Opinions on Pocket Slips

F

fallen giant

Joined
Aug 23, 2017
Messages
10
I am just getting in to traditional folding knives. It is an excuse to carry a second knife. I am enjoying learning about them too. I got a Case trapper and copperhead both with synthetic covers.

I carry them in the same pocket as my keys. Should I be worried about them getting damage by the keys? What about nature covers like bone or wood? Are they prone to damage?

Are pocket slips necessary to protect the covers? Are certain types better than others? Do you have any tips or pointers on the subject? Any help would be great!

Thanks again for the help!
 
I like pocket slips. I carry my tradional knives in a back pocket and the slip makes it easier to take the knife out and reduces the pocket wear. And if they were in with something else metal it would for sure stop any rub.
 
Generally, if a knife has natural covers I will use a leather slip to protect it. When I am wearing pants with slick pockets, I switch to a velvet slip that “sticks” inside my pocket so I don’t lose a knife! Knives with synthetic covers tend to be more durable and usually get carried loose.
 
I use pocket slips for anything natural but usually just throw micarta users in the pocket. Micarta can still be scratched and wear but it's less fragile overall. I don't really keep any of my knives with my keys regardless of material, traditional or not.
 
I use pocket slips all the time for the following reasons:
It does help protect the knife from dings etc
I find the knife rides better in the pocket
It helps prevent lint and whatnot from getting in the joints
You can easily find, make, or have someone else make custom slips which I’ve enjoyed a lot because you can have it done in a way that adds personality to your carry.
 
I was gifted one when I bought my first gec but never use it. I tried it a few times, but I don't know, for me it seemed like one extra step. My son dropped that same first GEC, a 77 NF barlow in smooth autumn gold on the concrete the day after I got it, put a nice gash in the bolster. Could only shrug, they're pretty and all, but they're tools.
 
I also don't carry my keys with my knives. I have a non traditional with bocote inserts that I'm careful with and is in a slip or belt pouch. Otherwise, a traditional my ride in the same pocket with an SAK.
 
I usually have enough stuff in my pockets and don’t really like the added bulk of a pocket slip. I carry my knife in my right front pocket with my keys, a couple pens, pocket change, etc. I don’t think any of that will “damage” your knife, but it will give it character. 😉😁

Your grandpa (or great-grandpa) probably carried a traditional pocket knife. Did he carry it in a pocket slip?

That said, carry your knife however you like. If you want to keep yours in pristine condition (or as close to it as possible) then a pocket slip is probably best (unless you have enough pockets to give your knife it’s own pocket). :thumbsup:
 
In line with the above -

I too have always carried my knives loose in my front right pocket with my keys and change. When I find myself needing to cut something, the last thing I want is to have to fumble with extra steps to deploy and then put away my knife, so no slips or anything like that for me. Admittedly, though, I have never owned an expensive knife with fancy covers, so a few scratches is not a concern.

HOWEVER…

The REAL reason I think people use pocket slips is because it adds another fun and interesting dimension to the knife collecting hobby. If they interest you, ignore any practical considerations (excuses), and get one or several. There are some members here who make really beautiful ones with very high quality craftsmanship.
 
Seems to me one more step. Plus I had an incident when I took my brand new Dunlop out of my pocket that was in a slip from the wrong end. Knife slipped out and it dropped on a tiled floor. Tiny little ding in the Micarta. In the long run no big because I use my customs.
 
You mean knife purses? 😉

I suppose it's obvious how I feel about them. Pocket slips are completely unnecessary. I've carried a full custom with ivory covers sans leather in the same pocket with keys, and although it has a few superficial scratches, it nevertheless remains none the worse for wear.
 
Leather slips plus humidity equals verdigris on brass hardware, I think. So I wouldn't keep my knife inside a slip for longer than necessary.

