Pocket eaters

M

m@thew

Joined
Jun 20, 2001
Messages
205
Does anyone else have a problem with pocket-eating clips on your folders? The wear and tear on my jeans has become unreasonable and i may have to retire my favourite EDC and carry something more pocket-friendly.
 
I notice some of my folders are far less pocket friendly than others, but usually not so much to do with the clip, but rather the handle material against which the clip presses. This happens to me if the handle has a lot of checkering, is too rounded, or the material is naturally too rough. I have decided not to buy several folders because they are potential pocket eaters. I realize I could just remove the clip, loosen it, and put it back, but then it wouldn't really secure the knife enough to the pocket, thus defeating the clip's purpose.
Jim
 
You can bend the clip away from the knife a little to adjust how tight the clip is pressing onto the handle scale to adjust for this. But on some knives like the Buck Striders where they use deep textured G-10, they are very abrasive.

William Henry has a great solution to this with their ClipCase carry system. You clip the case onto your pocket as you would any clip carry folder, but the knife itself slides in and out of the case.

You can also choose to carry your EDC in a regular belt sheath. But if you like a more discreet form of carry, that's out. What EDC folder do you have? I know Mike Sastre makes Concealex neck sheaths for some popular Spyderco models (and maybe some other brands as well). But then again that raises a whole 'nuther issue with how much weight you want around your neck ;)
 
I've experienced the same thing. From what I can tell, the problem is the clips come too tight (at least for me). A lot of clips can be made much looser and still stay in place or at least keep the knife from moving around. Some are so tight, you gotta pry them open just to pull your knife out.
 
I should have given details originally, i'm refering to my BM710, i bent the clip a few months back to make it a bit looser but this hasn't worked as well as i'd hoped, it's not only the clip that has worn my pocket, but also the texturing on the axis lock.

Dexter Ewing; Thanks for your helpful response (goes for everyone), i have a Perrin La Griffe on order which will cover the neck-carry option. I've transferred my Spyderco Salsa from back pocket to front, its clip seems to grip the pocket tightly, but doesn't have the same 'bite' as the one on my 710.

doggyknife; I know what you mean about the prying, i had difficulty drawing my 710 with one hand when it was new (until i clipped it to a piece of cardboard overnight).

James Y; I agree, it seems that in order to loosen the clip enough to stop it from abrading your pockets, you have to sacrifice it's ability to hold on to your pocket reliably.

I'm considering the option of carrying a small fixed blade in my pocket.
 
Have you guys thought about wearing a belt sheath? My LCC came with one...but I usually clip that one to my pocket.

TAD and SOE both have nice nylon sheaths and I have seen some kydex sheaths that were nice too.

I have a Strider AR that I wear in an SOE sheath and TAD's sheath can be worn horizontally.

That William Henry sheath mentioned earlier sounds pretty nice.

I lost a knife that had a loose fitting clip...so that may not be the best idea. Good thing it was not one of my nice knives! :p
 
i just cant stand clips anymore eaven wen you have to site down in the car or at the table their is always the knife in the way. i personnely prefer a leather holster( cant remerber the real word for it) and for me the horisontal ones are simply the best but that again is just my preferance;)
 
Often a little discrete polishing of the handle material under the clip can do the trick. A small piece of 600 or 800 grit paper can polish up the G-10 or whatever where the clip meets the scale, and this will significantly reduce pants pocket wear, without (usually) letting the knife get too loose in your pocket. It can also help to lightly break the edges of the *inner* surfaces of the clip, since a very crisp square edge here can contribute to pocket wear.

Larry
 
Thumbs up to Larry. On my folders with textured scales, I sanded down an small area that's obscured by the clip anyway. Careful though, sparky. While one slip is nothing, several can make it look funny.

With smooth scales and tight clips, shrink tubing does the trick, oddly enough. While it feels grabbier, it actually slides once you get it moving. Saved the pockets on many a Dickies.

After all that, belt sheaths still rule! I got so used to it that reinstalling the clip kinda awakens deep-seeded resentment. And that CaseClip rocks! Kinda like a very sharp cell phone!

Zero
 
...8 years, 2 pockets eaten.

New style Spyderco Endura with metal clip...6 months, 2 pockets eaten...

It's the metal clips guys. Case closed.

Mel
 
I usually carry my large sebenza in a Buy Brown
kydex belt sheat, no pockets eaten since.:)
 
Oddly enough, I don't find it's the clip area that eats up my pockets.

Instead, it's the edge of the scales that sits at the bottom most point. When I sit down, that area pushes up against and abrades the inside of the pocket, poking a nice hole.

As for the clip area, I hit my Buck Strider with some 400 grit under the clip-to-scales contact point, wearing it down to a fairly smooth surface. It doesn't compromise gripability (since it's all under the clip), and slides in and out of my pocket quite easily.

I also took the clip off and bent it away from the scales, about halfway down the clip. It's still got a pretty good grip, but doesn't have a chance of falling out.

-Jon
 
The biggest pocket eater in my collection is my Kershaw Ken Onion Boa. Really got to be ridiculous. I am not sure if the clip put holes in my pockets or the sharp edges of the liners. Anyway, it is only carried in a sheath now. I ruined 3 pairs of Dockers with this folder.
 
I carry IWB and suffered from the same problem until I hit on the idea of covering the waistband with a thin strip of iron on patch. You can buy this material in almost any color. It only takes a thin strip, just a little wider than the clip (or the knife), and maybe 3" long or so. Just fold it over the waistband (or pocket) with half inside and half outside, and iron it down. The clip slides on the patch on the outside, and the knife itself slides on the patch material on the inside...

If you don't like clips and want to carry in pocket, belt sheath, or around neck that's fine (though neck carry can be a serious access impediment IMHO), but personally I like clips, and I don't mind modifying my gear (the pants) a little to accomodate them.
 
My CRKT M16 has a serrated thumbstud that tears away at the seams of my pockets, one reason I have retired it. The Wave on my Mini Commander has done a little damage to some of my shorts.
 
If any of you think you've seen pocket wear, try the Lil Temperance from Spyderco. This thing chews up pants and spits 'em out! :eek: :eek: :eek:

This thing will make you a believer that the clip can wear your pockets out much more than any rough handle scale.
 
Originally posted by Mike Turber
Combine a clip with the Wave on the commander and you have the biggest pocket eater of them all!
Click to expand...

No kidding! But at least you have fun ruining your pants :p
 
The CRKT Ryan is a real pocket eater with its zigzag handle scales. It chews 'em up so fast you can hear an occasional burp! :D
Dave
 
William Henry Knives had the best idea, a leather sheath with a clip.
Think about it, the thing that wears out the pockets is the fact that you keep sliding the knife in and out of your pocket,(if your like me sometimes 20-30 times a day this just accelerates the wear). If you used a sheath like WH and removed the clip from the knife you would reduce the wear considerably. I'm sure there are sheath makers out there that would make them out of leather, or kydex for a reasonable price.
 
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