I'm officially done with pocket clips...

JR88FAN said:
The urban trapper incident is human error and not the pocket clip...
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Human error is exactly why the pocket clip might be a bad idea.

I generally don't use clips unless I'm specifically doing work where it needs to be accessed repeatedly. Otherwise, I can understand the problems here. I've never lost a knife, but I have had exposed pocket clips get hung up on stuff , and even have knives pulled out as a result. I have had non knife pocket clips scratch stuff up.

Like just about any solution, the pocket clip can have unintended downsides.
 
Tidioute is a good place to start if you're seriously considering a reliable traditional EDC. I would recommend something with a single blade to ease the transition.
 
So your knife was on the outside of your pocket? Is this due to the laws in your area or personal preference?

I only ask because I always carry my knives on the inside so there's no way they could fall out. Especially if I'm wearing jeans... You could non-clip carry in the little coin pocket but you'ld have to find either new pants with a big coin pocket or a smaller blade. Check out the Spyderco Pingo. It's a slip joint non-locker that's small but a nice blade if you don't mind the sheepsfoot design. I took the clip off mine right away because it's small and light enough to carry in my work slacks.

Just a couple thoughts...
 
orezona said:
So your knife was on the outside of your pocket? Is this due to the laws in your area or personal preference?

I only ask because I always carry my knives on the inside so there's no way they could fall out. Especially if I'm wearing jeans... You could non-clip carry in the little coin pocket but you'ld have to find either new pants with a big coin pocket or a smaller blade. Check out the Spyderco Pingo. It's a slip joint non-locker that's small but a nice blade if you don't mind the sheepsfoot design. I took the clip off mine right away because it's small and light enough to carry in my work slacks.

Just a couple thoughts...
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Ugh, bothers me so much, my father likes to carry knives that way and it just rubs me the wrong way...
 
? Depending on the pants a traditional or any knife could fall out when sitting or when standing on your head for that matter. The clip with the knife in the pocket stops that. If you are convinced on not using pocket clips.....you can still use any knife by sticking it in your pocket and not using the clip. It has no more chance of falling out than a traditiinal or any thing else in your pocket.
 
Over in the Traditionals subforum, Jackknife has a suggestion he's posted over and over: drop the traditional in the pocket, then wad a bandanna over it, then add whatever else you'd carry in that pocket. He says this works for him. It's not how I do it, but it drastically stops the jingling of change, which is the siren call to worthless bums everywhere.

Another idea would be a Mission Wallet or something similar, which can consolidate some of your carry items, including most traditionals. Just sayin'.
 
My life currently involves a toddler which can lend a lot of uncertainty and distraction. The example of the large package is similar to what I experienced today but I deal with a 30lb wiggly package every day. My knives are more secure deep in my pocket than clipped to the outside so that is what I'm going to do for now.[/QUOTE]


This. Talk about a re-train with gear accountability. Table out of reach? Be right back dad, I'm going to come back and make stairs out of your wife's clothing once I destroy the closet and find the appropriate building materials.
 
bld522 said:
Never wanted to. Also don't want to advertise that I'm carrying a knife and never need to get to my knife in a hurry. So I don't use pocket clips either.

My solution? Deep carry unclipped in a dedicated pocket . . . LFP to be precise. Don't need no sheaths. Don't need no slips. Just an empty pocket does the trick. My folder is safe, sound, and secure. And when I carry it, nobody's the wiser. :)
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This is what I do, and have done with folders, for 63 years. I carry in my RFP but it's a dedicated knife pocket. On some folders I'll put a short CRK-style lanyard just to help me index the knife when I'm reaching for it (tell which end is which) so I can pull it out ready to open. Others don't need a lanyard. The only time I've used a pocket clip is when I carry a Para or Military IWB. That's rare nowadays since I carry a small Dozier FB in that same location almost daily.

Glad you found your Manix. That's one where I would probably want a lanyard (because of the shape of the knife) to help keep everything in place in my pocket. I'd suggest trying that. Move everything else around and dedicate a front pocket to knife carry. You can do it with a side pocket if you wear cargo pants. See if that helps you protect the knife while still keeping it readily accessible.
 
orezona said:
So your knife was on the outside of your pocket? Is this due to the laws in your area or personal preference?

