Recommendation? How to carry a traditional knife?

[harronek]

Thanks for all the suggestions!! I usually carry a more modern knife with a pocket clip which eliminates this issue (obviously). I think I may just continue to toss my traditionals in my RFP and just get used to them falling where ever they fall. Great pics too, lots of cool traditionals and hybrids!!! Thanks again everyone.

You mention you are used to a modern with pocket clip .
Im in the same boat and like me I suspect you enjoy the ease and simplicity of having a knife easily at hand and just poking out of the pocket for easy retrieval .
I am a fan of the pocket clip sheat/slip .
It postions the knife vertical and always at easy reach without rummaging around in the pocket .
It also is a fantastic way of carrying a knife when wearing shorts or pants without good pockets because you just clip it IWB ( in waist band ) .
There are many sheathmakers who can make you something to fit whatever knife you prefer .







Ken

 

[Duper]

That is a nice way to carry.

,,,Mike in Canada

 

[sXePhenomenal]

Ok never thought of this before thanks. Carrying a 4” Stockman next to your wallet is great. Can’t believe I didn’t know about this

Put a bandana next to the knife so it stays upright in your front pocket, or put the knife standing upright next to your wallet in your back pocket.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The jeans I wear have a 'cell phone pocket' where the old-school 'watch pocket' otherwise would be, inside the RFP. It's deep enough to carry two, or maybe even three folders of 4-1/4" closed length, side-by-side, vertically. And they stay vertical in that pocket. So, on most days, that means I'm able to carry a 6375 Case stockman (4-1/4") alongside an older Buck 112 (also 4-1/4"), both of which have become two of my favorites.

I specifically shop for jeans with a pocket like this, for this very reason, ever since I stumbled onto such a pair some years ago and realized how perfect that 'cell phone pocket' was for pocketknives. It's literally the first thing I check when shopping for new jeans: two fingers go straight into that pocket, to see how deep it is. I avoid jeans with the old-school shallow watch pockets. That tells pretty clearly where my priorities are, in how I choose what I wear.

I tried doing the back-pocket, alongside-the-wallet thing a few years ago. But, at least twice, when pulling my wallet out of the back pocket, I also unknowingly yanked the knife out as well. And skittering it goes, across the floor. In both instances, complete strangers were kind enough to hand my knife back to me, which is sort of humbling in a public setting. One lady handing it back to me even said with a kind smile, "My husband does the SAME THING!"

 

[JohnDF]

"My husband does the SAME THING!"

It's nice to know we aren't special snow flakes

 

[Shadow449]

You mention you are used to a modern with pocket clip .
Im in the same boat and like me I suspect you enjoy the ease and simplicity of having a knife easily at hand and just poking out of the pocket for easy retrieval .
I am a fan of the pocket clip sheat/slip .
It postions the knife vertical and always at easy reach without rummaging around in the pocket .
It also is a fantastic way of carrying a knife when wearing shorts or pants without good pockets because you just clip it IWB ( in waist band ) .
There are many sheathmakers who can make you something to fit whatever knife you prefer .







Ken

Very cool!!

 

[teddy1093]

Sometimes use a leather slip. Other times just let bang around. Depends on knife

 

[JustinR]

I carry my wallet iny right front pocket and stand up my biggest traditional of the day beside it. I carry another in my LFP wrapped in a handkerchief made out of microfiber to clean my glasses with. Smallest one goes in my shirt pocket with an ink penn

On weekends when wearing a t shirt I omit the third shirt pocket knife.

 

[McFeeli]

The jeans I wear have a 'cell phone pocket' where the old-school 'watch pocket' otherwise would be, inside the RFP. It's deep enough to carry two, or maybe even three folders of 4-1/4" closed length, side-by-side, vertically. And they stay vertical in that pocket. So, on most days, that means I'm able to carry a 6375 Case stockman (4-1/4") alongside an older Buck 112 (also 4-1/4"), both of which have become two of my favorites.

I specifically shop for jeans with a pocket like this, for this very reason, ever since I stumbled onto such a pair some years ago and realized how perfect that 'cell phone pocket' was for pocketknives. It's literally the first thing I check when shopping for new jeans: two fingers go straight into that pocket, to see how deep it is. I avoid jeans with the old-school shallow watch pockets. That tells pretty clearly where my priorities are, in how I choose what I wear.

I tried doing the back-pocket, alongside-the-wallet thing a few years ago. But, at least twice, when pulling my wallet out of the back pocket, I also unknowingly yanked the knife out as well. And skittering it goes, across the floor. In both instances, complete strangers were kind enough to hand my knife back to me, which is sort of humbling in a public setting. One lady handing it back to me even said with a kind smile, "My husband does the SAME THING!"

I have a few pairs of cargo shorts with the same thing, though some of them are on the outside of your thigh(not a bad spot, but not quite the RFP aka dedicated knife pocket). I absolutely love those shorts and wear them more often just because of that, my single slipjoints fit in that sewn section snug as a bug. That was a really good recommendation.

 

[Horsewright]

Belt carry:

Pocket carry:

The thong back braids on a belt loop no belt needed.

