This may have been discussed before but I'm looking for a EDC with a clip that does not tear up my pocket. I have a Sage II that will arrive this week which uses a wire clip. Looks like it will be kind to my pocket but would like to hear other options.
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Most pocket friendly clip
- Thread starter tomsch
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Buck Vantage Pro - smooth G10 scales and deep pocket clip is pretty friendly, as are quite a few Spyderco models. My Kershaw Shallot is also very friendly.
If budget is not a huge concern - my large Sebenza is pretty darn pocket friendly also.
I'm not so sure the clip makes it friendly as much as the scale material of the knife and the amount of pressure exerted by the clip. Stainless steel scales, smooth G10, titanium - these scale materials tend not to tear up the lining of your pants from the constant "in and out".
If budget is not a huge concern - my large Sebenza is pretty darn pocket friendly also.
I'm not so sure the clip makes it friendly as much as the scale material of the knife and the amount of pressure exerted by the clip. Stainless steel scales, smooth G10, titanium - these scale materials tend not to tear up the lining of your pants from the constant "in and out".
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I really like the BM clips, they don't carry so deep that it takes more than 5 seconds to get out of pocket. I agree with Toyz, it really depends on what's on the other side of the pocket clip at the point of contact. The grip on the spyderco delica's would tear up your pocket like crazy if they didn't have the smooth spyderco logo directly beneath the clip's contact point.
The G-10 Endura's have textured G-10 the length of the scale, but I haven't found too much wear on my jeans yet; though, I normally only take my knife out of my pocket > 20 times a day, and rotate its EDC with other, smoother scaled, knives.
Although I don't carry any knives with a wire clip, I would think that since the contact points are smaller on wire clips, they are going to be rougher on pants than a solid clip; the wire clip has two distinct and much smaller contact points. The smaller the contact point, the more force per square inch/centimeter the clip will place against the cloth caught between the clip and the scale. Probably, even if you had a large contact area, that would just increase the amount of cloth rubbing against clip/scale - which would also lead to increased wear.
The G-10 Endura's have textured G-10 the length of the scale, but I haven't found too much wear on my jeans yet; though, I normally only take my knife out of my pocket > 20 times a day, and rotate its EDC with other, smoother scaled, knives.
Although I don't carry any knives with a wire clip, I would think that since the contact points are smaller on wire clips, they are going to be rougher on pants than a solid clip; the wire clip has two distinct and much smaller contact points. The smaller the contact point, the more force per square inch/centimeter the clip will place against the cloth caught between the clip and the scale. Probably, even if you had a large contact area, that would just increase the amount of cloth rubbing against clip/scale - which would also lead to increased wear.
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Both the Spyderco standard and wire clips, as well as the Benchmade split-arrow clip. 
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I'm inclined to agree with what Toyz mentioned. Most of the pocket abrasion issues I've had were more related to a poor combination of the scale material being too rough and the clip being much too tight. If you refine or reduce the effect of either one of these, by smoothing the scale or taking some of the 'squeeze' out of the clip, it makes a big difference.
Another problem I've seen is with coated clips (usually black). Some are better than others, but the poorly executed coatings will sometimes rub off, especially in the high friction area between clip and scale. You end up with a black stain on your pocket. This can also be nipped in the bud early on, if you immediately take the clip off and polish the back side of it a bit to remove most or all of the stuff that would otherwise rub off on your jeans. Some bare metal clips, if they're not stainless steel (I've seen some wire clips that were made of some kind of copper-looking alloy), will oxidize and that stuff will also rub off. Most of the newer knives are using stainless or Titanium clips these days, so that shouldn't be much of a problem anymore.
I've seen a clip from one maker that was formed bent over in such a way that the screw holes in the clip were actually below the bend at the upper end of the clip. To make matters worse, the screws had relatively large heads on them, so every time the knife went into the pocket, the screws would end up pinched inside the pocket by the very tight clip. It felt like I was ripping my pocket every time I pulled that knife out. This could've been minimized at least a little bit by using screws with flush or very low profile heads.
Edited to add:
It occurred to me that I hadn't actually specified which makes I do like, per the OP's question. So far, I've been very favorably impressed with Spyderco's uncoated clips (satin or polished SS), and I also like the Ti clip on the CRK Sebenza, as others have mentioned. I don't have much experience with the wire clips, but I'd think they'd be fine. Again, I think it comes down to the combination of scale material/finish and clip pressure. Also, I wear jeans most of the time so, if you're wearing something dressier, that'll influence your choices too.
