Pocket clips.....either love 'em, or hate 'em.

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
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I remember a few threads on pocket clips and it seems people either go for them, or they do not like them at all, looks to be no middle ground!:eek: I like them, but in recent years have gotten to where I like them only if they are mounted high to minimize the amount of knife that sticks out of my pocket. It's good though to have folks here on the forums that can custom make clips to fit knives that do not have a low ride clip from the factory, i.e. Steve Rice aka STR. There does seem to be more knives coming from the factory with deep carry/low ride clips. I just got a ZT0500 today and I knew that it was coming with the deep carry clip. Of course I had to modify it anyway........just in my blood to do so! I turned the screw hole on the clip into an oval shape, and removed a 1/4" from below the hole so that the top of the clip would end up fitting between the ears of the rear handle. I also shortened the clip by taking off close to 1/2" on the front side, and then rebending the end back up. Ended up with a pocket clip that has a total length of 1.25", and holds the knife in my pocket just as well as it did before mods.

The backside picture I have seen of the new Kershaw Volt has one of the best looking clips I've seen from the factory. It looks to be about 1.0" long and is mounted at the very top of the handle frame, for tip up carry, and will put the entire knife inside the pocket. I preordered the Volt and can't wait to get it, and I hope the clip will be the same as seen in the picture.

The picture is located in the Kershawholics social group under the picture thread, top of the last page. Check it out.

Guess my question is for those who do like the pocket clip on their knives. Does it matter to you about the location of the clip? Do you prefer the low ride clip that places almost all, if not all, of the knife inside your pocket, or do you prefer to have an inch or more of knife sticking out of your pocket to make accessing it easier?
 
cutter17 said:
Guess my question is for those who do like the pocket clip on their knives. Does it matter to you about the location of the clip? Do you prefer the low ride clip that places almost all, if not all, of the knife inside your pocket, or do you prefer to have an inch or more of knife sticking out of your pocket to make accessing it easier?
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I passionately hate low ride clips. In my opinion, they only have a place on smaller knives that don't have a lot of handle for pocket retention. A larger knife (four inch handle) has plenty of handle in the pocket for retention and doesn't need a low ride clip.

The purpose of a pocket clip is to make the knife more accessible, not to hide it. I also don't like the idea that when the knife is so low in the pocket, other things may come out when you take the knife out.

In the past month I've fallen in love with my new Paramilitary, which as far as I'm concerned has the perfect pocket clip and clip placement.

To each his own, but I hope the knife companies don't think we all want lower riding knives. If a knife has a low ride clip from the factory and no way to drill at another location, it's a deal breaker for me. I like my knives easily accessible, I don't care who knows I'm carrying a knife.

There was a similar thread on the Spyderco sub-forum a few weeks ago and I said that the majority of non-knife people aren't going to know that the clip in your pocket is a knife, and actually, how many people live their lives looking at other people's pockets? I can honestly say I don't think I've ever consciously looked at someone's pocket. There's no need to hide the fact that you're carrying a knife, and if you think there's a need, you shouldn't be carrying.
 
I like to have a little sticking out, but no more than an inch, at the most. The least that is poking out the better, but I do want a bit of the knife to be up there...
 
Psychopomp said:
but I hope the knife companies don't think we all want lower riding knives. If a knife has a low ride clip from the factory and no way to drill at another location, it's a deal breaker for me. There's no need to hide the fact that you're carrying a knife, and if you think there's a need, you shouldn't be carrying.
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I don't think you have to worry about a wholesale changeover by the knife companies. It is a small number that I have seen.

I'm just the opposite as far as the clip location. If there is no way to get a low ride clip on it, then it is a deal breaker for me.

As far as whether I should or should not be carrying a knife, I doubt it having a low ride clip on it is a factor. I would just as soon have my knife in my pocket and not have anyone point out I have a knife in my pocket. As far as I am concerned, it is nobody's business if I have a knife in my pocket. Just the way I feel about it, and I've been carrying knives for 25 years!:)
 
cutter17 said:
As far as I am concerned, it is nobody's business if I have a knife in my pocket. Just the way I feel about it, and I've been carrying knives for 25 years!:)
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I agree. If the knife is legal it's no one's business if you're carrying, which is why I don't care if it's visible or not. I carry legally and responsibly, it's no concern of mine if someone doesn't like it (and thus far, after more than ten years of carrying daily, no one has said a word).
 
