Why the clip?

[Carl Levitian]

Okay, I'm an old fart, and maybe I'm missing something thats a generation thing, but I've always wondered why do they have the clip on locking folders?

It seems a huge error to me, to advertise where and what you're carrying to anyone on the street giving you an eyeballing. I see all the young guys walking around the malls with the clip on the pants pocket, and its tellagraphing right where your going to be reaching.

Is it shades of wild west quick draw with your folder of choice?

I've always thought it a bit better to keep what you have totally out of sight, and if you notice something uneasy, slip your hand in your pocket and have the knife ready to go, rather than reach for it. Or even palm it and shift it to a jacket pocket and go ahead and thumb it open in the coat pocket. Be one jump ahead of them if it comes down to it.

Some of the recent posts have made me really curious as to this behaviour. I don't understand the thing of advertising what you've got. Especially if you're in a city where its known that the local LEO's will scoop you up for it.

Why?

 

[mdao]

For me, pocket space.

Without a clip, my knife would be in my front right pocket tangled up in my keys. I could shift it over to my left front pocket, but there isn't enough space there because that's where I keep a flashlight, cell phone, and spare magazine. Back pockets don't work either as one has my wallet and the other has a P3AT.

I could go to a sheath for the knife, but then it'd be a bit more obvious than a clip and I'd rather have a small fixed blade if it's going on the belt.

 

[hso]

Okay, I'm an old fart, and maybe I'm missing something thats a generation thing, but I've always wondered why do they have the clip on locking folders?

Carl, you might just as well ask why should pens have clips on them.

Clips have a practical purpose on knives as well.

Keeping the knife in one place at all times where you can find it handily.

Keeping it out of the pocket lint and coins and the paper clips and other dross in the bottom of a pocket. Speaking to that last, it also keeps coins from getting jammed into the folder (dimes are especially bad for this, but a penny can find its way into space inside a knife) and keeps that lint out of the pivot.

The least important is that it orients the knife so that you don't have to fumble around to position it for opening.

 

[rcmodel]

Exactly.

I couldn't begin to count the times a folder clipped in my pocket would have been as useful if it had been buried in a pocket full of junk.

Besides, a 4" Benchmade is a pretty big pocket full when you add in the keys, lighter, SAK, and other assorted stuff.

Wearing gloves, using one hand to hold something you want to cut, etc. just makes a pocket clip knife a requirement in my opinion.

slip your hand in your pocket and have the knife ready to go,

If I slip my hand in my pocket, it's coming out with a gun, not a knife!

rcmodel

 

[bikerdoc]

I used to think that also, Carl, but now I dont care. Let them focus on the clip, They should be paying more attention to the thick oak cane, the bad attitude, and the distinct possibilty there may be a 45, 357, or 9mm somewhere they cant see!

Another cane carrying vet told me once that the guy who tried to mug him paid the price for all the other people who aggrevated him in his life.
He was a sad, angry guy but the lesson to morons should be Your not as smart as you think when picking a mark.

 

[slzy]

the proliferation of mixed martial arts,Gracie jujitsu and the like,has given some impetus to clipped folders,for if you find yourself in a choke hold,and your assailant has intentions of tapping you out for good,the best counter may be having two knives,one on each side,so you will not be on top of one,to stab your opponent.

not getting into a choke hold is still the best idea.

 

[conw]

I liked it because it's just plain convenient, especially with one-handed openers.

However, I also dropped it because I agreed with some of what steve(sm) was posting about it making you an obvious "gun/knife" person. And I do give berth to people with clipped in folders, and don't think it's the greatest idea.

Of course, you can clip it IWB too.

 

[hso]

The sight of a clip on a pocket is so common around here that you'd never think twice about it.

OTOH, this may be rare in other places (I've been to some that I moved the clip to the IWB "1 o'clock" position" to not stand out).

 

[Todd A]

When I can't carry a fixed on my belt(like at work) I carry a Cara Cara clipped IWB. It is nice to still have a "one hand" knife still on me for large cutting chores.

Of course my little Buck Hartsook Smidgen or one of my good old slipjoints do most of the work.

 

[Jim Watson]

Seems a lot of pants these days have shallow pockets. I have lost a couple of conventional pocket knives, including a treasured gift. I like the clip so I don't lose any more knives.

 

[conw]

hso,

I think it depends on the crowd you run with...construction, contractors, maintenance guys, whoever - they all have them, sure.

On the other hand, when I see a guy my age who looks like he goes to college or someone who looks like a "gun guy" with a clipped in knife, I think to myself "bet he's packing."

 

[mercop]

As others have said, pretty much hidden in plain site these day.

Trying to deploy a folder from inside a pocket during an altercation would be a tough one.

