Opinions on Pocket Slips

Nope. I actually use to always order a slip when I bought a new traditional knife. I stopped when I realized it's a pain in the neck for me to use one. I even had a leather craftsman make me a bunch at a reasonable cost. Still have them new! I try not to go out of my way to clang my knife with keys or change in my pocket. If I remember, I will put the knife alone in one pocket. If I don't, oh well, a few nicks, bumps, and scratches adds to the character of the knife. I don't think it is anything to worry about as far as damaging ANY type of cover material. I have not had any issues.
 
I do carry knives in Slips quite often to protect them from getting damaged from keys & etc. If a knife has Brass Liners and Pins , a Slip will reduce the possibility of them turning green from perspiration and then passing it onto or into Stag or light colored Bone . If you prefer that your knives get Verdigris , then don't worry about it . I do have a small collection of slips of various sizes .

Harry
 
I have used pocket slips for years. I started using them when I had a favorite pocket knife slip out of my pocket, never to be found. I got used to the small inconvenience required to access my knife.
The added benefits of keeping a knife vertical in my pocket and protected from other pocket junk is a plus to me.
Some of mine.
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btb01 said:
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:
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AMEN!
A pocket knife for me is a tool. It is not a weapon, tool box, or God forbid a fashion accessory. Dings, scratches, worn spots, thats the hard life of a pocket knife.
 
The French make thin leather slips that are very tight fitting for patterns like Laguioles and provide good protection in case of dropping the knife yet the knife can't fall out of them. These are OK as they're not bulky, something I dislike in the pocket. Generally, sheathes/slips whatever add to fiddly cumbersome use, I use them for transporting knives for protection but watch out for storing knives in them due to forgetting. Depending on the tanning process etc some leathers can encourage corrosion :eek: I think slips diminish the utility of a pocket knife so don't really favour them.
 
I carry my knife in the same pocket as my mobile phone. I got my first slip (for a fairly cheap knife) when I noticed that the screen on the phone was getting pretty scratched up. A slip to protect the other stuff in my pocket and not the knife, in other words. I have since grown to like them pretty well. I prefer to get them in thin leather that molds itself to the shape of the knife; most of mine hold the knife pretty firmly, so that they won't fall out even with a pretty good shake upside down, but will let the knife drop out if I pinch the sides. Now that I have gotten some more expensive knives, I like them even more since they protect both the phone and the precious cargo.

In the photo, you can (kind of) see the shape of the knife in the slip (made by the wife of a pretty well known maker).

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aji1 said:
I carry my knife in the same pocket as my mobile phone. I got my first slip (for a fairly cheap knife) when I noticed that the screen on the phone was getting pretty scratched up. A slip to protect the other stuff in my pocket and not the knife, in other words. I have since grown to like them pretty well. I prefer to get them in thin leather that molds itself to the shape of the knife; most of mine hold the knife pretty firmly, so that they won't fall out even with a pretty good shake upside down, but will let the knife drop out if I pinch the sides. Now that I have gotten some more expensive knives, I like them even more since they protect both the phone and the precious cargo.

In the photo, you can (kind of) see the shape of the knife in the slip (made by the wife of a pretty well known maker).

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That's exactly how I carry my edc slipjoint. Left pocket with my cellphone. I wouldn't drop a slip less knife in there with my phone.
I just had to replace my cell and opted for one that folds. Still want to protect the little front screen on it.

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And no one mentions the obvious good reason for using one...... Friction folders!

In my opinion they are essential for friction folders if there is even the slightest chance it could open in a pocket. I use them only for friction folders.
I'd never carry a Higo in my pocket without it being in a slip, doesn't bear thinking about one of those razors opening in your pocket!

And as for ending up sideways in your pocket you simply get a slip with a clip fitted that way it can even stay in your pocket as then knife is removed & replaced so takes no more time........
 
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I'mSoSharp said:
And no one mentions the obvious good reason for using one...... Friction folders!
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I have carried a small MAM friction folder on my keychain every day for the past couple of years and it has never opened in my pocket. I do however tap the pivot pin to snug it up a little from time to time as a precaution. I also occasionally carry other large friction folders and have not ever worried about them opening. My right front jeans pocket is a fairly tight space - it’s not like the blade has room to just swing about freely in there.

I can definitely see wanting the added security of a slip, though, especially if you had a very loose blade on your friction folder.
 
I made a few leather slips (rather crude looking) for various knives, but found that they were more of a PITA than anything, with all the same reasons others have pointed out. I can certainly see a couple of circumstances that using a slip would be preferable, but for the most part - not for me.

So I've tried to use a pocket slip (really I have), but for me they are more trouble than they are worth.
 
Ok, so, I have a problem ;) but, it's alright, it's my problem so it should not concern anyone else, but, in a pocket dump just now, these were present, not including a flashlight, fisher space pen, whistle and I forgot to throw down the small Baby Banter that was clipped in my back pocket. Where I use to work they would try and guess how many knives I had on me at the time, and I've actually 'cut' back, so...progress :)

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Top knife is a Petrified Fish PF719,
below that is a SAK Executive, one of my oldest living knives ever
far left is a Petrified Fish PF838
then an MKM Root in a custom leather belt sheath I made
then a small Browning slipjoint
a SAK Pioneer
A Knipex XS pliers

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

This little guys been around the world with me, lost it one time in Trinidad, actually I had left it on the machine I was working on, came back the next day and it was gone. The supervisor in the plant read the riot act to the workers and a few days later it came back, the guy said 'uh it was lying in the road between the two buildings...uh...' lol I was surprised it ever showed back up!

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
 
JohnDF said:
Pocket Slips look great in pictures. 🤠 :thumbsup:
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Yeah buddy... YOUR pocket slips look great in pictures. 🤣
The ones I make are over-built, unadorned and merely function to protect my knives from me.
I didn't think Pocket Slips were necessary for 20-odd years- my knife rides by itself in it's own pocket.
... and then one time I accidently walked into a granite table edge (clumsy tall guy problems) and put a nice big ding in my #92 Eureka Jack end cap.

So I think a pocket slip is a simple way to prevent unnecessary wear-and-tear.
Lots of folks make very handsome ones, and leather smells great.

I've since fumbled my pocket slip on to the ground many times and there's not a mark on the knife.
The leather paid for itself.
 
No pocket slips for me either. I simply carry my pocket knife in the right front pocket with nothing else. I try to limit the stuff I carry to an absolute minimum. My normal daily carry is a small SAK in the RF. In the LF go the small keyring with only my two house keys on it, a wood pencil and a few bank cards and drivers licence held together with a rubber band. And some change. I figured I don't need a wallet to carry only 4 cards and a few coins.
 
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