Why I Abandoned The Pocket Clip Folding Knife, by TX2Guns

Coming from my buddy TX2Guns over at The Tactical Hermit comes his thoughts on EDC blades. Good, real-world based stuff as always. If you’re not checking his blog at least once a day you’re wrong. -NCS


For the CO,  having an outward “sterile” appearance is mandatory to retain tactical surprise. This is why I support Concealed vs Open Carry for firearms. But what about knives? When it comes to knives, most CO’s are relegated to just sticking (ie “clipping”) a “tactical” folder in their pocket and moving on. But have you ever stopped to consider that a knife, just like a firearm, offers more tactical advantage if it is concealed from view, and I mean all of it, even the “pocket clip”?

It goes without saying that we now live in a world now that is becoming more and more hostile to people who exercise their rights to be armed. And sometimes, this hostility comes from the most unlikely of places.

Just the other day a good friend of mine whom I served with in the military went to his local Veterans Clinic for his annual checkup. After checking in and sitting down in the waiting area, he was approached by TWO armed security guards. They asked him to step outside with him where they asked him if he had a pocket knife clipped in his front right pocket. He said “Yeah, always do”. They then pointed to a sign that had just been installed as you walk in the front door which informed him that all weapons, firearms and knives, were prohibited inside the clinic.

The two guards said my buddy would need to go and put the knife in his vehicle before he could re-enter the clinic. My buddy laughed at the irony. For twelve years he toted and used with deadly precision all sorts of weapons while in the military, certainly things much more dangerous and deadly than an Emerson Commander pocket knife clipped in his front pocket. When I asked him if he obeyed the order he laughed; “Yeah I went to the truck and put the Emerson up, but I kept the “rest” on my person. What exactly my buddy meant by the “rest” will stay confidential between me and him for discretion sake. Suffice to say we both had a good, hearty laugh about it!

People see what we let them see folks. It’s just that simple.

Now there are those of you out there that will say, well why not just remove the pocket clip off the knife? Your problem is solved; there is no outward sign of a knife and you still retain the knife in the pocket. That would be one way to solve this issue, but as you will see, there is more at stake here than just appearing unarmed. It is appearing unarmed but being ARMED EFFECTIVELY.

Personally, I have never been a fan of a folding knife for self-defense. That is not to say I did not carry one back in the day, typically clipped somewhere on my gear that I could get to easy. I soon learned from experience, that a small fixed blade is much more suited for those CQ “Oh Shit!!” moments than anything I have to manipulate to open in a hurry, even an automatic. The bottom line is if you ever NEED a knife, you are gonna NEED IT IN A HURRY, and the golden rule in Self-Defense is whenever you can lessen the chance of Mr. Murphy showing up, do it.

knife3

Horizontal Carry on Belt

Hands down, the best way to carry a fixed blade concealed. I like carrying mine in front at around 5 or 5:30, if you practice with it, it gives you a nice fluid motion on your draw. Some guys like carrying it behind them in small of back, as they say it is a more natural motion drawing that way, I am not a fan of this ideal, plus I don’t like having a lethal weapon tucked away behind me out of my line of sight, which is why I NEVER preferred Small of Back carry Gun Holsters, but again, this is a matter of taste and comfort. Horizontal is also a great way to tote your extra pistol mag. I have never been a fan of toting heavy shit in my pockets, so carrying it on your belt where it is accessible by your non-dominant hand is awesome for quick reloads if need be.

Training

The key thing when you begin, is getting your draw-stroke fluid and smooth. The way that happens is to take out any “jerkiness” or un-needed motions. The old adage “Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast” holds true; when something has no rough edges to it and flows easy, it is naturally faster.

The second thing to work on once your draw-stroke is fast, is to practice getting the blade from the sheath into the flesh of your enemy as quickly as possible. No fucking around, no prancing around like a fag, simple concept: Draw the knife and Stick the Knife into a major organ as fast as possible (or slash a major artery) which ever is easier at that moment.

Now I am not going to get into knife training methods here, so we wont be discussing slashing versus thrusting. You will have to explore that yourself and there is plenty good instruction out there. Kelly Mccann and Southnarc (aka Craig Douglas) are good places to start. Myself, I prefer the Thrusting Combative Knife over the more technique laden slashing Filipino Knife methods, that’s me. Find what works for you, and stick with it. Just don’t get confused and think that killing with a knife is some kind of flowery art, it’s not, it is nasty business and I pray you never find yourself having to use a knife to defend yourself. But in the event that day comes, take all steps to be ready, sharpening not only your blade edge, but your combative mindset.

