Folders; how do you carry?

Ice Tigre

Ice Tigre

Joined
Dec 17, 2004
Messages
1,212
G'day Folks,

Since I started carrying a slipjoint 2 summers ago, I've liked back pocket carry. Not sure why I started that way, I think I read on a forum about someone else carrying that way and tried it...not sure. :confused: I like slippies right around 3-7/8" to 4-1/4", always too heavy/bulky in a front pocket, but not noticed in the back.

I'm a jeans kinda guy so a large knife bulge in a pocket isn't a "fashion sin" (not that I would give a damn anyway...).

For smaller knives, like a little 2.5"ish whittler I got, it stays in my watch pocket at all times, so I always have a dedicated whittlin' knife regardless of the EDC/work knife I have.

I really like buckaroo pouches for mid size knives, around 3" to 4". Hung from my belt in my front pocket, just completely in the pocket, but not on the bottom, it keeps the folder up out of other stuff, and protects it. But still easy to reach past it. Got one I won in a contest Ron Rider did, fits my 3-7/8" case whittler perfect. Have one that was made for me as a present by a friend(not sure Karel posts here, he goes by costco at another large knife forum...), tailored to that knife and a second compartment for a pen. The big one I threw together quickly for my Remington Moose/Woodsman out of some imitation ostrich hide I have.

3bucks.jpg


Funny that, trappers and moose I have always been fine with in a back pocket(left side under the wallet, Vic Spirit tool is in the right back pocket) And have never lost or dropped one, even flying off snowmobiles or motorcycles, crawling/laying under vehicles, they stay in that pocket. But, I am scarred of loosing that Remington... so it got moved to the pouch.

Never liked belt pouches, carried a Leatherman that way for years, was alway a literal pain if I was on my side or back under a car, or getting caught in narrow chairs, clunked in tight doorways etc...


So, how do ya'll like to carry?

Gary
 
If it big enough (Schrade 125OT - yesterday) it goes into my right back pocket next to my wallet (Cee Tee pliers, bandanna and keys in the left one),
If its in the 3"-4" Range (Camillus Roughcut lately) it goes into my right front pocket,
and if its small enough it goes into my watch pocket (peanut - its been a while)

BTW: I only wear Wrangler cowboy cut jeans.

never really cared for a knife purse ( Kerry will write a line about them ;) )
But I dont mind a sheath for pliers or sheath knife on my belt.

Peter

edit: I rarely carry my leatherman anymore, just found that CeeTees and a knife suited me more, but if I do, it rides in its belt pouch on my left side (right side is reserved for pliers pouch & screwdriver tugged into it and sheath knife)
 
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I carry a small folder in my left front pocket and a large folder in my left rear pocket. Steven
 
Usually in my pocket, but I did have Scott Gossman make me this neck rig for Jumbo/Cattle King size Stockmen.

Razorback-Neck-Pouch-Case2.jpg


Razorback-Neck-Pouch-Case.jpg
 
If it's 3 1/2 and under, I just drop it in my pocket. If it's a sak it can go one of two ways. Either I'll put it in a nylon belt pouch with a small AAA flashlight, or I'll drop it in my pocket with the lanyard stuck under my belt. I'll pull up the lanyard so the knife is hanging just above the bottom of the pocket.

If it's under 3 inches like a pen or peanut, then it goes in my watch pocket.
 
Most of the ones I carry are small 3.5 or less. Unless they are pearl they just go in a pocket without anything else in them.

Ducking for cover here. If they are pearl they go in a "knife purse". Tony has almost cured me.
 
For me,it all depends on what clothes I'm wearing & what I think I'd be doing that day
But a backpocket style knife,4" or more,works good for me in the left rear pocket
My carpenter jeans will hold a slip up to 4" in the watch pocket & that works good
Painter jeans,I usually carry a smaller knife in the watch pocket or right in the right pocket
I like to put a slipjoint of 3-5/8" or less in the watch pocket,keeps it from the coins,or whatever.
Sometimes on a walk,I'll put a slip in my right pocket,I'll "cop a feel" on it as I'm walking,very theraputic for me sometimes :D
The pouches are all nice,but IMO,I'm more opt to drop a nice knife fumbling w/that pouch,taking it in & out,this would cause more harm to a nice slipjoint than any pocket marks,IMO
-Vince
 
I carry mine in my back pocket next to my wallet. Mostly a Case Yellow Trapper in CV. The wallet keeps it in place and is very easy to get to.
 
jlfletcher83 said:
I carry mine in my back pocket next to my wallet. Mostly a Case Yellow Trapper in CV. The wallet keeps it in place and is very easy to get to.
Click to expand...

