Being a pocket clip maker and Emerson approved Wave maker on existing knives I have to test what I do for customers. As a result many of my pants are extremely worn out and torn, as well as shredded on the pockets. This is the result of numerous slippings on and off of pocket clips both too loose and too tight, and from testing one Waved knife after another. Far more than your average user I assure you.
For me this has become so much of an issue (mainly due to my wife) that I have refused to own a Waved knife at all myself because my pants are all immaculate and in good repair with the exception of my right and left pockets where you stick your folder to carry and wave it open. If my wife had her way pocket clips would be out too. You guys have no idea how many times I've had to hear, "you're not wearing those are you?", or "can you change your pants before we go, because you look like a homeless person with those on.". This is typically what I have to listen to before we go anywhere in public together. The other day she bought me a new pair of pants on sale at the mall and as she presented them to me she says, "these are not 'shop pants'. Meaning no Wave or pocket clip use on these pants.
Truthfully, I am on the extreme end of the spectrum. The thing about the Wave is that just because you have it installed on your blade doesn't mean you have to use it everytime you want your knife out. Its a dicipline you have to make yourself do. However, I can guarantee you if you open and close your Waved folder hard a dozen times in a row it will indeed takes its toll on the corner of a new pair of pants let alone using it each and everytime you need your knife out. I've seen it myself ruin an otherwise immaculate pocket corner by forming a little hole or wear mark right where it catches to open your blade. This is the case on even the easiest opening ones I've used. The trick is to learn to use it on a pair you don't much care about. Then only use it as you need it from then on. Otherwise all your pants will look just like mine.
I can testify to the damage a pocket clip can and will do over time also. Just look at my pocket. Granted its seen lots more sliding on and off of a pocket clip than you guys but the point is yes they do cause stress on your pocket. And people wonder why I love those old integral FRN clips so much.
Strider and Buck/Strider knives are particularly terrible pocket eaters. I've had guys ask me to retension them as well as replace them and I've also had them offer to sell me theirs on occasion because of this. One guy was active duty and kept getting in trouble from carrying a stiff clipped Buck/Strider that technically made him out of uniform to where he was in trouble all the time with his superior for the ragged condition of his pockets. Sorry for the rant. But you guys that think they don't wear your pockets are guilty of wishful thinking. They sure do. Even still I love them though and thats the thing. So do you. Its just the wives that hate em!
STR
