"Professional" attire suggestions for EDC

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DJ Kali

Joined
Apr 20, 2004
Messages
16
Sorry if I seem like all I ask about is EDC! This is not what is always on my mind. Anyway the reason I am posting again is that my office recently has required its counselors to start dressing "professionally" since that is what will make us competent professionals haha. As a result instead of being allowed to wear polo shirts untucked we are now required to wear shirts and ties and dress pants.

This presents some issues for me. Even though in LA I believe it is legal to carry folders, I am still conscious of drawing more attention to them clipped to my pocket. Now that my shirt has to be tucked in they would be easier to see, "dress pants" are often not as great for deploying a clipped folder from the pocket as the material is thinner than jeans or khakis, and clipping to the waist is no longer concealed.

Any thoughts for ankle carry? I have tried clipping a folder to my sock but it is very strange and doesn't feel very stable. I have also thought trying those neoprene ankle braces to fashion a holster. Maybe I just need to get used to carrying my karambit (RJ Martin's) as a neck knife.

It can get hot out here so I do not wear a vest or jacket.

Thanks,
Joe
 
Ankle carry for just about everything sounds a lot better than it is. Whenever I've carried something at my ankle, for whatever reason, I'm unable to get at it easily.

For your requirements, it looks like you need a neck knife. With a dress shirt and tie, it should be easy to carry and easily accessable. Just leave the appropriate shirt button unbuttoned, and it'll be covered by your tie.
 
Not sure what you usually carry, but what about carrying it in your front pocket? I don't like the way most folders end up horizontal in the pocket, but I have found two ways around this. Either carry the folder in a thin leather case with the suede side out, this keeps it from moving around quite well, but it means two hands or one hand and teeth to use the knife. The other possibility is sewing a vertical line in the pocket so that the knife can't fall horizintal. Leave about 1" of the knife above the stitching and it can be retrieved easily and deployed with only one hand. If it is a thin knife, it shouldn't print in dress slacks.
 
I always carry a utility folder in my front strongside pocket. I don't use a clip, but slip it into the pocket. I carry a small, rectangular, leather coin purse in the same pocket, and it serves to keep the folder upright and easy to access.
 
A knife that rides fully in the pocket would seem to be ideal for this situation.

What's more a SAK probably fits the bill even better - since it is so well known, and very unlikely to be regarded as an "offensive weapon".

I would suggest getting one with scissors - since that seems to make the SAK look even less "threatening" :eek:

Try looking at the Victorinox Compact (US #54941) or the Climber
54941_l.jpg
53385_l.jpg

both can be found for about ~$20

Of course to me the ultimate minimalist and gentleman's knife is the Victorinox Bantam Alox (US #53949) - really slim - so much so that you could carry it in the wallet..... (and there will still be plenty of cash in there since the Bantam Alox can be found for less than ~$12!)
53949_l.jpg


The other Minimalist/gentleman's SAK I like is the Waiter (US #53891), which can be found for ~$10!!!
53891_l.jpg

gaining the corkscrew, toothpick and tweezers.

But then one can say I'm somewhat biassed :D

Check out this thread (with lots of input from forum members):

Minimalist SAKs

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
A small slipjoint in the bottom of your pocket would be a good choice.

I think I would go for a CRK Mnandi clipped to your shirt pocket. The knife is small and light and the pocket clip looks much more like a pen clip then it does a knife clip. I also think this would work clipped to the pants.

Alternatively you could carry a regular folder clipped IWB and then wear a belt so that is mostly covers up the clip. I'm guessing this would go vitually unnoticed if you go with a folder that has a deep carry clip design.
 
DJ Kali said:
..., and clipping to the waist is no longer concealed.

Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...

Do you wear a belt? I've clipped my Spydie Persian (fairly good size knife) in the waist band but behind the belt. It's in an almost horizontal position and it's quite concealed. Unless some one is looking for it, (like a LEO who knows what to look for) you shouldn't have a problem. The shirt covers anything above the waist band and the clip is hidden by the belt itself.

My other EDC is a medium Berretta Airlite. It rides vertically beside my wallet in my right pocket. On the outside and is pretty accessable w/ thumb and forefinger. About the same action I use to retrieve the wallet. I filed the thumb studs a bit because they're fairly rough.

Both of these work for me. Give 'em a try.
 
I sometimes carry my BM 556 IWB. The clip is pretty well hidden by my belt, which is also black like the clip. I usually have my cell phone pouch riding in about the same place so that also helps "hide" the clip.
 
I used to have the same problem given my work attire. I did find it easy to clip a folder (BM 710) in my rear pocket which has a button over flap that covers it up. Then should it draw any attention, I just spurt out a 'Quit lookin at my ass.' I also clip a SOG Twitch 1 between the first and second buttons of my shirt. My tie covers it up, but it is still very accesible. I will also advise against ankle carry. A thin folder in the boot can work (I've done this a number of times) but still anything that low is just a pain to take out.

