Pocket Clip Paranoia

B

Bugout Bill

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Jan 2, 2013
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I was having lunch with a buddy of mine earlier today in the dining center of my college (Illinois State University for those who care), and I noticed an individual that I went to high school with walk in. As he passed through the cashier's area, the sun happened to illuminate a fairly obvious pocket clip in his front pocket. Although it was some sort of deep-carry clip, it was fairly obvious that it was a knife.

This little incident has got me worried. My current EDC set up consists of a Opinel No. 8, a SAK, and a CRKT Minimalist Wharncliffe. I also like to switch out the Opinel with either a Spyderco Tenacious or a Benchmade 530. After today, however, I'm starting to get worried that the Tenacious might be a bit too noticable, due to its satin finished pocket clip. Is this a real concern or am I just being paranoid? Does anyone else fret over the noticability of pocket clips?
 
Me. But rather than fret about it, I just don't ever use pocket clips. After all, why draw unnecessary attention to myself? Do I really need to get to my knife so quickly that I have to keep it clipped to my pocket? Can't I get to it fast enough concealing it deep in my pocket?

In my neck of the woods, the fewer people that know I'm carrying a knife, the better.
 
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Unless your carry is prohibited by state law...why worry...I personally love those polish clips...it just looks better...
 
It all depends on the culture of the area. I'm fortunate to live in a state where a belt knife won't get a second glance (obviously if you get into certain municipalities it changes, but for 90% of the state, you're fine).

I've carried in other states and could almost feel the attention being paid to my pocket clips. At times i even felt i was even offending people. I suppose if i lived elsewhere i might just drop my knife deep into my pockets, but seeing as i aint movin, ill just keep my fixed blade on my belt thank ya very much :D
 
I took off the clips on the knives I carry just for this reason.

It draws attention when people see a clip in your pocket, most people probably think it's a pen or something like that but some clips ride so high you can see a good chunk of the knife. Generally, I just let it ride deep in my pocket and some of my pants have a small pocket in a pocket so it is contained in a smaller area of the pocket for quicker retrieval.

I don't plan to ever have to use it to save my life but if I had to it would be best if nobody knows I had it. Not to mention some people are so uptight about anything that can be a weapon that it can cause problems at work.
 
GarnetandBlack said:
It all depends on the culture of the area. I'm fortunate to live in a state where a belt knife won't get a second glance (obviously if you get into certain municipalities it changes, but for 90% of the state, you're fine).

I've carried in other states and could almost feel the attention being paid to my pocket clips. At times i even felt i was even offending people. I suppose if i lived elsewhere i might just drop my knife deep into my pockets, but seeing as i aint movin, ill just keep my fixed blade on my belt thank ya very much :D
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I grew up in the country and almost everyone seemed like they had a Buck Hiunter or Ranger on their belt and if not they probably had a pocket knife of some sort. However, in Minneapolis and St. Paul the city folk sometimes look at you like you have three heads if you have something other than a cellphone on your belt.
 
I wear untucked t-shirts most of the time, so pocket clip visibility is rarely an issue. Even so, I doubt anyone is going to be alarmed by the sight of a pocket clip - especially in Oklahoma, where I live, where open carry is legal :)
 
Comeuppance said:
I wear untucked t-shirts most of the time, so pocket clip visibility is rarely an issue. Even so, I doubt anyone is going to be alarmed by the sight of a pocket clip - especially in Oklahoma, where I live, where open carry is legal :)
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Yeah, T-shirts are my standard attire, so I don't really think that my paranoia is really worthwhile. I have carried my CRKT Sting around while at home, and it pretty much disappears as long as I pay attention to where I place it.
 
I think most people that would freak out because someone is carrying a pocket knife probably don't even know pocket knives have clips. I've never noticed anyone looking at my pocket clip, even when it's a satin finish.
 
You only noticed it because you are into knives. Just like how usually people who concealed carry firearms would maybe even notice when someone else is printing.
 