Stay Armed, Stay Alert, Stay Sharp and Stay Dangerous!

Spread the love
                

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

14 Comments

  1. Anonymous April 11, 2020 at 10:48

    4.5

  2. Scurvy April 11, 2020 at 11:30

    I’m confused. Where do you mean by locating the knife in front at the 5 or 5:30 position? I thought the convention was that using the face of a clock as reference and 12 being your belt buckle. At 10 o’clock the knife would be in a quite good place to do a cross draw with the right hand or a surreptitious left handed draw.

    You aren’t using one of those fabled “metric” clocks are you? ;)

  3. shane michael connor April 11, 2020 at 12:10

    For decades I’ve worn a belt buckle knife, nobody has a clue.

    Used to fly with it all the time, too, metal detector operators thought it was just a metal belt buckle, though I don’t risk trying that anymore.

    First it was a Bowen Knife over 40 years ago, but when you pulled it your belt would fully lose tension and you’d risk pants slipping down at the worst possible time.

    Then switched to another design about a decade ago that fully maintains belt tension whenever you extract the blade.

    There are slightly different blade styles out there, under the name of Valois or Victorinox or Master Cutlery Belt Buckle Knife. And, usually under $20.

    I may carry another knife on my belt, too, but I always have that belt buckle knife ready at hand as a back-up, too.

    • NC Scout April 11, 2020 at 12:17

      That’s an awesome idea.

  4. shane michael connor April 11, 2020 at 13:25

    I forgot to mention, I’m most frequently reminded to appreciate my belt buckle knife when my back is turned, standing vulnerable, at a public bathroom urinal. While one hand is taking care of business, the other is grasping the handle of my belt buckle knife.

  5. Greg April 11, 2020 at 13:36

    The author sort of addressed it, but never get your hands behind your back in a hand to hand situation. At that point you are one quarter step from being restrained.

    Am adding this little lesson I learned even though it’s about EDC gun carry. Last year I took my boat out for a shake down. At the time I was carrying a G41 at the small of my back. Literally, zero print! Had to get up in the boat at the ramp to get my docking rope. Went to jump down over the edge and my G41 hooked the hull. Through me beak down on the asphalt from about 5 feet high. Of course it was a great retention test, but a horrible reminder that I was in fact, carrying. And yes, it’s at my hip now, with virtually no print…from where I draw much more effectively anyway.

    • NC Scout April 11, 2020 at 14:08

      That sounds extremely painful. I’ve heard of guys getting pretty serious back injuries from small of the back carry. I’m an Appendix IWB guy.

  6. Anonymous April 11, 2020 at 17:48

    5

  7. tinvowoot April 12, 2020 at 11:15

    FYI you can have a knife in a VA facility if the blade is less than 3″.

  8. Bret April 12, 2020 at 12:53

    Great article. It hits home

  9. Greg April 12, 2020 at 13:40

    @Scout, glad you replied. It helped me to notice that I didn’t ID the holster that retained a 5 inch class 45. It is a Crossbreed IWB with metal clips. Quite impressive, actually.

    Around 2002ish, I had a G27 that I modified a leather holster to carry IWB (Heck, now they are everywhere). As a mechanic, we often are working in wheel wells, on our knees for hour or longer stretches. It worked up a blister or two over a year and migrated to my hip. The behind the back was a recent phenomenon. Like you’ve said, “you can’t learn, if you aint doing.” That was paraphrased, of course.

    Brother, there’s a lot of not doing! I could give you an antenna example, but that’s a story for another thread.

    • NC Scout April 12, 2020 at 16:59

      Send it on!!! Seriously, anything you write (or others) are more than welcome. We all learn something from one another.

  10. anonymous April 13, 2020 at 00:15

    I’ve carried a CRKT Obake that is inexpensive enough to be thrown away in an emergency. Shaped like a mini Tanto, I have a DIY cardboard duct tape wrapped sheath connected to short cord and sheath tip and inserted into pocket. Slip hand into pocket and jerk out removes knife from sheath.

  11. Greg April 15, 2020 at 15:42

    @Scout Believe this, If I had a super diggity, bad ass antenna design, I would pass it along to this group, and/ or anyone willing to listen. The story would actually fit your “Suck or Skate” story. Let’s just say, I’ve never been afraid to “Suck.” My posse, however, sometimes they would rather “Skate.”

Comments are closed.

GUNS N GEAR

Categories

Archives

Spread the love