I own a handfull of traditional slipjoints, ranging from a trapper down to a small trapper (with stockman's, sodbusters and other in between). I admit I am a Tacti-cool lovin' fool and I am addicted to pocket clips. When ever I try and carry a traditional knife in my pocket (case, SAK or otherwise) I can't stand the lump in the bottom of my pocket. I know case makes some half-breeds like the mid-folding hunter that bridge this gap some what and I see Buck's new line in diamond wood has pocket clipped sheaths to carry them in. Without buying any new knives is there a way to break the pocket clip cycle? I absolutely love the look and feel of a traditional slipjoint but due to the ease of use with a one handed modern folder I find it hard to carry them, do you gentleman offer any suggestions?
You have a couple of ways to go here.
Since I never got into pocket clips, I just drop the knife in my right hand pocket. But..., I also have a loosely rolled up bandana in that pocket, and it takes up the space toward the outside of the pocket, keeping the slip joint of the day in place at the very "front" of the pocket. There's also a little Gerber sonic single AAA LED light in the same pocket, so maybe from years of carrying a pocket knife, I've become sort of imune to a bit of a lump in the pocket.
Also, you may be trying to carry too large a knife in the pocket. There's a good reason small knives like peanuts, baby butterbeans, minitrappers, and pen knives are popular. A knife over 3 1/2 inches is going to make a bit of a lump, and some people don't mind, some do. If they do, then they carry a smaller knife or use a belt sheath. For many years I carried a Victorinox tinker in a nylon belt sheath with a small single AAA flashlight stuck in alongside it. It was convienent. When I was in the army, we took nylon webbing, and made simple belt pouch style sheaths deep enough to take the whole knife, almost flush with the top of the knife. It was an open top sheath, and to retrieve the knife, we just pinched the bottom edge of the nylon sheath like a tube of toothpaste, and the knife came up far enough to grab and pull out. It was one way to keep from loosing a knife out of loose fatigue pants pockets.
Nowadays I just drop the knife in my pocket. Since I've been doing this since I was a kid, it seems more natural. It could be that you're so used to a pocket clip, it's going to be a hard habit to break.
One other thing you can do; sew a narrow pocket in the pocket. Take your knife, and figure how much space you need, and sew a line up the inside of the pocket like a divider to make a inside verticle space that holds the knife in one place along the inside edge of the pocket. Or the outside edge if you so preffer.
So, sew an internal pocket, or pad it with a bandana (which you should have two on you anyways), or just use a belt sheath.
Or..., do the one month iron will test. Go for one full month just dropping it in your pocket, and see if after a few weeks you don't even notice it anymore.
Ok guys, I will go with some of your ideas and even look into the buckaroo pouch, thanks for your suggestions.
