Is it time to improve the finish on Seki clips ?

harronek

harronek

Joined
Nov 29, 2013
Messages
2,493
Can I start by saying I'm a Spyderco fan and my enthusiasm for supporting Spyderco and shelves full of Delicas prove that :)
So it is with some trepidation that I raise this question , but I think it's not wrong or disloyal to question occasionally , so here goes , please forgive me .

I have always wondered why the quality of the paint / finish on the pocket clips from Seki hasn't been improved over the years .
My two most carried Delicas both sport clips that show their history like a road map .





It doesn't bug me that much really and I have polished clips that I could use , but I like the darker more discrete painted ones .
So it is of some surprise to me that nothing has been done to rectify a simple obvious ongoing quality issue .

Ken
 
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Armadew said:
I personally like the looks of a worn clip. :)
Click to expand...

To be totally honest , I'm probably on your team in a strange way , but it is still a genuine question .
Why hasn't this been addressed ?

Maybe we should turn this into a " Show your worn clip " thread .
Post your pics of your most used clips if you dare :)

Ken
 
The best clip finish I found is burnt bare steel.
I did to some older knives, inspired by Arsonhammock on YT.
It blends well with any dark pants and also jeans (color is similar to those aged copper rivet). Since it's the metal surface itself, it is more durable than painted, IMO.

However, mostly I carry clipless, so I don't do that much.
Sorry, can't post flickr image from mobile, I showed it on some older posts back few years ago. Or perhaps search for burnt clip images ;).

Edit: here it is:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ives-are-too-visible!?p=12127181#post12127181
 
I agree with the OP, the black/dlc finish on my Domino's (Taiwan) clip wears extremely well, and the black clips on American produced ones seem like they would too (haven't carried any extensively). Also, the steel used on the Japan/Seki city knives seems to be softer and more malleable. I've bent the clip on my Delica three times in the coarse of a couple of months, granted one of them was a very obvious snag that I felt which caused it, but two other times I had no idea what caused it. My delica (the only japanese spyderco I've carried) is the only knife I've ever carried from ANY brand that has bent so easily, leading me to believe that whatever process they used to make and coat the clips is very low budget, but that's my opinion.
 
IMO, it's not a matter of 'Japanese' clips, but probably one of clips on the lightweight models being softer. I own several SS-handled Seki models, and the clips on those are very solid, strong and durable, and are not prone to bending easily.

Jim
 
I don't like the paint, so I sand them to a satin finish...10x better! They'd be best like so out of the factory
 
mael333ca said:
I don't like the paint, so I sand them to a satin finish...10x better! They'd be best like so out of the factory
Click to expand...

I have done that already on about 4 Delica clips , and they come out looking like a million dollars , bbbuuuuuttttttttttttt........... Why should I have to do that , a large part of the reason I bought a knife with a black clip was because I wanted a knife with a black clip .

Here is a pic of one I sanded myself , before sanding it looked like one of the other pics I posted in the OP



Here is a pic of a brand new clip on one of my Delicas , you tell me which one is more discrete when wearing dark clothing .



Ken

Edit - here is a pic of my GB1 , this clip has seen a lot of action and although it shows a few scratches and marks it has stood up amazingly well compared to what a Seki clip would look like for the same workload .

 
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i dont get the pocket clip discrete deal on black vs. stainless. if one is trying to hide a knife via a pcoket clip color they might not use the pocket clip at all and just stick the knife completely in ones pocket. just a thought. sorry to go off topic.
 
Used tools develop patina. Leather shows signs of the owner but all tools will develop signs of use.

Definition of patina
plural patinas play \-nəz\ or patinae play \-ˌnē, -ˌnī\
1a : a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
b : a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
2: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
3: a superficial covering or exterior (PAINT)


I love a pristine mirror polished knife, but scars are character. I polished my EDC to a mirror knowing the only thing I cared about was the EDGE. And it looks like crap now, but I still have a mirror polish on the bevel.

And you're talking about the CLIP!!!!! Get a grip!!! Watch a John Wayne Marathon and re-evaluate your values!!!

AN EDC KNIFE IS NOT SOME TIFFANY JEWELRY. IT'S NOT A ROLLS ROYCE!!!! Your EDC is a 4x4 you built (or bought to be up to the job)!!!!

If it means that much to you, abandon the black clip, spend some time with wet dry sandpaper (to shine it up) and accept that things get scratched or put it in a safe!!!

