My work circumstances are changing again, and, like all changes, there are plusses and minuses (is that a word?) in this one, and they bear on what will work for me, for EDC.

There are several points on the “plus” side. I will no longer be commuting for 1.5 hours each way, partly by car, partly by subway, partly by walking. I will no longer be passing through a city where the maximum legal blade length for a pocket knife is a ridiculous 3 inches. I will no longer be 30+ miles, a river and some major potential terrorist targets away from my car during a typical day. I will, instead, be staying entirely within a state where the actual knife laws are typically confusing, but where the current DA's policy is not to prosecute anyone for merely carrying ANY folding knife- though of course it could always be added to other charges, if other charges there be.

On the minus side, I will still be working in an office environment where, though it's pretty casual, nothing even remotely resembling a weapon will be considered acceptable in the least, and displaying such an item, even once, even by accident, could easily cost me not just embarrassment, but a great deal of income. Uniform for the gig is khakis or similar, loafers or boat shoes, and polo shirts in the summer… not exactly a lot of concealment options. Simply hanging a pouch on my belt or clipping a folder to my pocket or wasteband will NOT work- I have to be more discrete than that. Neck knives tend to be too visible as bulges in the fabric of polo shirts unless very small.

Anyone have any novel suggestions? Obviously, I've considered (and may still consider) a Sebenza (or more likely a Mission MPF-1 ( http://www.missionknives.com/Indexframes.html ) , since I do sail from time to time, and it would be nice not to have to change), but the clip-carry on either really won't work for concealment.

I expect this would be a piece that would be carried a lot, and used... well, with any luck, never. I've carried folding knives for decades, one way or another, and never revealed them (except to those who showed me theirs first), but it's getting harder as dress is getting more casual in the workplace.

I'll carry something tiny (Leatherman Micra or Victorinoc Executive, or similar) for everyday tasks, partly so I won't ever have to reveal the larger knife, and if I ever do reveal it, it will be under extreme circumstances.

The problem is really one of carry more than the knife itself. I have lots of folders currently, so something I already have may work if I can find a good carry… or I could possibly be persuaded to part with up to $500 or so for a great solution.

What I'd really like, of course, is something that's a lot like a Leatherman Micra when folded, and like a Lone Wolf Harsey ( http://www.lonewolfknives.com/store/pages/products-harsey-lc12600.shtml ) when open. :-)

The best way to hide something is to put it out in plain sight sometimes.The more I try to conceal something the more it looks,well,like something being concealed. Do you wear glasses? A hardshell case is perfect for many folders. Some clothing drapes better for concealment. Pleated trousers tend to drape better with full pockets. There was a nasty hideout rig favoured by Bikers. The old O/U High standard .22mag Derringer was relieved of the grips and the screw run through a fake wallet with trigger cutout. Trouble was, that piece had a notorious trigger and lousy firing pin bushing. A few went to hospital with more than sciatia from sitting on them <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Do you carry a brief case or large zippered folder? Are your personal belongings going to be scanned? I agree that the best place to hide something is in plain sight. A small folder can fit nicely into a pocket of a briefcase or attache then you can get to it.

What about getting an ankle sheath? I dont know how comfortable they are, but thats an option.

just my two pennies

Garrett

Get you favorit, pleated front, kakhis - turn out the front pockets and get out your sewing kit. If nothing better presents then grap the tail of your dress shirt front but you may have sufficient cloth in the in-seam of your kakhis to clip off a strip about 1inch by 1.5 inch. Sew this to the inside back of your kakhi pockets as a little band that will hold the clip of your folder. Don't use the inside front of the pocket or it will drag down the pocket on the outside. Clip your folder to this little band and no one will ever see it. This is a simple mod that will work with any pants but hides a larger knife with pleated pants. If you want to really do-it-up you can get tailored pants with an inside change pocket sewn in that way and your will be 'stylin! or you could open out the front pocket and line it with leather or cordura sheathing similar to these. Or if you preferr Kahki you could try these The dockers have the fashion label and also a "hidden" cargo pocket that is accessable through the side seam that is tailored to carry a PDA without causing bulging or drooping. I'd think that it could carry a folder easier than a PDA - or as well as a PDA.