No doubt,the wallet keeps the knife in place in the right BP.
I've discussed this a few times with others,but for me,here in NY,sheeple capital of the world :D,the left rear pocket is a safer bet

Here's why,
When you're going for your wallet,here in NY ,all eyes are on you.Now if you pull your wallet out,& manage not to pull your knife out,it flops down sideways,at least for me it does.This is the position it'll be in,alone,in the left pocket
If you happen to take the knife out,say,at the cash register in the store,to "adjust " the pocketing of it,well,here is where all hell can bust loose
Next thing you know,it is an armed holdup. It's a geographical thing I guess & frankly,I'd rather avoid that whole scenario
The left rear pocket for the backpocket carry ,for me,please!!
 
VCM3 said:
No doubt,the wallet keeps the knife in place in the right BP.
I've discussed this a few times with others,but for me,here in NY,sheeple capital of the world :D,the left rear pocket is a safer bet

Here's why,
When you're going for your wallet,here in NY ,all eyes are on you.Now if you pull your wallet out,& manage not to pull your knife out,it flops down sideways,at least for me it does.This is the position it'll be in,alone,in the left pocket
If you happen to take the knife out,say,at the cash register in the store,to "adjust " the pocketing of it,well,here is where all hell can bust loose
Next thing you know,it is an armed holdup. It's a geographical thing I guess & frankly,I'd rather avoid that whole scenario
The left rear pocket for the backpocket carry ,for me,please!!
Click to expand...


Sounds like a scene from Woody Allen!
 
Larger folders like my trapper or Vic Adventurer will either go in a back pocket or jacket pocket. "Normal" sized folders (SAK, Case Sodbuster Jr., OT middleman jack, etc.) usually get carried loose in my left front pocket. My Case Peanut generally goes in the watch pocket of my jeans.
 
God, I'm gonna get killed here, I just know it.......

I carry a little T.A. Davison slippie in a leather pouch in my left front pocket. I know, I know....... but I love that little thing, it's the only custom knife I own, and I can't stand the thought of dropping other crap on top of it and buggering it up..... Maybe some day, with counseling......

Then, to make matters worse, I carry an old Delica (can I even say the "D" word on this forum without going straight to Hell, getting banned, or worse?!) in my right rear pocket. It handles most of the heavier day-to-day cutting chores and the slippie comes out when I have the time to appreciate the.....shall we say, experience a little more.

I know, I'm a mess.......
 
I think one way a slipjoint guy,who is OCD about carry marks,can look at this to try to overcome
Go look at old vintage knives,real old ones in great condition.Then,imagine your pretty little favorite custom slipjoint pocket knife (lockbacks too!),with only a fraction of the pocket time wear on it.It'll really make your knife nicer,trust me,let go.Ride Dirty :D
 
It all depends on the knife, small folders go into a William Henry case with a pocket clip or just get dropped in my right front pocket, larger folders like trappers and my Soddie often go in either my back pocket or if I am wearing carpenter jeans in the tool pocket. A few I have belt sheaths for are carried on the belt. Most often tho I carry small in a traditional so the pocket pouches get the most work. Here's a few examples for ya...

sheaths.jpg
 
It's a pity that what the English call waistcoats,and you I think say vests are out of fashion.Damn useful clothing item for stowing knives and having a game of snooker at the same time! Usually it's front pocket,never got used to back pocket carry,sitting down on a knife....Wish somebody would make a belt that has a special compartment on it for horizontal carry of a small knife or to use for keeping an emergency credit card in a safe mugger proof place.
 
Never could stand anything other than keys in right front pocket so I tried standing up carry next to the wallet in the right back pocket. Then one day I nearly lost my beloved Uncle Henry King Ranch through an unnoticed hole.
My slippies have been happily stowed in the left front ever since. Got a nice Swell End Jack there right now and always a bandana in the left back.
 
I carry a little Victorinox Executive under my wallet in my left front pocket, pretty much all the time. If I'm wearing jeans, I might have a .38 in the right front pocket, and some extra rounds in the watch/change pocket. If I do, then my right back pocket will have a largish slippie in it, usually a Case Copperlock, Copperhead, or Slimline Barehead Trapper. I might not have a pistol with me, or be carrying it on the belt instead, and then I'll have a knife in the right front pocket, usually a smaller jackknife. If I'm not wearing jeans, again it depends on the pants, but I'll frequently have one in the back and front on the right. If the jeans are on but no .38, then the watch pocket will usually have a small knife, like a pen or whittler. Of course, now that I have joined the Peanut gang, I will probably start to stow Mr. Peanut in the watch pocket sometimes. Sometimes I just throw a knife in my shirt pocket instead of one of the other pockets, especially if it is a little feller I'm worried about dropping. Penknives get carried there, usually, because they are so light I might not notice them falling out of a pants pocket.

An SAK or multitool will usually go on the belt, left side. But even the SAK might instead be suspended by a lanyard, as jackknife describes above.

Sport or suit coat redistributes some of the pocket clutter.

I have used slip pouches for knives before, usually to keep them from shifting in the pocket as much, but I'm really not so worried about wear marks on them.
 
Right now for me, on the strong side clipped (front pants pocket) (Recon 1).
 
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