People carrying pocket knives w/o clips: what's your secret?

S

soupah

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Dec 1, 2005
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When I try to carry a slipjoint in my pocket, it just eventually comes to rest horizontally at the bottom and sticks out oddly, making it look like I got some giant weird jewelery in my junk or something. :eek:

I always default back to pocket-clip carry, unless I carry a really small slipjoint (which gets lost in the pocket anyway and can come clattering out at inopportune times, like when I'm digging for change).

For those that don't use knives w/clips, what's your secret? Sheaths (not good for my job), some sort of pocket rig, neck chain? Clue me in!
 
Put it next to your wallet. I do this and my large stockman stays nice and secure.
 
I don't wear tight pants and I usually carry a small Sebenza. The lanyard helps keep it from dropping down horizontally in my RFP. When I carry my Caly 3 or Sage or anything else in RFP, though, they usually don't drop to a horizontal position. They just ride at an angle against the back edge of my pocket.
 
I found I can often get a pocket folder to 'stand' in the bottom of my pocket, generally along the seam, if the folder is lightweight and has a lanyard and my pants aren't too baggy. The cordage seems to act like a kind of grip point.

Thin, generally rectangular models do better. Also, models with textured handles also grip the pocket fabric, helping it stand.

Also, consider carrying a small change pouch--if not your wallet--in the same pocket. The pouch (note: zippered ones are better at keeping your coins from accidentally falling out) will 'find' the bottom of your pocket, and usually makes the area for your folder to stand in smaller.

I like folders, but also hate it when they lay horizontal in my pocket.
 
I carry a small whittler or a small stockman in the small change pocket of my jeans. I work in the field, not in an office, so no need for dress pants. If not, I carry my larger jacks in the back pocket and they sleep horizontally as well, but very comfortable. I have certain short pants I no longer wear, because a knife actually fell out of the pocket while sitting down:(:mad::grumpy:. I have to be careful not to rant.:o
Cj
 
I just drop the knife in my pocket and forget about it. It's no more bulky or funny-looking than a set of keys.
 
Bob W said:
I just drop the knife in my pocket and forget about it. It's no more bulky or funny-looking than a set of keys.
Click to expand...

Me too. It helps that I tend to carry folders that are not much more than 3 1/2" closed.
 
I just wear really, really tight pants.

Mind you it takes a half hour to get it in, and a half hour to get it out.
 
There were several very good ideas in an older issue of Tactical Knives. I'll see if I can find it and post a link. One option that I remember was to take a small pistol pocket holster and re-mold the leather. I'll post the rest when I find that article.
 
Embarrassing as it is to admit it, I have a couple of 5.11 TDU pants. (Hey, they're nice sometimes when you need lots of pocket space. Even for less tactically oriented people. :) )

One nice feature is that they have, inside the pocket lining, a smaller auxiliary pocket. Probably for loose change etc. But it works really well as a knife carrier, too. I can for example put a Spyderco Manix which is quite wide in the little pocket and it carries well and stays put.

If you know of a shop that does repairs on clothes, you could ask them to put such pockets on your other trousers as well. Or be a man and grab the sewing machine yourself. :D
 
mnblade said:
Me too. It helps that I tend to carry folders that are not much more than 3 1/2" closed.
Click to expand...

I do the same. I do have a couple of pairs of slacks that have a small vertical pocket built into the main pocket. With jeans, keeping in mind I hate the relaxed fit stuff, they stand up for the most part and most of what I carry fits into the watch pocket well anyway.

I am pretty bad though, since I remove clips from what knives I have that utilize them. A knife without a clip always seems to feel better in my hand than the same knife with a clip. Obviously a clip enables the knife to be much handier, but I prefer the ergonomics sans clip.

YMMV.

Those William Henry type pocket clipped sheaths might be a good alternative for some folks. I have a few that came with some Amherst knives I have purchased. They are basically a nice stiffer leather pouch with a clip mounted.
 
i don't wear dress pants exept for weddings or funerals, so jeans are my live in pants. I just drop the knife in my pocket. My right hand pocket is my designated knife pocket, so very little else goes in that pocket exept for a rolled up bandana, and a small single AAA Gerber Sonic LED flashlight. The rolled up bandana helps keep the knife strait up, but since I rarely carry anything over 3 1/4 inches. like a Victorinox 84mm sak, or a Buck cadet, it's no matter if it falls over. Like bastid, I don't wear relaxed fit jeans. Keys, change, goes in the left pocket, wallet in left rear, another rolled up bandana and rolled up tobacco pouch in right rear.

If it really bothers you, go ahead and sew a small pocket the size of your edc along the inside edge of your pants of choice.
 
I don't often carry a knife without a clip, but I do EDC an Inova flashlight, which behaves similarly. While in my everyday jeans, I manage this with a rather long lanyard, which I tuck through my belt on the front edge of my right pocket. The light then "dangles" just inside my pocket, out of the way of the stuff in the bottom. Of couse, there's a lanyard hanging out of my pocket, and it won't work with slacks, but I don't often tuck in my shirts, and it really isn't that noticable.
 
I guess it just boils down to what you are used to and what bothers you.
I carry a knife in my right front pocket, there has been one in there for well over 40 years.
I do not even notice it is there, until I need it.
 
My wallet is in my right front pocket so my Buck 112 goes next to it. If it is a larger knife like my Spyderco Superhawk I put it in a homemade pocket holster. The nylon pocket holsters are easily modified for knife use, my dad uses one to carry his knife. In the past I have just dropped it in my back pocket, they are pretty easy to get to there.
 
A small suede slipcase does excellently. It grips in a pocket and will stay exactly where and how you put it.
 
"I found I can often get a pocket folder to 'stand' in the bottom of my pocket, generally along the seam"
I do the same thing. My Alsdorf sits like this quite nicely. I also carry it in it's leather slip sheath too.
 
i wear the weird lump and the accompanying fraying of my levi's with pride:D
my favorite pair of levis has the tell tale signs of habitual carrying of a yeller med stockman, also i use the coin pocket? whatever its called to house my buck alpha dorado holds it just fine:D
the larger more important question is how do you clip guys manage not carrying slipjoints?:D:cool:
cheers
ivan
 
Agree that a smaller knife with a lanyard attached generally works for me (for those few times when I carry a non-clip folder)....

Regards,
Mike
 
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