Pocket Slips: Yay or Nay?

I use pocket slips (I tend to refer to them as pocket sheaths or sleeves) for traditional / slip joint knives. I don't have the luxury of always having a free pocket just for my knife, if I did, it would be less useful.

Not only does the pocket sheath protect the knife, it keeps the knife from scratching other items, and a big plus for me is that the knife doesn't rattle or make noise if I have keys, coins or anything else that would rattle in the same pocket.

I sometimes use pocket sheaths with small fixed blade knives, as well.
 
I always go with a slip. I carry my knife and my phone in the same pocket, and a slip does a really nice job of keeping the phone and knife layered so there's no jostling around, no worries about either one causing damage to the other, etc. Also, as Peregrin mentioned, I've never had a knife in a slip work itself out of my pocket, whereas I have lost loose knives that way.

As for the trials and tribulations and extra steps in getting your knife out for use, I've never found it to be a big deal. Takes me maybe 0.5 secs longer to get my knife out than it would if I wasn't using a slip.
 
Made a few for knives I wanted to stay nice looking, but found them a hassle.
Take the knife out, remove from slip, open, then put back into slip and back into pocket.

If it has a lanyard or teather cord on it you don't also have to put the empty slip back into your pocket, but generally for me it just adds too many steps.

Besides my knives are users and I've realized i don't care if they get pocket worn.
 
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Don't forget to get a Girly Knife Purse Waiver so your man card isn't revoked.

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If you put a bandana in your pocket next to the knife it will keep the knife upright. Slips don't stay upright for me unless I do that with them too. I don't bother with slips unless I'm carrying "pocket jewelry".
 
If I get a new pattern I’m not sure of I’ll carry it in a slip until I decide if I like it. That way if I dislike the knife (hasn’t happened yet) it won’t be all beat up from my coins or keys when I go to sell it.
 
I rarely used a pocket a slip until recently. This was a Christmas gift from my son and my only regret is that I didn’t discover this years ago. I carry this in my right front pocket and the slip rides upright no matter what pants I have on. Left rear pocket is my Field Notes so I’m always prepared to record my “musings.”;)

 
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I use a slip with my traditionals. Keeps everything in my pocket from rubbing and banging together. I prefer something small and form fitting to the knife. I have a leather GEC slip a vendor gave me. My favourite.

I have also have a KSF slip that came with a purchase that is very intrusive. It sits in the bag it came in. Way too bulky for me.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
I use a thin leather pocket slip on my Dowell EDC. In the same pocket I have my SAK. Don’t worry about my SAK, I have had it for 30+ years. But I treat my Dowell more gently.
 
I’m pro-slip. Do you call holsters “gun purses”? Who are we trying to impress here?

That said, I EDC a Great Eastern Bullnose with a kangaroo leather lanyard and don’t use a slip. The knot at the end of the lanyard pokes out the top on my pocket and keeps the knife upright.

If I carry any on my nicer knives, I use a slip. I get mine made by a very talented friend of mine who uses thin bridle leather custom fit to the knife pattern. They don’t take up much room at all, they protect the knife, they grip your pocket enough to keep them in place and upright.

It adds a step, having to remove the knife from the slip, but if I was going for maximum efficiency, I’d get a one hand opener with a pocket clip. ;)
 
I generally do not use a pocket slip, but when I carry certain knives I do. For a long time I carried a CRK Mnandi, which isn't a traditional, but has a similar shape and size of a lot of traditionals. I carried this at work in business casual slacks, which are lighter than jeans, with no problems. It does protect the knife and is not a lot of hassle. IF I were to carry my Northwoods Freemont in Mammoth, I am certainly going to use a slip.

Northwoods English Jacks with a couple of different slips:
 
Depends strongly on what I carry. If I do it's usually a selfmade sheath that also holds a pen or the enigma-knives sheath :D If I need the knife often they're nice because you don't have to search your pockets as the sheath doesn't move that much
 
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I like my pocketknife to sit flat in the bottom of my LFP, so no issue with holding it upright. I only use a pocket-slip with my new, 2018 Buck Traditional Sub-Forum club knife. Why? Well because I bought one with it and have to use my investment! OH
 
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