I don't nessiasarily see the need for a pocket clip other then if its clipped then you don't need to dig through your pockets. Me and my buddy both have an Ozark Trail knife that we got for 8 dollars at walmart, its a nice knife really and he kept the clip on and I took it off, you wouldn't believe how much more comfortable to hold and use it is without the clip on the side.
 
The pocket clip in my opinion is one of the best things ever invented for the folding knife. If I can't clip it I don't carry it usually. I dislike the sheath carry method generally. Sheath bulk gets caught on my pullovers and/or falls into a toilet.
I personally don't care for deep pocket clips. I like a bit of handle out of pocket for ease of extraction.
 
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I only like folders with clips on them as I dont like knives in the bottoms in my pockets as junk collects in them and I have other stuff like my phone down in the depths=P. Second I find knives can slip out too easily.

As far as clip placement is concerned it doesnt matter much. I just like a clip that holds on wel and is strong. As ugly as they are, I find the bm standard clips really work well. I also like the clip on my seb a lot.
 
I'm extremely unlikely to carry a folder without a clip. I don't like the feeling of a heavy thing like a knife loose in my pocket. I do make an exception for slipjoints though.

I also like low rider clips. While what I am carrying may be legal by the letter of the law, having a knife showing is a great excuse for a cop to check out my gear. No thanks. Obviously for accessibility purposes the low rider isn't as good, but since I never need to draw my knife quickly it isn't a big concern of mine.
 
You would never see a pocket clip on a stockman. I think Thomason did a great mod on a slipjoint pocket clip in a past thread. I enjoy easy access to my BM Griptilian, and it is because of the clip. I also carry a slipjoint or two, because I can never quite decide which one goes with me on a certain day. The Grip is pure function, but my slipjoints are what put me in the knife knut category. So it really is not a love or hate relationship, just application.
 
I generally favor the LARGER folders out there. Benchmade VLF, Rukus and Skirmish, Lone Wolf Harsey Tactical T3, Camillus Cudamaxx 5.5, Cold Steel Large Espada and Vacquero Grande.

Since most of them have long handles, most of them stick up out of your pockets noticably. ME LIKES!:thumbup:

You can keep your small, low-rider knives!

I'll stick with my big, high-rider models.

My current EDC is the Cold Steel Large Espada. Low profile it aint!:eek:
 
I like to be able to grab my knife in a way that I do not need to reposition my hand to open it. In other words I like them high. Though if I had it my way they would all come with kydex belt sheaths :cool:
 
for me it's the size of the knife.

my knives up untl now have been little guys, happy to live in an empty front pocket,
but I don't think I'll ever take the clip off my brang-new military.

also, clips tend to be about the same size, so while they're HUGE on a cricket (seriously, it's the depth of the knife again) it's worth the little extra size to have a big knife sit right.

edit: this post doesn't really have anything to do with the topic. :rolleyes:
 
I love them WHEN they are properly executed, and don't get in the way of opening a knife.
WHEN you have to exert pressure on the clip to open your knife, they tend to loosen up, and sometimes they bite a little into your finger.
That's when I hate them.
OR.... If the clip has a recessed attachment area, and doesn't bite, then it's okay too.
It really varies from knife to knife.
 
I hate all pocketclips, first thing when I get a new knife is removed the clip.
Even on big folders like the ZT 0301, i like them deep in my pocket.
 
I like pocket clip knives. With the tactical Clipped to my pocket, this leaves room at the bottom of the same pocket for the Slip Joint. :) :D
 
I usually don't like clips, they get on my nerves. Whenever you have to take your keys or wallet out of your pocket you run the risk of snagging the clip. This can be very bad when traveling in hippie country, or when you're at the bank. :eek:
 
For the most part, I LOVE pocket clips. But there are time that I want to drop a knife in the bottom of my pocket, and I do that with a clipless knife.
 
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