Innocuous/discreet carry knives

kobold said:
I agree with everything.
I remove the pocket clips from my smaller EDC knives so they stay undetected at the bottom of my pocket. And in urban environments I carry a large full tang in my backpack, not on my person.
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Pocket carry is great for small knives, yeah. When I do use a pocket clip, my shirt or jacket conceals most of the knife.
 
With a nondescript deep-carry clip, I usually don't worry. Most people don't seem to notice. Depending on the knife, a quick glance might not distinguish it from a pen. It probably helps that I'm a little older, typically dress "business casual", and don't look particularly threatening. I don't get drunk and I don't act rowdy.

There are some situations where I might drop my knife into my pocket. Sometimes, I will carry a knife different ways. For instance, I sometimes carry a Dividend in my shirt pocket opposite a pen with a flap obscuring anything out of the ordinary. Other times, I might use a pocket organizer. It all depends.

Of course, people being afraid of knives may seem really dumb. The same could be said for guns. Unfortunately, not everyone has experience or familiarity with these things. Their only frame of reference might be violent media, myth, or fear-mongering anti-knife/anti-gun propaganda. There is nothing to be gained from making those people uncomfortable. In fact, setting ignorant people on edge is at odds with safety and safety is the goal for some types of carry.
 
Whenever I plan on using a knife around my customers, 99% of the time it is a Leatherman multitool of some flavor. Im a contractor, and it looks like what it is, a tool. Blocky, silver, plenty of visible bits that don't look "scary". The blade is about 3" long and folds out, gets used, and folds back in without much fanfare.
 
Timely thread!

I was just about to start a thread about:

- Favorite AC Knives - AC being - Always Carry - a variation of EDC.
My current candidate for AC is a small Scallion.
 
I carry a BK-14 and a Victorinox Alox Electrician in a pocket sheath at all times.

The SAK is more gentlemanly and inoffensive

The BK14 is just an amazing workhorse.

A serrated Spyderco Salt 2 is always IWB, for any cordage, fibrous, or corrosive environments (pool / driveway salt bags, cutting a lime for guoc, etc)

So have a Leatherman Squirt PS4 and a SAK Minichamp on the keychain and these little tools always come in handy... Even for the Philips screws on kids' toy battery compartments, or small scissors, etc.

Anything else that I carry is a specialty geometry (Wharncliffe, hawksbill, trailing point, etc) that only gets called on when it's definitely the best tool for the job.

And on my person, my BK14 at 3.25" is the longest that I need to carry.

I stash Mora's and fillet knives everywhere that they might be useful....

But only carry anything larger when on serious hikes, camping, etc.

Small, little, utilitarian knives are my jam!

And oh yeah... I prefer the strength of lockbacks...

So no flicking open for me. The sound and speed freaks some ppl out, anyhow.
 
CanadaKnifeGuy said:
I carry a BK-14 and a Victorinox Alox Electrician in a pocket sheath at all times.

The SAK is more gentlemanly and inoffensive

The BK14 is just an amazing workhorse.

A serrated Spyderco Salt 2 is always IWB, for any cordage, fibrous, or corrosive environments (pool / driveway salt bags, cutting a lime for guoc, etc)

So have a Leatherman Squirt PS4 and a SAK Minichamp on the keychain and these little tools always come in handy... Even for the Philips screws on kids' toy battery compartments, or small scissors, etc.

Anything else that I carry is a specialty geometry (Wharncliffe, hawksbill, trailing point, etc) that only gets called on when it's definitely the best tool for the job.

And on my person, my BK14 at 3.25" is the longest that I need to carry.

I stash Mora's and fillet knives everywhere that they might be useful....

But only carry anything larger when on serious hikes, camping, etc.

Small, little, utilitarian knives are my jam!

And oh yeah... I prefer the strength of lockbacks...

So no flicking open for me. The sound and speed freaks some ppl out, anyhow.
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Oh yeah, the brightly colored Spydercos (yellow or orange) are pretty cool too. High-vis as well.

Been thinking about a BK-14 too.
 
Hal said:
Timely thread!

I was just about to start a thread about:

- Favorite AC Knives - AC being - Always Carry - a variation of EDC.
My current candidate for AC is a small Scallion.
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Nice! For me it’s the Para 3 or Code 4. I don’t mind my metric ton CS folders, but lightweight knives sure are pleasing.
 
