Knife for a Filson vest

abarnhart

abarnhart

Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
453
I am in unknown territory here! I have carried Spydercos and the likes for all my adult life. However, I received a very nice Filson vest for Christmas. I am completely smitten and have moved my pen and flashlight (Peak Eiger) to its pockets.

But, I would like to move my knife up there as well. A pen knife of some sort seems appropriate and should fit. A pocket clip would be preferred for security.

Any recommendations from you wise folks? The opening on the pocket is about 7/8" by 5" deep. Anyone carry this way?

Thanks in advance for your time!
 
You'll have a hard time finding a pocket clip suggestion in these parts. Lol

However....

Case makes a trapper pattern that has a pocket clip on it. It's the CA30024 6154LC and comes in CV steel and amber jigged bone. 4 1/8" closed. That might fit your need quite closely.
 
The Case Backpocket comes to mind, no clip on that one either!

The Boker urban trapper comes in a version with a nail nick and pocket clip that may somewhat meet your criteria too...
 
In a vest pocket, unless you're doing acrobatics I don't think you need worry about pocket security. Besides, a pocket clip just wouldn't look right with such a fine garment.
 
Ix-nay on the pocket clip suggestions.

Traditional knives do not have pocket clips.
 
Did you have a price range in mind?

How large a knife are you seeking?
 
See... Unknown territory! I apologize for the clip reference. :D

Under $100 would be very nice. Probably in the 3-4" length. Not a big fan of clip blades.

Thanks for the recommendations already... I am looking into them.
 
I would suggest something with a bail or lanyard hole that would allow you to attach a nice pocketwatch chain to the knife. This would prevent loss of the knife, and make it easier to get out of the pocket. It would also look "retro gentleman", of course.

Edit:
I was not familiar with those vests, so did a quick websearch on them.
Since they are a "sportsman's" vest, I stick with what I said a few minutes ago.
For a knife, I would suggest a SAK Huntsman or Farmer class. Of these, I prefer the Huntsman. Those scissors come in handy more oft than you would think.

Good Luck, and welcome to the Traditional Knife Addiction.
 
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Get you a GEC 33 conductor with a bail and attach a chain to it. Have the other side attached to one of your vest buttons.

Super classy.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
I wear a Filson wool vest,traditionals fits nice in one of the three slots top left hand pocket.
 
No, they're not Trad or Fixed, but the OP came here asking for advice on Traditionals, so why post those??:confused:

Very nice thing to get that Filson vest, lucky man! :cool: When you say 3-4" I take it you mean closed size not the blade? You don't like Clip point blades much? Then let's sugest Spear, Sheepfoot or Drop-Points. Great Eastern Cutlery 15 knife has a lot of choice in spear and Sheepfoots, plenty of handle choice too. GEC's 85 is a nice Spear too but tends to be single blade only. I suggest this GEC lockback (might appeal to you more) pattern 83 and is 3 3/8" closed. Several handle choices, Bone as shown on the right of pic, Stag, wood or Micarta. Has a lanyard hole too.

Another choice would be a CASE Medium Stockman of some kind, not too heavy or bulky but you get 3 blades on one knife, tons of handle choices and inexpensive.

IMG_4021.jpg


All the best, Will
 
I don't have a picture of them separately, but knives three and four are both sodbuster patterns. They are 3 3/4" closed and have a lanyard tube. You can also find large sodbuster patterns up to almost 5" if that suits you!
You can buy a sodbuster in both carbon and stainless steel starting around $30. They are nice and slim too:thumbup:
 
If you really need some sort of clip then I suggest finding something with a bail or lanyard hole so you can attach a suspension clip to it.
Honestly I don't think a clip is necessary in a vest or coat pocket though.
It may not be exactly what you're looking for, but The Victorinox recruit is a great knife which you can attach a suspension clip to . There's also the Victorinox secretary ( I own the discontinued non alox version called the pocket pal ) which just doesn't way enough to fall out of your pocket.
 
This is a wealth of info!

I have to admit that I am not as familiar with the micarta-handled variety of traditionals. Those are really nice. Any recommendations in that particular vein?

That GEC 83 is very tempting!

Also, our good man Esav is helping me out a bit... :D
 
My Filson vest has lost me a Case 75 stockman and I have never forgiven it.

I abandoned carrying knives in the slot pockets forever after.
 
abarnhart said:
But, I would like to move my knife up there as well. A pen knife of some sort seems appropriate and should fit. A pocket clip would be preferred for security.

Any recommendations from you wise folks? The opening on the pocket is about 7/8" by 5" deep. Anyone carry this way?
Click to expand...

I think you will be hard pressed to find what you want. I have several Filson vests in different styles. If you have a regular Mackinaw vest carrying any knife in the upper slot pockets can be difficult. Any knife worth carrying might be a tight fit in there if it fits at all. Once you put it in there, it can be problematical to extract when needed without a lanyard of some sort. The upper right pocket is a bit large and flappy and small objects can fall out easily. The side handwarmer pockets are useless for carrying anything pretty much.
I have however carried a knife and sometimes a Husqvarna chainsaw file guide and other small useful things for years in the pockets of my Western style wool vest. That style is far more conducive to pocket carrying small objects.
 
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