A better clip?

blademaker

blademaker

Joined
Jul 14, 2002
Messages
131
Hello everyone. . .as some of you already know my dad and I like to make interesting clips, and over the years i've almost become obsessed with clips. And since we came up with the 'grip clip' concept i can't carry a knife without one. So i took it upon myself to make aftermarket clips that fit production knives, the first knife that I picked is one of our designs for Kershaw, the R.A.M.

The idea behind the 'grip clip' is simple. . .when you put the knife in your pocket you squeeze the end, which lifts the tip allowing the clip to slide over the pants pocket easily. And when the clip is released the clip grips the pocket for a secure carry. To get the knife out you again squeeze the clip relieving the tension allowing the knife to slide out.

If you've ever had difficulty getting your knife in and out of your pocket you'll understand right away how nice it would be to have the clip lift up and over the pants lip. Getting a pocket clip to work properly is a delicate balance between too tight and too loose. Obviously too tight is a major pain, but once it's forced into the pocket you know your not going to loose your knife. A clip that is too loose is easily taken in and out of the pocket but then you run a higher risk of loosing the knife. The 'grip clip' is meant to solve this problem. . .
Check out this thread for more information http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6891862#post6891862

(( Wrong forum, wrong membership level for selling. ))

Gavin

dobson.jpg
Photo by Phillip Dobson aka firebert
glenn.jpg
glenn2.jpg
Photos by Glenn Eisen aka kneedeep
 
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would you consider making one for the benchmade mini rukus?

oh, and cool idea. I dont mean to hijack, I think this is a cool idea even though I dont own a ram.
 
blademaker, you need to go to your User CP and click on Group Memberships to select your appropriate title. If you have "Registered User" displayed and you make a For Sale post, you can receive a "Failure to follow Forum Specific Rules" infraction.

You also should have posted a sale in an Exchange forum, not a discussion forum. But since according to our records, you are still a Basic member, you cannot post items for sale on Bladeforums anyway.

Consequently, I am removing your original post's violation and moving this to Gadgets & Gear from General Knife Discussion. Please read the FAQ and the requirements for membership.
 
Thalestin said:
I like it, id be very intersted if you made one for the bm mini skirmish:)
Click to expand...

p_mcmanis said:
would you consider making one for the benchmade mini rukus?

oh, and cool idea. I dont mean to hijack, I think this is a cool idea even though I dont own a ram.
Click to expand...

I'm open for any suggestions on knives that people would like to see this clip on. I started with the R.A.M., well because it's one of my designs :D The next clip is going to fit the ZT knives. . .the same clip just fits so many knives. After that, if all goes well, i'll start taking suggestions for new ideas. . .so far it's two for benchmade. I need to study the BM line and figure out what clip design will fit the most knives. That's the goal for now. . .to make a clip that fits the most models.

A_Blade_Afficionado said:
I don't own a RAM, but are these going to be two tone or single tone like the original grip clip? Or did I say it backwards?
Click to expand...

The clips for the Ram have already been made, but the two tone look is something i'm looking into for the next batch that will fit the ZT line.
 
Maybe something I don't get here?

Looks like after activating the lever and withdrawing the knife... your fingers (and hand) would be in all the wrong places to hold the knife and would require adjustment of the grip.

That's what it looks like to me. Interesting and fabulously useful idea for a working tool, but seems very much so contraindicated for a tactical cqb knife.
 
mack_t_knife said:
Maybe something I don't get here?

Looks like after activating the lever and withdrawing the knife... your fingers (and hand) would be in all the wrong places to hold the knife and would require adjustment of the grip.

That's what it looks like to me. Interesting and fabulously useful idea for a working tool, but seems very much so contraindicated for a tactical cqb knife.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on how one retrieves a knife out of the pocket. . .i've never practiced quick draw techniques, but when I pull out a knife I just grab the butt end of the knife, which is the same with this clip, just a squeeze is included. I have noticed that tip down seems a bit faster. Another option for this knife is to grab the end of the clip and lift up, which also relieves the tension of the clip.

So what technique do you use for a fast deployment?

Gavin
 
blademaker said:
So what technique do you use for a fast deployment?
Click to expand...

I am "hooked" ;) on the Emerson Wave, but I am also looking for the solution that this clip design might well provide. Unfortunately, I see no way that one could quickly and assuredly recover finger position on any knife after triggering this pocket clip release mechanism.

Consider the finger/hand placement required to activate the trigger point:
IMG_5065.jpg


You just can not control or do anything with that knife after pulling it out of your pocket in that hand position. As to "lifting" the clip from the bottom, that work-around is nothing new... or much better.

To deploy the Emerson Wave type folder, the finger is simply not anywhere near the "push plate". To put a finger in that position would be counter productive as once this release is triggered (on any knife), the hand must then be repositioned forward to open/utilize the knife.

Image portrayed from the inside of one's pocket:
IMG_5045_2.jpg


Image portraying deployment position as "seen" from the outside of a pocket:
IMG_5057_2.jpg
<- The fingertip is nowhere near the trigger plate for this device.

I believe there is simply no faster deployment method than the WAVE or device for a folding knife. I have a SCARAB OTF and a dozen other automatics, but due to the loss of fine motor skills under stress, the WAVE is far and away the fastest method... outside of a fixed blade. Anyone that says otherwise simply has not carried one. Have a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyZy6Ihq2BU

Emerson makes a nice knife, and I like his features, but I do have other knives I like mo' better:

IMG_5048_2.jpg


I modified them for my own use, but Emerson has also licensed the WAVE feature for Spyderco.

Still, this pocket retention clip is a brilliant idea for everyday tool use, not CQC. I think he should license it to Leatherman and move to the islands. :cool:
 
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Mack,

Thanks for taking all that time to take pictures and explain everything. I also like your custom waves that you added to other knives. . .I hadn't seen those before.
When designing this clip fast deployment wasn't one of my cryteria, it was more about ease of use. I just get so frustrated trying to get a knife in and out of my pocket smoothly. And with the popularity of textured g-10 getting a knife in and out is even harder.
On my next version of this clip i'm going to take in to consideration a method for a fast deployment. . .not sure it can be done, but at least i'll be thinking about it!
I haven't seen Tim Leatherman at the last few shows. . .and I kinda forgot about him. I've shown him some of our earlier, more complicated 'grip clips' but haven't had the opportunity to show him this one. I'll see if i can find his number :D

thanks again for taking the time to explain all that. . .

Gavin
 
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