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Clips...use 'em and lose 'em (your knife that is)
- Thread starter mjolnir
- Start date
I like pocket clips. I almost never clip a knife to my pocket. I almost always just carry my knives IN my pocket. I always leave the clip on my knives. Once in a while I have reason to clip my knife to my pocket. Like when I will be using it over and over and there is no appropriate way to just lay it down open. When I want it or need it, it's there, and that is why I like them.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2000
- Messages
- 3,140
But they're not a guarentee against losing a knife. I think the Sebenza clip is about as good as it gets. Having said that, I've lost a Cold Steel Voyager, a William Henry T10 Lancet (Carbon Fiber) and a Small Sebenza, all while clipped to my right front pocket.
The lesson I've learned is to NEVER try to get at my money clip while seated in the back of a public conveyance. I lost every damn one of those knives trying to get at my money to pay a Taxi or Limo driver. Now the buggers can just wait until I leave the vehicle and am standing erect before they're getting paid because I'M NOT LOSING ANOTHER KNIFE THAT WAY!
Oh the pain......
jmx
The lesson I've learned is to NEVER try to get at my money clip while seated in the back of a public conveyance. I lost every damn one of those knives trying to get at my money to pay a Taxi or Limo driver. Now the buggers can just wait until I leave the vehicle and am standing erect before they're getting paid because I'M NOT LOSING ANOTHER KNIFE THAT WAY!
Oh the pain......
jmx
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
- Messages
- 1,913
If you are using your edc for possible defensive needs, you need access to it and not be digging into the pockets for it when needed.
If you don't plan on possibly using it thusly, there is no need for speed of presentation in an emergency and you can keep it secured in your pocket and not clipped.
I have carried clipped knives for 20 years, had some come close to out of the pocket during activities but never lost one.
Have scratched furniture, car, etc ocassionally but thats the price for speed of presentation with the clipped knives.
Some clips are better than others, ones that are too loose can be tightened up, those too tight can be loosened easily enough.
Never gave much thought to clips as a bad thing but then I carry on both sides for the possible use of defense and they need to be accessable immediately for that, hence, clips for mine are mandatory.
You gain presentation speed=the gain
You can scratch things with them= the loss
Each must decide what is more important to them and act accordingly.
Every time you gain something you lose something in return. Facts if life, one must decide whats important to them and what they can live with.
I don't think they [ clips ] are useless as others state here, if they were they would not have become so popular in the last two decades with people all over the world.
Brownie
If you don't plan on possibly using it thusly, there is no need for speed of presentation in an emergency and you can keep it secured in your pocket and not clipped.
I have carried clipped knives for 20 years, had some come close to out of the pocket during activities but never lost one.
Have scratched furniture, car, etc ocassionally but thats the price for speed of presentation with the clipped knives.
Some clips are better than others, ones that are too loose can be tightened up, those too tight can be loosened easily enough.
Never gave much thought to clips as a bad thing but then I carry on both sides for the possible use of defense and they need to be accessable immediately for that, hence, clips for mine are mandatory.
You gain presentation speed=the gain
You can scratch things with them= the loss
Each must decide what is more important to them and act accordingly.
Every time you gain something you lose something in return. Facts if life, one must decide whats important to them and what they can live with.
I don't think they [ clips ] are useless as others state here, if they were they would not have become so popular in the last two decades with people all over the world.
Brownie
Sal Glesser
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 27, 1998
- Messages
- 11,730
Hi Mjolnir. Sorry you lost your knife. I guess I'll have to take the blame for the clips, but there are other thoughts to share with them.
First of all, "not all clips are created equal". Some do work better than others.
Clips were new in 1981 and have been evolving ever since. Spyderco created their first plastic clip in 1990 with the Endura. They didn't scratch stuff.....great. We changed the mold 6 times in an effort to make the more secure and eventually went back to metal clips on the Endura and Delica. We tried plastic clips on a number of models over the years, but at this time we only have few models that still have them. (I'm sure they too will evolve soon).
We are always working on clips in a effort to improve them. We currently have several in the field. The new wire clips seem to offer a nice synthesis in that they don't scratch stuff and they hold well, but we're still learning.
Nothing is absolutely secure. If you are going to be in a "rough & tumble", throw your knife in your pocket or pack, but that too is not 100%. Rock jumpers like to put the small Ladybug or Jester on a cord around their neck (light & secure). I guess that is one of the most secure, but not as accessible. Add a sheath and your back where you started.
Clips are in their infancy, have faith in your fellow humans to evolve and refine. (plug: The metal clipped Spyderco's are pretty secure).
sal
First of all, "not all clips are created equal". Some do work better than others.
Clips were new in 1981 and have been evolving ever since. Spyderco created their first plastic clip in 1990 with the Endura. They didn't scratch stuff.....great. We changed the mold 6 times in an effort to make the more secure and eventually went back to metal clips on the Endura and Delica. We tried plastic clips on a number of models over the years, but at this time we only have few models that still have them. (I'm sure they too will evolve soon).