Presumed,

Congrats on the new job! As for your carry options, a number of suggestions from the other posters are good. We are "casual" in my office as well (a University), but aren't allowed to wear jeans, etc. I have started wearing khaki cargo pants (Royal Robbins) instead of the Dockers that I had been wearing. They are alot more comfy than the Dockers and of course they allow me to carry all my stuff! Got the idea from several friends in LE that wear them.

As for the knives themselves, what about multitools? Would they consider these a weapon? I wear a Wave on my belt and no one even blinks. In my office, a large number of people wear multitools. While not necessarily a replacement for a good folder, they are ALOT better than nothing. If a full size tool is out, maybe a Leatherman Squirt on the keychain? Not the greatest blade in the world, but again better than nothing, plus it has pliers. I have surprised myself with how often I have used the Squirt's pliars (I originally thought they would be too small to be useful), and the wire cutters are great for cutting zip ties. Much easier than scissors on a SAK or the Wave.

As for the Harsey, I would follow the advice of the other posts to add a hidden pocket and just carry the damn thing. If you are really in a position where you need to use it, then losing your job is probably the least of your worries. The Harsey looks like a great knife. You may want to check out a Benchmade Ares. It is a very similarly styled knife with an Axis lock for about half the price. I tend to carry either the Ares or my Sebenza every day at work.

Best of luck with the new position!

Greg

I'm sitting here at my office desk (picture Dilbert office arrangement) with my Docker pants that have the extra pockets. My Benchmade mini-griptilian fits nicely in the "side" pocket. However, I only have one pair of these, so the rest of the week I'm out-of-luck. I do care the benchmade in my front left pocket with my handkerchief. Works well and never raises any eyebrows. Comfortable and no hassle. This knife is a hair under 3in blade, and I've had it out to cut an apple, with no eyebrows. If I took it out routinely to sharpen pencils, they might wonder. I used to carry a smaller pocket knife in my soft briefcase, but decided, I wanted it on my person. Check your company's weapons policy. Would you really get canned for having a small knife? Another thought is to join their first responder team. Then you can have your fanny pack with all your first aid gear and a cutting utensil.

you don't find that the 511's look too "tactical" for the office? Is this because of the fashion of your peers or because you are on the first-responder team and are expected to be carrying more gear about you?

Good suggestions, thanks- I've come close to both in my own thinking.

I do use reading glasses, and some of the cases are excellent in size and shape for this... the only really awkward part would be having the glasses case with me and still not having the glasses when I needed them. It even occurred to me that it might be possible to make a case with a less obvious pocket for a knife that also carries glasses- I do leatherwork.

I've also been toying with ideas for a "wallet" carrier of some sort... maybe a larger, flat carrier designed for a front pocket. Back would be a more convenient carry (I use front pockets a lot) but limit the practical size.

Thanks. I doubt that the company has any explicit "weapons policy", but since I'm a "consultant", they need no special excuse- anything I do that makes anyone uncomfortable would be plenty. I also doubt that they have anything like a "first responder team" (sort of conflicts with the Dilbert theme).

On the other hand, maybe my desire to have something more substantial on my person is just a hang-over from my earlier circumstances. After all, the "car" is just 100 feet away now, not 30+ miles. I felt much more exposed when the possibility of a terrorist attack could leave me stranded without the subway as a return route.

Thanks- I've only been there a matter of days, and I've seen co-workers wearing jeans, but no cargo pants, and no multitools.

The idea of carrying the Harsey at work was intended as humor- not that I might not be tempted if there was a good way to do it, but it seems unlikely. It's huge.