Who else hates pocket clips?

draggat

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Jul 26, 2010
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I absolutely hate pocket clips on knives. Not only do I think they're ugly, but they get in the way of my grip. When it's clipped in your pocket, it's hard to reach into it to get your keys, or whatever, at least for me. Also, it's like shouting, hey, check it out, I'm carrying a knife! Where I live, I prefer to be discrete about carrying. The first thing I do when I get a new knife is to take that darn thing off. I've come across a few knives I probably would've bought, but didn't because the clip wasn't removable. So how do I carry? Well, for my larger knives, I actually stitched the right side of my front pockets about 3" up. It kind of creates a short pocket inside the pocket, but keeps the knife in place at the side of it and conceals it really well. The other benefit is that since it's in its own pocket, my keys don't thrash it and I can still stick my whole hand in. For my smaller knives, 3" and under, I carry in my coin pocket. I actually carry my emerson's there too because they wave really well in saber and reverse grip. The handles stick out, but not above my belt, so I don't even notice it and neither does anyone else!

Anybody else out there hate pocket clips too?
 
I don't hate them, but I do take the clips off some of my carry knives. If it's a large knife and I'm going to carry it out in the woods, I'll take the clip off and belt sheath carry it only. (where I don't need my knife all that fast and the knife may be high dollar, losing it is a lot easier clipped in a pocket, while out in the woods)

But, if it's a case where I want my knife as fast in my hand as possible, I will clip it and I do have a number of fast openers with the clips on, just as I have a few heavy folders without clips for the woods. So, there is no hate for clips for me, just times I want one and times I don't, depending on where and why, I'm carrying a knife.
 
I will not buy a knife, that does not come with a pocket clip. I sold my Fallkniven TK4, a perfectly good knife, cause i wanted a knife with a clip.
 
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I like pocket clips a lot, I actually wish Buck 110's came in a version with a clip, I'd get a custom one made and edc the #$%@ outta it!
 
I don't hate clips. I just prefer to carry my knives in deep pocket carry, so when I get a new knife, I remove the clip.
Lately, I've been only into traditionals, so clips are not an issue anymore.

:cool:
 
Love 'em! Won't carry a folder that dosen't have one. :)

...only exception is if the knife has a nice pocket sheath with a clip on the sheath.
 
I despise them! I find they spoil the ascetics on most knives. I like just dropping a knife in my pocket so I never use the clip except on my WH E6-1. I usually have that one clipped in my shirt pocket like a pen, the clips have all been removed from my other knives.
 
Will NOT buy a folding knife if it doesn't have a clip and tip up carry. Personal preference I do not want my knife floating around my pockets and HATE belt sheathes unless I'm fishing or something.
 
I've had to retrieve more than one knife from the bowels of a recliner because they slipped out of my pocket. I like clips on smaller knifes.
 
I like clips, particularly on smaller edc and backup knives. I do also like to have some without clips.
 
I'm not a fan of clips attached to the knife. I've found very few clips that don't make the grip and use of the knife uncomfortable.

I do use some clip pouches, similar to the ones William Henry makes. This seems to work well for me, especially on larger knives that don't sit well in my pocket.
 
Pocket clips are the best innovation in pocket knives since the lock-back!! With the knife clipped to the rear-most edge of the pocket, I still have good access to any other pocket contents, and it doesn't 'dig in' or anything when you are sitting down.

I like how it keeps my knife in place (the SAME place, the SAME position) all the time----when I grab it, I know exactly where it will be, that it will be there, and how it's oriented, so no fumbling around needed before flicking it open!

When I used to carry a Gerber LST 'loose' in my pocket, it would sometimes end up slipping out unnoticed when I'd recline in the 'La-Z-Boy' (at home, not camping!) and fall down inside. It got to the point where the first place I'd look when my knife was missing was underneath that chair!! Annoying at home, but potentially much more serious to lose a knife on a remote trip somewhere.

As far as 'comfort'-----I don't really even notice the clip when I'm using it I guess!! When I'm using my knife, I guess I'm thinking more about the task at hand, the sharpness of the blade, etc. I just now pulled out my EDC Spyderco Delica to think about this-----the clip really doesn't feel noticable to me at all. Definitely not in an 'uncomfortable' way.

I carry a knife primarily for function------not looks, so the clip doesn't bother me in that regard either, really. I don't think they look bad anyway, just part of the knife.
 
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I think the pocket clip was ones of the best inventions ever. Thanks Sal !

I always have a slipjoint in my left pocket, and a clipped knife in my right.
 
I've had to retrieve more than one knife from the bowels of a recliner because they slipped out of my pocket. I like clips on smaller knifes.

Hey pvicenzi---

This is hilarious!!! This exact same thing used to happen to me all the time (see my other post) Probably one of the things that prompted my search years ago for a decent knife with a pocket clip.
 
I actually quite like clips, but its mostly because I hate having a knife go horizontal at the bottom of my pocket. (when I bend down to tie shoes, etc it feels strange to have it laying across my thigh).

Also, I do the same thing with my keys. I just hate things bunching up at the bottom, so I use a carabiner to clip my keys to the side of my pocket.

The William Henry type clip cases seem like a happy medium if you are weird like me.

I can understand how people might not like them for ergonomic reasons, but I simply don't find myself using my EDC frequently enough to worry about the theoretical slightly less comfort.
 
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