We are always working on clips in a effort to improve them. We currently have several in the field. The new wire clips seem to offer a nice synthesis in that they don't scratch stuff and they hold well, but we're still learning.
Nothing is absolutely secure. If you are going to be in a "rough & tumble", throw your knife in your pocket or pack, but that too is not 100%. Rock jumpers like to put the small Ladybug or Jester on a cord around their neck (light & secure). I guess that is one of the most secure, but not as accessible. Add a sheath and your back where you started.
Clips are in their infancy, have faith in your fellow humans to evolve and refine. (plug: The metal clipped Spyderco's are pretty secure).
sal
I love pocket-clips!
While I own knives with and without clips, the ones that I find myself carrying have clips.
The clip allows you to carry a large knife without feeling like you have an anchor in your pocket.
Another advantage of the clip is that few people (except knife freaks like us) know what knife you're carrying or its size.
And some folks don't even know it's a knife at all.
Thank you Sal Glesser,
Allen.
While I own knives with and without clips, the ones that I find myself carrying have clips.
The clip allows you to carry a large knife without feeling like you have an anchor in your pocket.
Another advantage of the clip is that few people (except knife freaks like us) know what knife you're carrying or its size.
And some folks don't even know it's a knife at all.
Thank you Sal Glesser,
Allen.
Gotta agree with Gull Wing!
I've been wearing my Calypso Jr that way for over 2 years now without an incident. Carrying in the waist under the belt also makes for a very discreet carry while enabling instant access to the knife.
Not to mention freeing up a pocket for other gadgets (or yet another knife
I've been wearing my Calypso Jr that way for over 2 years now without an incident. Carrying in the waist under the belt also makes for a very discreet carry while enabling instant access to the knife.
Not to mention freeing up a pocket for other gadgets (or yet another knife
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2000
- Messages
- 1,526
I love clips also,but I have lost 2 Spyderco's and had a third fall out but was found.My take is that if your active and around straps,ropes,slings you can lose them.
First was a Delica with plastic clip(had it since '92 or so.Had it clipped to a chest pocket while hunting.It was clipped inside pocket with zipper pulled tight to knife and flap down over clip,I checked it often.My guess is that the sling of my gun sent it flying.
Another time I was pulling a kid in a sled,I ran and than whipped the sled ahead of me (like bowling) the rope caught the clip and away she sailed.I heard it hit the frozen street but felt nothing.This one I found.
My secong Spyderco I lost was a Rescue that I kept clipped inside a pocket of my turnout coat.Lost it at a house fire,see your scba straps go around you right by the coat pockets.Again I feel the straps caught it and away she flew.
Love clips but if your active and around ropes and straps etc. I would consider a lanyard which I just rememberd saved a plastic clipped Spyderco when I had to wade out into the whitewater to cut my stern line of my canoe,which had gotten caught on rocks during a wipeout,reached for the knife and it was gone!!! Then found lanyard slid hand along line to knife.
First was a Delica with plastic clip(had it since '92 or so.Had it clipped to a chest pocket while hunting.It was clipped inside pocket with zipper pulled tight to knife and flap down over clip,I checked it often.My guess is that the sling of my gun sent it flying.
Another time I was pulling a kid in a sled,I ran and than whipped the sled ahead of me (like bowling) the rope caught the clip and away she sailed.I heard it hit the frozen street but felt nothing.This one I found.
My secong Spyderco I lost was a Rescue that I kept clipped inside a pocket of my turnout coat.Lost it at a house fire,see your scba straps go around you right by the coat pockets.Again I feel the straps caught it and away she flew.
Love clips but if your active and around ropes and straps etc. I would consider a lanyard which I just rememberd saved a plastic clipped Spyderco when I had to wade out into the whitewater to cut my stern line of my canoe,which had gotten caught on rocks during a wipeout,reached for the knife and it was gone!!! Then found lanyard slid hand along line to knife.
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2000
- Messages
- 1,055
What Brownie said. When you carry a knife or knives in a self-defense capacity, you need that knife NOW when you need it. Way I see it, let's say you're carrying a handgun for self-defense. The slide holster is certainly not the best for keeping a handgun snugly in place. There's nothing "holding" the gun in except the weight and friction. But when you need that gun, you need it NOW. Try getting it out a flap holster. The flap holster holds the gun more securely, but the price is your life if you need that gun NOW and get it 2 seconds too late or not at all. Same with folders. Lots of people carry folders for self-defense. The clip is perfect. In a situation where someone might actually be on you, choking the living sh** out of you with a piece of rope, if you have to flush your folder out of a pocket among loose change, well, you better be carrying a medicine bag in there too and rub it for luck while you're rooting for the folder, because you'll need luck. In many cases, carrying it in a sheath isn't feasible. The sheath is right back to the flap holster for handguns. You have to pen sheath, pull out knife, and open knife. With the clip, you pull knife and open it as it comes out of pocket. I, for one, commend the invention of the clip as one of the best things to happen to folders. I've never lost a knife. Not due to a clip or anything else.