I eventually got over my 'shyness' seeing as I work in a knife store. Now I wear a fixed blade on my belt because easy/fast access has become more important than modesty.

-KC
 
DJ Kali said:
Even though in LA I believe it is legal to carry folders ...
Click to expand...

As far as the "law" is concerned, you can carry just about anything you want in your workplace - the "laws" we generally talk about only apply in public places - your employer may not like it, but that's a different story.

Anyways, I think you may be worrying too much. I carry a BM 940 clipped to my front pocket most days at work - dress pants and tie - and nobody seems to notice even though I go to meetings and interact with people all day long. Give it a try before you go in some other direction. You'll probably find that no one even sees it - and if they do that they don't care. Ankle carry should be a last resort for a back-up weapon. I used to carry a Gunting in a horizontal belt sheath - no one said anything about that either, even though it is obviously a full-sized folder - except for one co-worker friend. If she noticed, probably other people had as well - but nobody else cared enough to say anything.
 
Lots of good advice here, but only you know if it's appropriate to your situation.

I used to carry a small folder (3" blade) inside the waistband, clip under the belt, and no one noticed. Sometimes I'd pull it out, open it, cut something, close it, put it back, and get the "What was THAT?" look. They didn't expect a knife there, so they didn't "see" it.

Chris Reeve wears a Mnandi clipped to the placket of his shirt. I like to wear mine in a shirt pocket, especially a flapped pocket. The Mnandi is expensive :) But you can do exactly the same with any number of small, lightweight "shirt pocket knives". Try a Benchmade Big Spender if you can find one. It's made to be a money clip so you can also use it for that. Victorinox makes a couple of money clip knives, also. A real favorite of mine is the stainless steel Spyderco Cricket.

Now if you have a larger folder in mind, as KC mentioned you can carry in a back pocket. This pretty much disappears from most peoples' attention. Just for fun, try it with a CUDA Maxx sometime and you'll see. Unless you take it out, they won't know what it is.

If you're not sure what to carry, I'd recommend starting by looking at Spyderco. They have quite a few knives that are more than large enough for office use but flat and compact enough to tuck in almost anywhere.
 
I wear a lanyard with some stuff under my shirt, it doesn´t get in the way much. I have often thought that if I wore a tie daily I could figure out a way to hang a knife on the back of the tie between tie and shirt, probably clipped to the tie and maybe somehow also to the shirt, like a hidden tie pin (but bigger of course), isn´t a tie just a fancy neck lanyard ?.

Another idea is to sew a strip of cloth inside the pants pocket where the knife could be clipped.

I have a hidden pocket inside the waistband in some of my pants, it´s designed for cards and bills but a small folder fits fine.

You might find a knife that can be clipped on the shirt pocket and look like a pen (oops, Esav just beat me on this one).

Luis
 
Don Luis said:
I wear a lanyard with some stuff under my shirt, it doesn´t get in the way much. I have often thought that if I wore a tie daily I could figure out a way to hang a knife on the back of the tie between tie and shirt, probably clipped to the tie and maybe somehow also to the shirt, like a hidden tie pin (but bigger of course), isn´t a tie just a fancy neck lanyard ?
Click to expand...
Sure you can! :D
 
Depends upon your intended use and size. If you want to have a general utility knife that you wan't be afraid to use in the office, a SAK in the pocket or a small slim folder sans clip. I have a couple of very nice small Delta Z folders I used for office carry, but after a while found that they were thick and heavy in my pants. I now carry a small Beretta Busfield with micarts handles and clip removed. It is very light and slim (like the Al Mar's), and fairly inoffensive.

IWB behind a belt is great for covert carry, but the first time you take it out to use it you will get odd looks, and folks will never view you the same.

Basically, if you're going to use it, make it nice-nice. If you're hiding it, it should stay hidden.
 
Joe,

Many great ideas. However, you should be aware that if you are wishing to carry a "locking" folder and if a California LEO considers it to be concealed (ie: inside your pant leg, under a shirt on a lanyard around your neck, etc...) then you may (actually most likely will) be considered in violation of carrying a concealed dirk/dagger.

On the other hand, I am aware of several people who carry "tactical folders" (as many like to call them) with the clip in the strong side front pants pocket (Yes suit slacks are NOT that more problematic than jeans or khakis) without much difficulty. You can also clip it inside your waist band and under your belt near a cellular phone or pager, etc. and help lower the profile without necessarily being automatically considered a concealed weapon.

Just advice, take it as you wish.

All the best,

Stuart
 
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