Pocket slips, pouches, whatever you want to call them, I like them for knives on which I don't want to scratch up the bolsters or maybe the handle material is a bit fiddly. I mostly stick them in my pocket without a slip though. Bone, stag, wood, most natural materials develop a nice character after some pocket wear smoothens out any hard edges. But I have to say, I don't pit any other metalic items in the same pocket as my knife.
 
Never used a slip. Other than a Buck 110, Schrade 6OT/7OT or a two blade slipjoint folding hunter, which go on a belt, I've always carried my folding knives (normally at least 2, sometimes as many as 4) loose in right front pocket along with any coin had, back when I carried cash. Left pockets may as well not be there. I have very limited motiion in left wrist, nothing goes into my left pocket buut mabe lint, over time.
In my working days, I had too many work keys I had to carry evey day to go in a pocket, so they were clipped to a belt loop or belt ring.

Bone, Wood, Stag, MOP, all held up just fine, as have Delrin, Stagalon, and otherr syntetics I have. I never broke or chipped a cover, at any rate. If they had a scratch, I never noticed it while using the knife or when it was in my pocket.
I think a natural material like bone or wood, and some synthetics, like Delrin/Stagalon, hide any scratches, not magnify them.

I should mention, I'm old. I've carried at least two pocket knives every day since 2nd grade, 60 years ago. (back then students could carry a knife at school. 'Smatter of fact, you were expected to. Strangely enough, there were no knife attacks/fights/stabbings ...

Anyhow, I've had jobs in which the person responsible for hiring at that company asked to see your knife, to see how you took care of your tools, and by extension any company tools you might be issued.(A common practice, "back in the day") If the knife was in bad condition (bent/broken/chipped blades, dull, red rust (a partina was ok) and/or had other signs of abuse and/or neglect, or no knife, you didn't get the job, regardless of your qualifictions and work history.

Scratched/dented worn handles from use are to be expected, and go with the territory.
I've seen "modern" knives (that are actually used; not safe queens) over in the "EDC XIII What Knife Or Knives Are You Carrying Today"? thread over in General with scratched anodized metal handles.
 
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I've never used a slip, but I also never put hard metallic objects in my right front pocket either. That pocket is reserved for my pocket knife and a bandana. Thats it. Any change, keys, nuts and bolts, RONCO pocket defibrillator, whatever, goes in the left front pocket. Even after moving to Texas and having a carry license, the right front pocket is off limits to keys, change, whatever. With a small pocket pistol in my right front pocket, the pocket knife goes in between the DeSantis leather pocket holster and my leg, or in the coin pocket of my jeans. Having a very strong preference to peanut size pocket knives helps.

I don't like slips. Never found the need.
 
I do not use slips in the pocket, but I do use them all the time for knives in the center console or glove box of the car. I also keep a Large Toothpick in a special slip I made for it on my desk for opening letters. I mostly carry folders in the small fifth-pocket of my jeans and I very seldom carry them loose in the pocket.
 
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I don't use pocket slips. I never have. I've carried some kind of knife in my right front pocket since about 1965. I've never noticed any adverse effect, other than just normal wear. Usually the covers and bolsters will smooth with use (reference Case 'pocketworn' knives) and take on a sort of glow...
The worst thing is usually just lint down in the blade well.... easily corrected.... or a dime getting down between the blades... also easily corrected.
If I'm too afraid to carry a knife because it's too "pretty", I need to either sell it, or lock it up somewhere that I cannot see it. I'm finding that I am not a collector of knives as "art"... I have no problem with those that do... but I'm not there yet. Maybe when I get old...... oh, wait.... :oops: :cool:
 
Love pocket slips for my traditionals. And lanyards, fobs, etc. Really adds to the hobby for me. I work in manufacturing and carry a mutitool everyday that perfoms most of my heavy cutting. When I pull out the traditionals I am not worried about the extra step of removing it from the slip, in fact I rather like it.
 
I am a big fan of pocket slips, I have even been known to remove clips and use pocket slips for non-traditional knives. With traditional knives it is almost a religion for me to use a pocket slip.
 
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