Do you prefer pocket clips or belt sheath?

[Kookla]

Which do you prefer? For years I was a firm believer in pocket clips for carry. However as time went by, I found myself destroying pretty much every clip on every clip folder I've had. I'm a big/tall guy and when the knife is clipped into my pocket, it's at the perfect level with the strike plate in most doorways. Clip gets caught and either bends or snaps. I now just carry in a belt pouch and life is good.

 

[hso]

Not a problem for me, but if it is for others there are belt carry as well as IWB and back pocket carry options.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I bend clips somewhat frequently as well. Most of the time they return to shape easily. When they dont, the maker sends me a new one for free. Spyderco and Kershaw have anyway. I dont feel that this is a big enough inconvenience to change my habits and lose the ease of access that come with front pocket carry.

I do carry a 110 in a sheath/pouch at times. I dont do it very often because I dont like digging around for it half way behind my back. And if I carry it strong side, like I prefer, it interferes with my IWB Jframe holster.

 

[jmr40]

I rarely use the clips, just put em in my pocket. If you stay with something of modest size, around 3.5" or so with a fairly thin profile it isn't a problem. I carry a Benchmade Griptillian, or Spyderco Paramilitary or similar size knives quite a bit that way. I do carry one clipped on the inside of the waistband at times if only wearing gym shorts with no pockets. I've tried it with regular pants. Once the clip is behind your belt it really disappears and you'll forget you're carrying a knife. But it can be slow to get out.

If you get something as thick or heavy as the 110 it really needs a belt sheath.

 

[Bobson]

I've been carrying a Spyderco Delica4 every single day for a couple years now and the clip is in superb shape. Other than a few scratches it's still like brand new. I don't know about other companies' knives, but it seems like it'd take some seriously excessive abuse to bend the Spyderco clip to a point where it's no longer holding the knife securely in a pocket.

I hate sheaths for anything but a fixed blade knife.

 

[rbernie]

I drop my EDC folder into my back right pocket and don't bother with a sheath or a clip. In fact, I usually pull the clips off to make the EDC sit flatter in the pocket.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I've been carrying a Spyderco Delica4 every single day for a couple years now and the clip is in superb shape. Other than a few scratches it's still like brand new. I don't know about other companies' knives, but it seems like it'd take some seriously excessive abuse to bend the Spyderco clip to a point where it's no longer holding the knife securely in a pocket.

You're just lucky. I've bent my Delica4 clip very badly a few times. Once it was sticking half an inch off the scale. That one was fixable. Another time it got bent almost that bad, but twisted too. I couldnt get it to sit right anymore. Spyderco sent me a new one. I always get snaged on equipment at work.

That lip at the end of the Spyderco clips that makes them so effortless to slide onto the pocket also makes them prone to catching other things. I still prefer these over something like the clip on the Kershaw Blur and Leek. It is very low profile, but a pain to get clipped. Usually requires two hands.

Toughest clips IMO are on Cold Steels. Those suckers are tight and stiff with a mediumish lip.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I only carry 3 different knives these days:

Benchmade 710: Appendix IWB using belt clip
Laguiole: just goes in a pocket
Leatherman Supertool: Belt pouch.

I haven't had a problem with the belt clip yet.

 

[Drail]

Yet. You will. Clips are for kids.

 

[rcmodel]

I have never bent a belt clip in my life with front pocket carry.

Don't know how you would go about doing it without hurting yourself?

I did come across a Spyderco Delica with a broken clip a friend found in a carnival bumper car ride.

I sent it back to Spyderco, and they replaced the knife free.

rc

 

[lemaymiami]

The only time I carry and use a belt clip is when I have no pockets.... Otherwise all my folding blades go in my strong side front pocket. A clip on a very nice Al Mar blade caused me to lose that knife (it slipped away as I was doing a twenty mile run into the backcountry on my skiff (in seated position.... it just rode up and away without me noticing a thing until I got to the coast.... It was like tossing away a hundred dollar bill....

On the water as much as 200 days a year in a small open skiff for most of the last 20 years, I've never lost a folder kept in my pocket....

 

[herrwalther]

Get a Benchmade. I have broken or mangled quite a few pocket clips on nearly every knife maker there is. Usually it resulted in having to live without or buying a new knife of the same model just to replace a broken piece. I have broken pocket clips off Benchmade and they respond "Here! Have some extras." I have enough extra pocket clips for my Infidel and Adamas to last at least 10 years or so.

I have never been a big fan of belt carry for a knife. Unless it was something large like a 7" fight knife or machete.

 

[JShirley]

Yet. You will. Clips are for kids

Or users who like being to access their folders quickly. Traditional sheaths defeat the purpose of having a knife operable with one hand.

I have had problems with clips bending or working loose over the years, but the advantages of folders with clips far outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[Kookla]

The one I have now is a one hand hand knife in a belt sheath- a bucklite. I broke the clip on that one too- ground down the remaining clip (since it didn't look replaceable) and it fits perfectly in my nylon 110 sheath.

I've either sprung or broken clips on my spyderco endura (sprung multiple times, broke twice), benchmade afck, al mar nomad, zt 550, ect. I guess I'm just at the right dimensions where I catch them on everything.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Yet. You will. Clips are for kids.

I don't think so.

I was a 'kid' 10 years ago and still carrying it the same way.
I have a tendency to abuse my equipment but find that the IWB with the clip is one of the least damaging and most out of the way location that still allows quick access (one handed) to the knife.

When I get fat, I may have to rethink it. Until then, I will use what works.

 

[dayhiker]

Yet. You will. Clips are for kids.

When I was a kid knives didn't have pocket clips.

All my folders have clips, and I use them. Much easier access, even with gloves on at work.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I would say I PREFER a sheath, but a clip is a lot more practical for everyday use, especially in the workplace or a social event.


Michael C.

 

[Piraticalbob]

My work EDC is either a Boy Scout pattern or a Victorinox Farmer, those go in a belt sheath.

My at-home EDC is usually a small sheath knife, 3" or less.

 

[kBob]

Biggest issue for me with belt clips is the seat belt in my truck. Thill snag them right out and if I have already opened the door will toss them right out into the parking lot.

Still I really like the convinence of the pocket slip so I have learned to watch that grab-o-matic belt and check for the knife anytime I step from the truck.

I carried a folding Buck in the service in a belt pouch and had no difficulty operating it one handed. One more step, opening the sheath, yes, but no question of the knife being there when needed. In my unit more than half the guys carried a Buck in a belt sheath and the flap frequently got decorated with Jump wings or some other qualification badge. A driver buddy teased the Airborne crowd by placing his wheeled Iron cross for safe driving on his pouch flap.

-kBob

 

[lemaymiami]

That last post reminded me of how I carried my old Henckels folder on the street in uniform for some years. For those that have never seen one, think of a full-sized Case Sodbuster with what looks like cherry wood scales - and no clip of any kind. In those years I carried either a Beretta 92 or a Sig 40. You could buy a high gloss double magazine pouch for your duty gear and of course one of those pouches held that folder... so I guess you'd say I favored a sheath or holster for a folder when in uniform. That old German blade would rust quickly if not cared for but hands down was the sharpest blade I ever owned (including a brand new Griptilian that's stored on my skiff as a back-up blade...).