Many "suits" round here carry those day-planner thingys and that might house a small folder nicely. Also if you have a soft-sided belt wear for your cell phone or pda you could stuff a folder in that holster without causing much of a noticeable bulge if you use something like the KISS. With some of the longer cellphone / PDA holsters you could get a fixed blade like the ArcLite cuda into the holster without it being noticed. The trick with this is the thickness not the length of the knife.

Minime,

I don't think they are terribly "tactical" looking... I don't wear the black ones though, which are probably seen more that way. I used to always wear Dockers, but decided to try switching over and no one seems to have even noticed. I am the Radiation Safety Officer on campus though and am therefore on the Hazmat team, but I don't think that has much to do with it. Basically, we have a administrative order that we can't wear jeans, and the 5.11s look alot better than jeans do, with more pockets. I do wear work boots with them, as I occassionally have to walk through a flooded laboratory or scrounge through a scrap metal dumpster when people don't do what they are supposed to. The pants work really well with the boots. If Presumed has seen jeans in the office, I doubt they are going to raise eyebrows over kakhi cargo pants. But you never know...

Greg

Thanks for the info. I've been wanting to get a pair but wondered how they would go over.

Having read all the posts to this point--which contain many good ideas--it seems to me that a couple of solutions present themselves.

First, who said a knife must be carried in a front pocket? I've carried a large folder in my right rear pants pocket for about 28 years, and have rarely had it noticed. Currently, it's a Microtech SOCOM, which isn't a small knife by any means. I alternate with an Emerson Raven--slightly shorter blade, but OAL is about the same. Neither is clipped into the pocket, but carried tip down (my preference) along the outside edge. Normally, a bandana holds it in place, but in the past, with some larger than normal pockets, I have added a safety pin near the bottom of the pocket, thereby creating a miniature "pocket within a pocket" to hold the end of the folder.

I started to suggest boots, & some form of boot knife, but you indicated loafers were most common. Should you choose boots, though, you can clip a "tactical" into the top, or with a slight modification (akin to the loop in a pocket described elsewhere in this thread), just inside the boot, with equal facility.

Another option would be to carry the knife in your sock. Go to a "fine men's clothier" and get a pair (or two) of gentlemen's garters, like one used to see in old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby movies. They're made to hold up dress socks. They're elastic, encircle the leg just below the knee, and fasten to the sock with a garter snap. Adjust the garter to fit, attach it to the socks, and clip a lightweight folder, such as a Spyderco Delica, or maybe Endura, into the top of the sock. It's not exactly a Skean Dubh, and won't be fast access, but it will be with you.

I'll also second the Royal Robbins 5.11 pants. We're business casual, & nobody blinks at them.

Just my 2 cents...

David

I'm changing jobs too going from a real casual place to a business casual so I have started looking at ways to EDC items. I had a boss who always had to have expensive suits and expensive overprices cars carry this little leather key wallet. I searched and found one and replaced the worn Mag Lite that I was using as my keychain with the key case and started adding in items. They stay hidden because I can flip the needed key out before going in the office building. Here are a couple quick pics (They are large as I have not yet edited them) http://www.ninefamily.com/images/keycaseclosed.jpg and http://www.ninefamily.com/images/keycaseopened.jpg.
I coworker in the military gave me the P38 and it fit in that bottom hook like it was made for it. The Mag solitaire was the perfect length as well, I want to replace it with an Arc AAA though. The little knife that fits behind the keys is a Gerber Ridge Knife (same as a CKRT K.I.S.S. I'm pretty sure). I'm still working on this little PSK but with timing of this thread I thought I would go ahead and show it.

Hi Eugene,
The URL you gave is, I believe, supposed to be http://www.ninefamily.com/images/keycaseopened.jpg, instead. That looks like a very convenient item. I'm sure it keeps your pocket feeling much more neat and tidy, yes?
Stay safe,
J.T.

Man...I feel grateful to live in the south, where boys carry knives from before puberty, straight into the coffin! <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I work in a drugstore (hence the username!) and there, even the store manager usually clips his knife to his pocket. But it's in a retail setting, so I guess they figure a knife is the same as those box openers with razor blades. The only company policy on weapons is no firearms on company property. They sent us a memo reminding us this after a pharmacist for a different chain was brutally murdered one night. Typical, of the pretty boy stuffed shirt executive crowd!

But I digress. I too wear a Wave on a belt sheath and use a separate pocket knife daily (and with great flair!) to open boxes, totes, etc.

Anyway, I've never worn really fancy suit pants, so I don't know how well they "print." But I'm sure that you can find a way to hide it in plain sight, after skimming some of these posts. I like the day planner idea myself....you know, North American Arms sells a "day planner" that clips to the belt and conceals a small .32 or .380 Automatic plus a spare clip! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've found a Case Mini Trapper with a carbon steel blade in a properly folded hankie/bandana in your rear pocket rides well and is not visable or prints at all. It is readily available for quick accsess and atracts no suspicion, though it is not a locker. It's quite thin and will easily hold a razor edge but will not stand extreme abuse. The carbon steel ones are no longer in production but are easily found at gun and knife shows in new condition for 30 or 40 bucks. I use one for a backup/spare to a Benchmade AFCK.

with reference to an earlier post have a look at this site heinnie hayes the do ship to the states, so if you can't get it there, try them. the have the SOG access card knife , or look on the heinnie page at the eichorn gentlemans folder.hope some of this might help
stevec

I took the "hiding in plain sight" approach. I attached a removable split rinf to my small leather Palm portfolio's zipper pull. To this I attach a Leatherman Juice, Fox whistle, Photon II and a CPR mask. Occaisionally, folks would as me about it and I would explain why I was carrying them. After 9/11 this explanation met with interest instead of objections. I also have money, phone card, quarters, razor knife and a cheat sheet in the business card pocket on the inside.