All About Pocket Knives

I seldom lose a knife but I just lost my favorite EDC. It was in an open top belt pouch. What do the AAPK members suggest as the best way to carry without losing you knife?

I’ve carried in my right front pocket for over 60 years. (It’s why they’re called “pocket knives”.) A tried and true method. Never lost one out of my pocket yet. But I have left a few laying somewhere after using them. If your EDC is too big for a front pocket, put it in your back pocket, positioned vertical between your wallet and the side of the pocket. Never lost one from there either.

Ken

I'm with Ken - in my pocket.
Don't recall ever losing one from my pocket.

Ditto

Of course, if you insist on carrying it on your belt (to each his own), they make pouches in several sizes with a flap that fastens.

Just one example:

Thanks everyone. Oscar
It was only a $60 knife, not a lot for a great working tool, but a SFO I cannot replace. And one of my favorite knives. While not expensive to own, it was pricey for the two months I had it. From now on, I’ll carry a cheaper knife in my pocket.

Regular pocket knife (the Buck 55) in my watch pocket and if I've got the ones I use for carving, they go in a basic suede sleeve I made to protect from keys etc.

I carry in my front pocket also. But I have lost a couple of knives when a hole wore in the pocket. And a couple more times I felt the knife sliding down my leg when it went through the hole. That is a very weird feeling, but far better than discovering that a knife is gone. If I wanted to carry on my belt I would use one of those snap pouches. For years I carried a Buck 110 like that and never lost it.

Heck with the cheaper knife for carry. Put the knife you want in your pocket! I do have a few knives that would be hard to replace regardless of money. Those I do not carry, though they actually cost no more that the knives that I do carry ($30-$90).

I carry a traditional in my RFP and a more modern folder (usually with a clip...but not always) in a belt sheath. Unlike above comments...I've only lost knives, out of shallow pockets in the RFP. I've found most of them in, or behind, the car seat. I've never lost a knife out of a sheath.

I prefer belt carry, so I usually carry large knives. But pocket carry is fine too. A tiny SAK lives is my watch pocket.

Hi Oscar, Randy in indiana here. I carry a union cutlery lever lock switchblade in a case leather snap belt pouch. Hope I never need it for self defense, but If I ever do, I want to be able to get it out fast . It's lightning fast on lockup. Never lost a knife out of a snap pouch yet. I like carrying a quality knife, the older the better. Like me, I guess. Happy memorial day everyone and good luck on your next knife "hunt".

I learned the hard way years ago, carry your belt knife around to the back not on your hip on the side. Brush will pick a knife right out of a sheath at your side. Also a leather thong thru the sheath with a half twist over the end of the knife will save you alot of heartache. This is if you spend alot of time in the bushes, if you don't the best option is leave it in the truck 'til you need it. Thanks
Bruce

I've carry my knife in my RFP if I'm working around the place. If I'm going some where, town, church, doctor, etc. the knife is in the LFP as my RFP is not readily accessible because my CCW.
Treefarmer

The only knife I carry in an open sheath is this boat anchor. If it fell out and I didn't notice, my head must be someplace else.

Right front pocket, since I was old enough to own one, so over 40 years now. I haven't lost many knives, but most of those was by laying them down someplace and forgetting them. I lost one out of my pocket in a movie theater when I was a teen - a German Eye brand with yellow handles. That still bothers me to this day!

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 9:01 pm I’ve carried in my right front pocket for over 60 years. (It’s why they’re called “pocket knives”.)

Yep - not quite 60 yrs, but a good 40 years in the pocket ... since I have gotten serious about quality knives I’ve paid more attention to them and have never lost one while carrying in a pocket

Rfp, lfp and watch pocket, if I'm going somewhere in a vehicle 2 sak finger nail knives are on the key ring. Iff'in I got Sunday go to meeting clothes on may not have a watch pocket knife.

I tend to carry 2 or 3

small 3" folder in a pocket slip with a lighter and AAA flashlight

bigger brother (usually a barlow) on the belt in a leather fold over pouch

SAK in my shoulder bag

This 5165 fits well in this type sheath.

3Dub:
Be careful. That’s the EXACT belt sheath I had used when I lost my EDC knife. How you ask?
I don’t have a clue. After about 3 months, I looked down and goodbye knife. I would rather have lost the sheath. It was a snug fit, with at least 3” of the knife inserted. I got angry and sheath went in the trash.
I came up with a foolproof solution for pocket knife with lanyard hole. Unfortunately, few of my knives have a lanyard hole. I made a lanyard that clips to a belt loop, so unless I lose my pants too, my knife is safe. For about 3 dollars. I picked a bright color so it would be easier to spot if I forgot where I set it down.

I got a knife with a pocket clip, right front. SAK Champ in a sheath on my belt. Fixed blade ANZA on my left belt in a leather sheath, and
an SAK ALOX in my emergency pack that is carried left side cargo pocket.

Triple F:
At least if you lose one, you have a few spares.

OSCAR wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 11:38 pm Triple F:
At least if you lose one, you have a few spares.

That's my thinking!!

I try to carry myself in an upright position.

Knuckles only drag whilst going through the Primitive portion of the knife pile

Ken

petesknives wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2020 12:29 am I try to carry myself in an upright position.

Knuckles only drag whilst going through the Primitive portion of the knife pile

Ken

Typical pocket knives go in my front pants pockets. I usually just carry a Schrade Walden 877 MOP scissors/file/pen blade lobster in my jeans watch pocket and a tiny Schrade Cub on my keychain.

5" folders like to live in my pack or in a snap-closure belt-sheath.

When in the bush I am big on what I think is sometimes called "Western Carry" for appropriate sized fixed blades so even they end up in my front pants pocket. On your belt and in your pocket. It keeps knife well under control. It also isn't "concealed" but it's certainly a low-key carry for a big knife.

Pic is of a large 5-1/2" blade Grohmann #4 Survival knife. That's about as big as will work comfortably. Doing deep knee-bends and sitting in chairs proves to be no problem.