These designs work. They've been around for ages, nothing I came up with.

Ken harronek ya bending leather again? Your work is perfection.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I carried moderns for years, but when I went back to traditionals I found I wasn't bothered by them just being dropped in the pocket. I wear tractor supply brand jeans and canvas type pants, they have a pretty large watch pocket. I can carry a Schrade trapper AND a 8OT with room to spare and nothing sticking above the pocket. I carry full size sodbuster types and grand daddy sized barlow in my rfp no problem. But that's just me. I also edc a fixed blade, currently a Buck119. I'm hell on sheaths. I refurbish mobile homes for a mortgage company, so I'm crawling under them, repairing sinks,etc.So it catches on everything,but I'm used to it. I've already had to replace the rivet holding the top of the 119's beltloop with a better Chicago screw. Any company needs sheaths tested, I'm your guy lol. Any nylon ones don't last a year, many less than 1/2 that.

 

[waverave]

It really is a personal preference based largely on what you are wearing and what you do. I wear dress pants to work and don't want to worry about a knife falling out of my pocket (which I've done several times) so I started carrying a small leather slip for such occassions. I actually like using the slip a lot but, otherwise, prefer to just let it sit freely in my pocket especally in jeans.

 

[Lapedog]

As others have mentioned, a leather slip can help keep a knife vertical on your pocket.

Another option, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, or have someone in your life who is, you could modify your pants pockets (or just one) to have less of a horizontal bottom. Sew a 45 degree or so angle seam across the bottom of a pocket so that the bottom comes to more of a point, thus preventing the knife from settling horizontally.

Another awesome sewing mod I’ve seen is stitching part of the pocket together from the bottom up so it creates a vertical narrow second pocket inside your existing one. Well more like it sections of some of the existing pocket rather than making a new one.

I have also seen a loop of fabric used sewed inside the pocket to create a little slot that the knife can slip into and be held upright, but the loop will just push out of the way when its not in use.

 

[waverave]

Another awesome sewing mod I’ve seen is stitching part of the pocket together from the bottom up so it creates a vertical narrow second pocket inside your existing one. Well more like it sections of some of the existing pocket rather than making a new one.

I have also seen a loop of fabric used sewed inside the pocket to create a little slot that the knife can slip into and be held upright, but the loop will just push out of the way when its not in use.

Making a second pocket is actually pretty easy to do as well. I am an idiot when it comes to sewing but have done that with back pockets if they are too big and my wallet doesn't fit right. Same with the front pocket so a knife will slip in there. You can get fancy with it but don't need to...since it's inside your pocket

 

[Pomsbz]

I made a horizontal belt sheath that lies fully horizontal on my belt. Being horizontal it never moves or shifts at all throughout the day and is practically invisible under the billows of the shirt. It makes my pocket knife always immediately accessible without fishing around or requiring two hands.

 

[harronek]

I made a horizontal belt sheath that lies fully horizontal on my belt. Being horizontal it never moves or shifts at all throughout the day and is practically invisible under the billows of the shirt. It makes my pocket knife always immediately accessible without fishing around or requiring two hands.

Believe me , I've tried just about every conceivable type of folder belt sheath and I agree with you .
If you go the belt sheath route a horizontal or 45 degree angle is the most comfortable , usable sheath in the workplace for hard use .
All my long term work belt sheaths were horizontal , but strangely and contradictorily my after hours / weekend favourites were vertical , I don't really have a reason , just felt right .

Ken

 

[22-rimfire]

Traditional knives typically go in my right front pocket which contains my car keys with attached Leatherman Ps4 Squirt. Coins and house/misc keys go in left front pants pocket. If I have a watch pocket and the knife is small, it goes there. Hard to retrieve a knife from a watch pocket at times, but the knife is pretty secure there. If the knife is "too nice to mess up" in a mixed pocket, it goes in a slip or stays at home.

The reality is that anything placed in my pants pockets may get scratched up and if it matters, it stays at home.

 

[ArchVV]

I'm still trying to figure out the best method for traditional carry too OP. I personally find it uncomfortable and distracting to have lots of loose crap in my pockets, especially when a knife turns horizontal. I'm also a pretty thin guy so I don't wear baggy pants with expansive pockets unless I'm doing fieldwork. Watch pocket or a slip work best for me, thought the thinner slips just shuffle around my pocket anyhow

 

[deltaboy]

Another awesome sewing mod I’ve seen is stitching part of the pocket together from the bottom up so it creates a vertical narrow second pocket inside your existing one. Well more like it sections of some of the existing pocket rather than making a new one.

I have also seen a loop of fabric used sewed inside the pocket to create a little slot that the knife can slip into and be held upright, but the loop will just push out of the way when its not in use.

I seen one that used, the Guy used a large safety pen to divide his pants pocket and make a knife slot!

 

[willard0341]

Usually with jeans I just carry loose in rfp. I've been carrying Derrick's pouch from KSF with the magnet while I'm at work.
The KSF magnet pouch combined with shorts has been working out nice. The sound of a knife hitting a steel deck makes me sick.
Obligatory knife pic that is somewhat related to conversation