 

[wuluf]

Not to mention that in CA, having the clip visible prevents you from carrying a concealed weapon. Oops, i mentioned it.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I live in SC... a pocketknife is as normal as shoelaces.

 

[Tom Krein]

It comes down to access. If you don't want anyone seeing it clip it IWB. It will disappear.

Me, I hope they think I am going for my knife... my Glock 20 is going to be a bad surprise!

Tom

 

[CWL]

I clip my bigger folders (Yojimbo, Civilian, Benchmade Osborne) IWB to my waistband under the belt. I do this in business attire and nobody has noticed it in the many years I've been doing this. Do this in USA as well as other countries.

Most people just aren't that observant to see maybe an inch of metal clip hanging under your belt.

I also typically carry a small sliplock in my pocket for the string/boxcutting chores.

Not to mention that in CA, having the clip visible prevents you from carrying a concealed weapon. Oops, i mentioned it.

wuluf, unless there are local River City laws to the contrary, California has quite liberal carry laws for folders. As long as it folds, you can carry any size blade on your body.

 

[hso]

I think it depends on the crowd you run with...construction, contractors, maintenance guys, whoever - they all have them, sure.

Yes and no. Around here you can see them on anyone not in a full suit. Engineers, nurses, construction workers, clerks, etc.

They really are a common sight.

When I travel to the NE, your model is more applicable.

 

[mdao]

Yes and no. Around here you can see them on anyone not in a full suit. Engineers, nurses, construction workers, clerks, etc.

Conwict isn't that far off though. I've seen very few folders among the college and young professional crowd and get a lot of raised eyebrows when they see me using one. I also get quite a bit of "is that even legal?" A bit odd considering that it is Texas and folder carry is a common sight at work.

 

[Dr. Snubnose]

I clip a knife to my pocket just to give my opponent misinformation...while he may keep his eyes focused on that clip, I might be leveling a .357 mag his way or drawing some sort of sheath knife....it's all about trickery....works like magic...Doc

 

[TimboKhan]

For me it's a mainly a function of hating stuff rattling around in my pockets. I flatly do not like carrying a knife without a clip. Equally, I hate digging around in my pockets.

Besides that, I am not the least bit concerned about whether or not people see me carrying a knife, and even less concerned about LEO's getting on my case about it. Dudes, I am close to 6'2 and I weigh 400 pounds: I am not an inconspicous guy under any circumstance. Trust me, you ain't going to notice the knife. Witness the following picture taken a couple of weeks ago at the CU/Nebraska game in Lincoln: Do you notice that I have a full sized griptilian clipped to my pocket? Nope, what you will probably notice immediately is that my beard is askew and that, you know, I am giant.

 

[Leadhead]

Do you notice that I have a full sized griptilian clipped to my pocket?

Which pocket would that be?

I'm going to superglue some denim to my clip so I can relax in public...

 

[sixboysdad]

I keep it clipped only for convenience. My daily carry knife is a 3" CS Voyager, not really suited for self-defense. I mean, it'd do the job in the right hands (not saying that mine are the right hands, I'm just saying...), but I use it for everything from opening letters to cutting rope.

Also, it is not as visible as you might think. SOme time ago, post-9-11, I was traveling by air, and forgot it was in my pocket. MAde it all the way to the gate, and had a need for it, and automatically pulled it out. My buddy, who was on the same flight, said, "How'd you get that through security?"

I didn't even realize I had until then. Nor did security. Makes you feel safe, don't it?

 

[bikerdoc]

Dr Snubnose echoes my idea exactly.

Go ahead focus on the clip, A knive is a tool and last ditch s/d weapon. I got several something else's that will cure stupidity real quick.
Plus if I am with my wife, she is mean as a snake when provoked, equally as armed, and ten years younger. Trust me, I have seen her in action. Im not scared of much but I dont wish her wrath on anyone.

 

[sniper5]

I carry a Blur, not for SD but just because I've carried a pocketknife since I was about 8 as a tool. The clip is convenient because the knife doesn't flop around in my pocket and I don't have to put up with a pouch on my belt that gets snagged on stuff. It just makes a nice low profile package that I can find without groping around for it. I was kind of skeptical the first time I bought one with a clip and now I realize that it is like having a clip on a ball point pen. Very handy.

 

[conw]

I get your point bikerdoc, etc, but I prefer to remain low-low-profile. I do assume that people who carry clip-in-knives of the non-Chinese variety (or the expensive kind in general) are packing. I assume some others do the same. Rather not tip my hand. Steve convinced me with his posts on this, and I could drag them up if I wasn't feeling lazy.

mdao, I think your point coincides with mine completely - the young professional/college-aged crowd just doesn't tend to carry them. And clever crooks who know what to look for might pigeonhole me for what I am - a young guy who packs. Rather have the element of surprise.