I go to college in California and have never had a problem with people noticing it. That is, until I pulled my Leatherman out in class. Not even the knife... Nothing came to it and everyone moved on. Generally, it shouldn't be a big deal unless it's someone's mission in life to seek out pocket knives
 
What I've found myself doing more and more is clipping the knife IWB. I can get to it with relative ease, no added attention, and it doesn't get in the way of my pocket. Plus, this seems to work better for me when I wear sweats or athletic shorts and it doesn't swing back and forth when I move. It isn't uncomfortable and I have one when I need it.
 
simioh said:
I think most people that would freak out because someone is carrying a pocket knife probably don't even know pocket knives have clips. I've never noticed anyone looking at my pocket clip, even when it's a satin finish.
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You'd be suprised. I've seen people get visibly concerned when I'm using a CRKT Minimalist to open a package. It's my most sheeple freindly blade too. On the flip side, I've sat outside of buildings here whittling a toothpick and never had anyone bat an eye at me. I don't really think anyone has ever noticed a pocket clip on my pants. I think noticing people's knives is more of a knife nut thing.
 
I have the same problem! I carry my BM 300 clipped in my front pocket at all times and normally a smaller knife generic knife in my chest pocket or somewhere else easily accessible, I had never had any problem with it before until some lady said I had a weapon when I was walking through campus. Its VCU(Virginia Commonwealth University) which is a city school so one block is campus the next is just city and with night classes and any night activity I don't feel safe with out at least one knife. However, now every time I walk anywhere near campus I feel like I should hide or need to push the my 300 back into my pocket or else I feel like someone will freak out and the there will be some form of repercussions from the school. I personally don't feel I should have to hide a small knife on campus or am I wrong?
 
I always cover my clips with 3M Stair Step tape, in black of course. The tape has a very strong adhesive and it stays wherever you put it! This takes care of anyone noticing a knife in my pocket. Of course most of the pants I wear are dark colors so wearing light colored pants may make the clip noticeable by people. But this has worked very well for me over the years.
 
If you're worried about what people will think about your pocket clip, why do you carry a knife in public at all?

I presume that people carry a knife in case they need to cut something. In order to cut something you have to take THE ENTIRE KNIFE out, and OPEN IT. If you take your knife completely out of your pocket and open it to cut something there is definitely the chance that others will see it. If you're not worried about people seeing the ENTIRE KNIFE, why would you worry about them seeing just the clip?

And if you have no intentions of ever taking your knife out in public to cut anything, then why are you carrying a knife in public in the first place?

I think that sometimes people focus so much on a single grain of sand that they fail to notice the beach.

As long as you are in compliance with the law, and campus rules, why should you care what people think about your clip? There's certainly the chance that people might freak-out if you take your knife out in public to cut something. Does that mean you would NEVER take your knife out in public to cut anything?
 
killgar said:
If you're worried about what people will think about your pocket clip, why do you carry a knife in public at all?

I presume that people carry a knife in case they need to cut something. In order to cut something you have to take THE ENTIRE KNIFE out, and OPEN IT. If you take your knife completely out of your pocket and open it to cut something there is definitely the chance that others will see it. If you're not worried about people seeing the ENTIRE KNIFE, why would you worry about them seeing just the clip?

And if you have no intentions of ever taking your knife out in public to cut anything, then why are you carrying a knife in public in the first place?

I think that sometimes people focus so much on a single grain of sand that they fail to notice the beach.

As long as you are in compliance with the law, and campus rules, why should you care what people think about your clip? There's certainly the chance that people might freak-out if you take your knife out in public to cut something. Does that mean you would NEVER take your knife out in public to cut anything?
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I use my knives all the time, never had a single problem. I was more making an observation than expressing a legitmate fear. The spyderco Tenacious clip does irritate me a little though.
 
Where I am, not a whole lot of people care or notice. IF they do notice anything it sure as hel! ain't the various pocket clips. It is usually the Glock 30SF open carried on my right side.
 
I see it like this - it's perfectly legal to carry any number of tools that could be used to cause harm. A pocket knife is a tool, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, knives like a XL Espada are hard to defend as tools, but something tells me that's not the kind of knife you're carrying.

There will always be people who have a disproportionate reaction to certain things. Some people see all knives as weapons, and react as such. Provided you're not in violation of local laws and rules, and also not making a show of using/carrying your knife, I wouldn't sweat it.

You can't be arrested, fined, or shamed for someone being ridiculous about something you have every right to carry. As long as you're within your rights, the person who gets upset is the one who loses face.
 
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