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DangerZone98 said:
As kobold said, I agree too. When you’re quick and efficient about it, nobody usually notices that the box is already open (or the cake is cut into eight slices before they could blink!).

This is easier to pull off with small blades though.
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I'd kind of like to see somebody cut the cake into 8 pieces with a GEC 15 (or similarly sized pattern, regardless of maker) or Alox Solo, then get it quickly tucked away.

For me, the most innocuous choice is whatever I have in my lfp - typically a Buck 501 or GEC 48. (*not for cake duty)
 
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DocJD said:
My personal approach is just as always , to carry CONCEALED . :)
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Amen. Since I am out on the job site most of the day, I almost always have a knife with 3 1/2 to 4 inch blade clip to my pocket. In fact, I am so used to carrying a knife that size that even though it belongs on a job site, for any regular day I probably have one of those with me. However, no one needs to know.

I don't tuck in my shirt tail because it never stays in. And about 30 years ago I got tired of hearing and being teased about "plumber's crack". With my shirttail out no one sees my knife. If I am in a group of people I do not know or out of the general public, if anybody is looking for a knife to cut something I help them look. I never offer mine.

If I am at a new client's home or project I always have a medium to small traditional in my pocket. If they see it, they think my medium Barlow or my small Stockman is pretty cool. With that in mind and observing those rules of behavior it has been decades since someone has said anything negative about any of the knives that I carry daily.
 
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Well, I keep a Vic Super Tinker in my med bag, and no one bats an eye. Otherwise, my most discreet, least threatening knives would be:

Civivi Mckenna and Exarch
Massdrop Gent Select
Viper Novis Ziricote
Spyderco PM2 LW Spy27
 
Sonnydaze said:
It's NOT the knife necessarily, but rather, HOW you carry it.
Of course, I cheat a bit, as I live in Florida, and the t-shirt is always un-tucked.
Shown here is a Bradford G3, one of many that I've owned, and one of the best.
However, I can equally carry a 4" Busse cross-draw if desired.


View attachment 1554496
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Great looking sheath , but I don't understand how it works .

Please post a link or more info on source . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
DocJD said:
My personal approach is just as always , to carry CONCEALED . :)

What is well hidden cannot be disapproved . Because it is not revealed .

I never want to make a display , so concealed means just that .

I don't generally look or act aggressive or threatening in any way .

I don't normally need to cut anything in public , but when I do , I keep it low key and just do the work with no fanfare or fuss .

Mostly , if you just do what's necessary and don't even look around , nobody will notice or give a crap .

YMMV . ;)
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This is absolutely the way I feel.
I use my folder in a very business like manner. I don t pay attention to other people around me when I use the folder. I open my knife with a thumb stud or hole. No flippers or flicks.
Interestingly, my coated blades get no more and maybe less attention than my coated blades.
I carry concealed, clipped IWB behind my belt.

I definitely feel that the degree of reaction to one using his pocket knife is related to the way one uses the knife. (What did we ever do before flippers?)
 
I have various slip joints and SAKs if I don’t want to freak people out, but if I want something that locks and tucks away in a pocket, the U2 or Manbug are my best options.
 
Two hands down a SAK, I think it is probably the most discreet knife/tool one could use in most part of the world(except a few countries where knife carrying is banned altogether).
 
When working with the public I usually carry a primary knife for actually getting things done when the public isn't around (and for fun, I am a knife knut) and a SOG Powerlitre multitool both for the variety of tools it offers and for something innocuous if I have to cut something in front of a client. Humans are odd animals and our brains make, or fail to make, connections in strange ways. I've gotten comments on knives, never particularly unpleasant or alarmed but often a bit startled or wondering why I carry it, whereas the only reactions I've ever gotten to a multitool are positive and curious if they react at all. I genuinely don't think they register in people's minds as knives the way more conventional folders, even SAKs, do.
 
I have a CJRB RIA which is an inexpensive knife that I didn't want to like but turns out I really do as it finds it way into rotation. It looks to me what some people call a gentleman's knife, it can be opened with the pinch if needed. I also carry a slip joint, usually a GEC or SAK.
 
I carried traditional slipjoint knives for several years before getting my current EDC which is a CRK Mnandi. My slipjoints were all about the same size as my Mnandi; as an office worker that seems to be the size that works best for me. I think the two handed opening and wood scales make the knife come off as very non-threatening. A smaller size helps too.
 
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