Pocket knife, how it carries in your pocket vs. how it feels during use.

[Officer's Match]

How is this as an edc? I am pondering this or the 3" kou as a more pocket friendly edc.

Fantastic. I love that it is not a "deep carry" type of clip, it sits plenty "low" in the pocket and is very discrete as is. Very easy to draw and to re-pocket due to the clip design and the smoothish scale on the clip side. I typically carry a Umnumzaan or 3.5" XM18, so the Shin size is very familiar to me, and fits my hand perfectly. As compared to those two, the Shin is "pocketable" as either, giving easier access to sliding my hand past the knife into my pocket than either. The Zaan gives the sensation of being ever so slightly thinner in the pocket - the Hinderer more "chunky", and both ride a little higher. If you are used to a Small Sebenza then a Kou could make sense.

 

[22-rimfire]

If I notice hot spots on my hand when I use them, they don't get carried long. An example of that was the SOG Vulcan and Mini Vulcan. Still like the mini, but seldom use it for anything.

The only extended knife use I do is machete chopping/wacking where it matters much. I am somewhat picky about machetes, but I tend to pick folders within a given size range. They tend to carry about the same. These days, I doubt I use a knife on average more than a few minutes at a time, but I use them all the time. So, the size limitation keeps them pretty comfortable in my pocket overall. But I do tend to like larger traditionals, but go both modern and traditional in my choices.

 

[TripleF100]

To me . . . how it carries is really important. If it's too long or too thick or too wide I just end up not choosing it in my EDC rotation.

 

[NG VI]

carrying a pocket knife for non-work purposes where I live is felony that will result in an immediate, non-bailable arrest if searched, so how it feels in my pocket has no bearing on my purchase consideration since it stays in my toolbag at all times.

Also don't care much for how it feels during use, since the amount of time the knife spends in my hands when used usually does not exceed 20 minutes.

Try out a Case Swayback Jack or a medium Stockman (6318) or Canoe (62131) in colorful bone, you'll probably like it way more than a SAK (I like and typically carry both) and they are perfectly people-friendly.

A friend did call my Case Baby Butterbean a 'weapon' though, that was weird. Especially since he owns a saber and percussion revolver.