I only ask because I always carry my knives on the inside so there's no way they could fall out. Especially if I'm wearing jeans... You could non-clip carry in the little coin pocket but you'ld have to find either new pants with a big coin pocket or a smaller blade. Check out the Spyderco Pingo. It's a slip joint non-locker that's small but a nice blade if you don't mind the sheepsfoot design. I took the clip off mine right away because it's small and light enough to carry in my work slacks.

Just a couple thoughts...
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No. The knife was inside the pocket. Pocket clip outside. My son was sitting on my right in a darkened planetarium and he got fussy. As I stood up/picked him up some piece of his clothing must have caught on the outside of the pocket clip and pulled the knife out. I fell onto the couch so it didn't make any noise.
 
Railsplitter said:
You might be onto something there. It can't hurt to try one out.
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I bought one of the GEC/Tidioute Wall Street lockbacks on a lark (and to have something less tactical)...great little knife.
The other option is waistband carry, either on the side or the front crease of the hip. Very lowpro, and easy to get to.
I lost a spydie PPT (the original iteration) when the clip bent out (my only beef with the ppt-that scrawny clip) and caught on a trash bag (I think) as I pulled it outta the truck. Never had a big problem before or since, but it's on my mind now.
The Al Mar falcon or eagle are also very nice in the bolstered micarta versions.
 
Traditional single blade folder in RFP with spare change. Easy to get change out even with knife bouncing around in there.

Usually an Opinel 9 or large Case Sodbuster.

I've only lost 1 trad knife out of pocket. A slippery Buck 500 Duke. It can happen. Jackknife's bandana trick is an option but I just stick to cheap knives that are stickier in pocket.

One nice thing about trad knives is they don't scare people. Use mine as steak knives at restaurants sometimes.
 
I literally have no idea how some people struggle so much with pocket clips. The only knives with clips I have ever lost were when I unclipped them from my pocket. I've never scratched my truck or anything that I can recall with a clip. Hell, I jumped off a 30 ish foot quarry wall into water like 5 times with my Native clipped to my pocket with no trouble this week. I also don't know how people find having a full sized modern knife sitting sideways in the bottom of their pocket comfortable. I prefer not to even carry larger traditionals for that reason.

But hey, to each their own. I understand your concern. Do what you think works best.
 
I lost a work-knife once in my pocket...it slipped out somewhere. GONE.
I now carry any EDC with a pocket-clip...thousands of days, and never lost one. Good thing, too, as my folders cost a lot.
 
All it takes is a ripped car seat which will set you back 100's to replace all because of a damn clip. You learn to take them out of your pocket when in places were damage can occur. Then of course, you forget them or loose the knife.

Cargo pants are the answer to that potential problem.
 
Ive definitley put some scratches into things like wooden drawers, walls, leather seats, etc but its like with any accident, u only smack ur head on a low hanging wall so many times before u start remembering its there.

Also am I the only one it bothers when the knife turns horizontal in pocket, I gotta have it with something else to keep it straight or i end up obsessively rearranging it throughout the day.
 
The first knife I lost was a folder I EDCed without the clip it came with, and I lost it at the planetarium from CosmoCaixa (the best known and famous planetarium from Barcelona) just because of that. It was dark, awesome, etc.
When I was on the street I realised I didn't "feel" the folder in my pocket the moment I came out from the show.

Had it been clipped, I'd probably still have it with me.
So, since then, always clipped for me.
 
I have only a couple of (modern) knives that came with pocket clips. Those angular pieces of metal in my hand felt awkward, even painful, when using the knife, so I removed the clips and threw them away. It's loose-in-pocket for me, but whatever works for you....

For what it's worth, I've had pockets on shorts (Patagonia standups) get snagged on doorjambs, doorknobs, and strike plates, so I'm very leery of attaching anything to the outside — with cutlery, it's best to be buried deep.
 
As I have thought more about what happened I think it was a perfect storm scenario. The pocket clip on the Manix 2 Lightweight is one of the wire clips which are smooth and aren't super tight. The shorts I was wearing were relatively thin synthetic material (think golf shorts) which is also slippery versus jeans or khakis. All that to say, maybe I'm not 100% officially done with pocket clips, I just need to be more careful and consider all of the factors or test the retention. IWB might be a good option for anything that doesn't ride well loose in the pocket.

Thanks all for your suggestions. And good luck to all of those that posted that this has never happened to them! In my experience all it takes is a bold claim to precipitate an unfortunate event.

"I haven't cut myself in 5 years...Son of a... Where are the band aids..."
 
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