Another problem I've seen is with coated clips (usually black). Some are better than others, but the poorly executed coatings will sometimes rub off, especially in the high friction area between clip and scale. You end up with a black stain on your pocket. This can also be nipped in the bud early on, if you immediately take the clip off and polish the back side of it a bit to remove most or all of the stuff that would otherwise rub off on your jeans. Some bare metal clips, if they're not stainless steel (I've seen some wire clips that were made of some kind of copper-looking alloy), will oxidize and that stuff will also rub off. Most of the newer knives are using stainless or Titanium clips these days, so that shouldn't be much of a problem anymore.
I've seen a clip from one maker that was formed bent over in such a way that the screw holes in the clip were actually below the bend at the upper end of the clip. To make matters worse, the screws had relatively large heads on them, so every time the knife went into the pocket, the screws would end up pinched inside the pocket by the very tight clip. It felt like I was ripping my pocket every time I pulled that knife out. This could've been minimized at least a little bit by using screws with flush or very low profile heads.
Edited to add:
It occurred to me that I hadn't actually specified which makes I do like, per the OP's question. So far, I've been very favorably impressed with Spyderco's uncoated clips (satin or polished SS), and I also like the Ti clip on the CRK Sebenza, as others have mentioned. I don't have much experience with the wire clips, but I'd think they'd be fine. Again, I think it comes down to the combination of scale material/finish and clip pressure. Also, I wear jeans most of the time so, if you're wearing something dressier, that'll influence your choices too.
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DallasSTB
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CR Sebenza's clip is nearly perfect. The Spyderco wire clip (Sage) and whatever the Bradley has are good. Benchmade's clips are generally pocket friendly too. Buck's Vantage Pro clip is good, but the knife REALLY sits low and can be hard to grab if it slips too deep. I like to have about 1/2" of the knife sticking out to grab on to, while still remaining nearly concealed.
Make sure you look at handle materials as much as the type of clip. It was mentioned before, but I think that the grippy G10 on the Endura isn't as pocketfriendly as carbon fiber or FRN. Metal frames/handles slide easily in and out of pockets. Such as titanium
Make sure you look at handle materials as much as the type of clip. It was mentioned before, but I think that the grippy G10 on the Endura isn't as pocketfriendly as carbon fiber or FRN. Metal frames/handles slide easily in and out of pockets. Such as titanium
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The Spyderco wire clips are my favorite. So much so that I won't buy another knife with any other type. Even a Spyderco. I've had others that work fine but just love the wire.
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I totally agree with what Toyz mentioned. It doesn't seem to me to have much to do with pocket clip designs so much as it does handle material selection.
Any knife with solid metal handle scales (with a couple exceptions) would probably be totally pocket safe. I'd say the Benchmade 520 Presidio is a definite exception when it comes to metal handles, that thing looks like it would be really hard on pockets...
Any knife with solid metal handle scales (with a couple exceptions) would probably be totally pocket safe. I'd say the Benchmade 520 Presidio is a definite exception when it comes to metal handles, that thing looks like it would be really hard on pockets...
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I really like the clip on the Benchmade Dejavoo- it's a lowrider clip done correctly, which you don't see very often. I have to agree with the comments about the Sebenza clip too. It works pretty darned well, especially considering that there's only one screw holding it in there. I've been carrying my small Seb every day for over a year now, and the tension on the clip is still the same as it was out of the box. It hasn't worn the corners out of any of my pockets either.
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The best I've found are the clips on the Benchmade 690s. Aesthetically they may not be the most pleasing with their skewed teardrop shape, but they are definitely the best I've found at holding tightly while simultaneously being good at drawing the knife and repocketing it.
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Best pocket clip for retention and durability: Hinderer XM-18
Best pocket clip for being gentle to clothing: G&G Hawk spring clips with rollers -- zero wear on the pocket.
Best pocket clip for being gentle to clothing: G&G Hawk spring clips with rollers -- zero wear on the pocket.
Spydercos wire clips are the best I've seen. After that my STR lowrider clip is pretty easy on the pockets. I don't care for supertight pocket clips for the obvious reasons and I've never doing anything strenuous enough that I would need a very tight pocket clip.