Traditional knives

[David Bowen]

I have been a tactical man for many many years and even though I love the beauty and simplicty of the knives of yesteryear I have problems carrying them. The pocket clip just rides ever so nice in your pocket and the one hand deployment makes drawing your knife quick and effortless. With traditional knives I have a lump at the bottom of my pocket and it bugs the heck out of me. I so want to carry one or rotate some of the ones I have around but going to clip to non-clip is proving difficult. This past weekend I carried my Case medium stockman in amber bone and it felt good. I tried to use this knife for many things, things I would usually stop and get a different knife for and it worked out pretty good. I know it's mind over matter and I could make the switch, after all I have a bunch of SAK's that miss me something fierce but I don't carry them. What have you guys done in the past? Do you go from traditional to tactical and then back again? Any carry methods make it easier to carry the knife without it being a problem? When wearing my jeans it's not that much of a problem but in slacks the knife becomes more bothersome and outlines on my pockets pretty bad. Maybe I need a buckaroo pouch or a clip sheath system.

[Gareth]

I've never gotten on with pocket clips so I may not be the best person for this.  I would look at the idea of changing pocket, maybe slipping it along side your wallet for example.  Or perhaps looking at a belt sheath, I've worn a sheath/pouch for bigger folders.  Most of my carry though is just in my front trouser (pants) pocket.  I did work up from carrying a 84mm SAK to a two layer 91mm and then onto a three layer 91mm.  You gradually get used to the extra size and weight.  I do have a few more traditional folders but, as you can tell, I almost only ever carry SAKs.  Why not get a Waiter (if you don't have one already) lots of use and almost no size or weight and work up form there.  The same idea holds true with any smaller knife though.

[David Bowen]

For SAK's in the thin catagory I have a bantam, specialty electrician, compact and a recruit. One and two layers are not too bad. Can't beat the versatility compared to a regular slipjoint.

[Dtrain]

I have gone from Tactical to Practical (SAK's) and then back to what I feel is a comfortable mix of the two when I forsee a need for both. Lately, I have been bitten by the traditional bug as well. Over the weekend I slipped my rough rider X-Large stockman in my pocket with my SAk's when I took the boys to the Pinewood Derby Build for Scouts. Do not get me wrong I love SAk's and my Multi's, but once and awhile I think change can be good. Next thing you know I might actuallt consider carrying a Leatherman again to give my SwissTool a break.

Dtrain

[DoughDTD]

I usually carry both I have a tactical folder with a clip in my one pocket, and deep in the other front pocket I usually carry a SAK of some kind, usually a 3-4 layer.  I honestly dont mind it much at all.  When I carry my THICK Sak's though, I usually put them in that extra little pocket that comes in jeans.  It rides much higher and doesnt flop around at all.  This is where I usually have my Vic Swisschamp.

[David Bowen]

The watch pocket works good when your carrying a multilayer SAK. A tool on your hip or whatnot. My eyes are on the X-Tract Essential for my next tool/tactical need 

I seriously need to consider going traditional for a while, have not seen it for so longer I forget the feeling. 

[Benner]

I have gone back and forth between traditional and tactical but I just prefer tactical.  Overall I find them nicer to carry, far easier to open and generally more comfortable to use. 

I still have a soft spot for slippies though. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Slippies all the way for me , which is just as well as there's sod all else we're aloud to carry

[jzmtl]

Tac for me, just quicker and easier to use. Plus it's not rolling in bottom of pocket getting gunked up by lint.

Although I do carry a SAK that's reserved for food related work.

Slippies all the way for me , which is just as well as there's sod all else we're aloud to carry

Can you guys carry those type with two half handle similar to balisong, but with backspring so can't be flipped open? Technically they are slip joint with no lock...

[Benner]

Tac for me, just quicker and easier to use. Plus it's not rolling in bottom of pocket getting gunked up by lint.

Although I do carry a SAK that's reserved for food related work.

Slippies all the way for me , which is just as well as there's sod all else we're aloud to carry

Can you guys carry those type with two half handle similar to balisong, but with backspring so can't be flipped open? Technically they are slip joint with no lock...

Have you got alink to what you mean?

If it's what I am thinking of then no.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Tac for me, just quicker and easier to use. Plus it's not rolling in bottom of pocket getting gunked up by lint.

Although I do carry a SAK that's reserved for food related work.

Slippies all the way for me , which is just as well as there's sod all else we're aloud to carry

Can you guys carry those type with two half handle similar to balisong, but with backspring so can't be flipped open? Technically they are slip joint with no lock...

Do you mean like those old German Parachute knives

If so no

[jzmtl]

No not those out front ones, something like this. Each half of handle works like a slip joint, so technically there's no lock, and it cannot be flipped open like a balisong.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No not those out front ones, something like this. Each half of handle works like a slip joint, so technically there's no lock, and it cannot be flipped open like a balisong.

I'd say almost certainly not, and even if it was you'd have a hard time proving otherwise

[David]

I find myself in a similar predicament. In the last year because of work and actual needs some of my long held attitudes towards knives and MT`s are trying to change. So as not to be long winded my present solution is to carry one TAC and one SAK. The other day I fondled a old Case 3 bladed stockman brown bone handle that I`ve had for 20 years and just couldnt stick in my pocket. I still have fond memories of its years of service but I couldnt warm up to it. Its not hard to choose a Tac to carry but choosing which one of those cool alox SAK`s is sure hard some times. Most of the time it ends up being a Farmer or Wenger SI.

[Benner]

No not those out front ones, something like this. Each half of handle works like a slip joint, so technically there's no lock, and it cannot be flipped open like a balisong.

I would say that those are illegal to even own here, let alone EDC.

[David Bowen]

I have a Black Rock Hunter, interesting knife. Defintaly not an EDC knife. It's takes too long to open and can be a bit tricky. Other than that it's a great knife and holds an edge real well.

[hawkchucker]

I also will switch back and forth. Now I am back into my Tac. stage. But it goes with the weather. If it is cold I really want to be able to open a blade one handed at work.