'm not much of a folder fanatic. A few slipjoints are all I need to scratch the folder itch. But I will say that a pocket clip of any kind would be a deal-breaker for me on any folder. Needless hardware that just gets in the way of beautiful handle scales. Hard pass.
 
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