Sorry, but I've read enough posts here about guys that buy knives with unobtanium coatings and complain that they show signs of use!!!! My current phone is the first time that I've had even a hairline crack. Shit happens. It'd be more pissed about a chipped blade, but a worn pocket clip?

SIGH!!!

p.s. I'm not trying to be an A-hole... But life happens!!! If a worn pocket clip is a problem you lead a very sheltered life.


 
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jbmonkey said:
i dont get the pocket clip discrete deal on black vs. stainless. if one is trying to hide a knife via a pcoket clip color they might not use the pocket clip at all and just stick the knife completely in ones pocket. just a thought. sorry to go off topic.
Click to expand...

Discretely carrying a knife and hiding a knife are two completely different things .

Ken
 
harronek said:
Discretely carrying a knife and hiding a knife are two completely different things .

Ken
Click to expand...


doesnt sound like it from the way y'all discuss hiding the clip via colors and pants etc. sounds like y'all are trying to hide your knife without hiding it in your pocket completely. so be it.

i dont mind wear its a tool and wear will hapoen unless unused....but i realize you do care so the thread continues.....
 
I have the same thoughts as the OP. Maybe Sal will chime in. I like the black color, but it sure would be nice to have a more durable finish. I'm sure it's all about the price point, which makes sense.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
So now I've seen the same-ish problem from my two favorite cutlery companies brought up. Spyderco clips with cheap coatings and Cold Steel DLC on their blades and cheapo coatings on CS's clips (it used to be a cheap coating on the blades just like on the Spydie clips but now it's DLC). The best answer is- Why coat either Spyderco's clips or Cold Steel's blades & clips at all? By this I mean, all are stainless I believe and all look very nice and subdued (I've stripped down all of them or have seen XHP uncoated and liked the way they looked) without coatings.

On the plus side no coating is cheaper to produce! Don't get me wrong, CS's new DLC is very "sturdy" but it comes in almost glossy unlike Spyderco's. Which I think I read was because they polish the blades. Cheap chippy paint adds nothing nice and ends up looking like crap. All my user CSs and Spyderco's with painted clips look beat so bad that you'd think they owe me money:D

I'm in agreement that there's no need for paint on clips. I don't need them black, and a matte finish looks better to me anyways. This must be one of those "First World Problems" I keep hearing about;)
 
nine4t4 said:
Used tools develop patina. Leather shows signs of the owner but all tools will develop signs of use.

Definition of patina
plural patinas play \-nəz\ or patinae play \-ˌnē, -ˌnī\
1a : a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
b : a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
2: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
3: a superficial covering or exterior (PAINT)


I love a pristine mirror polished knife, but scars are character. I polished my EDC to a mirror knowing the only thing I cared about was the EDGE. And it looks like crap now, but I still have a mirror polish on the bevel.

And you're talking about the CLIP!!!!! Get a grip!!! Watch a John Wayne Marathon and re-evaluate your values!!!

AN EDC KNIFE IS NOT SOME TIFFANY JEWELRY. IT'S NOT A ROLLS ROYCE!!!! Your EDC is a 4x4 you built (or bought to be up to the job)!!!!

If it means that much to you, abandon the black clip, spend some time with wet dry sandpaper (to shine it up) and accept that things get scratched or put it in a safe!!!

Sorry, but I've read enough posts here about guys that buy knives with unobtanium coatings and complain that they show signs of use!!!! My current phone is the first time that I've had even a hairline crack. Shit happens. It'd be more pissed about a chipped blade, but a worn pocket clip?

SIGH!!!

p.s. I'm not trying to be an A-hole... But life happens!!! If a worn pocket clip is a problem you lead a very sheltered life.
Click to expand...

What a rant. No need to denigrate the OP just because you don't share the same feelings.

I've often wondered why Spyderco doesn't abandon the painted clips for something more durable on the Seki knives.
 
harronek said:
I have done that already on about 4 Delica clips , and they come out looking like a million dollars , bbbuuuuuttttttttttttt........... Why should I have to do that , a large part of the reason I bought a knife with a black clip was because I wanted a knife with a black clip .

Here is a pic of one I sanded myself , before sanding it looked like one of the other pics I posted in the OP



Here is a pic of a brand new clip on one of my Delicas , you tell me which one is more discrete when wearing dark clothing .



Ken

Edit - here is a pic of my GB1 , this clip has seen a lot of action and although it shows a few scratches and marks it has stood up amazingly well compared to what a Seki clip would look like for the same workload .

Click to expand...


I am 100% with you Ken. I would gladly pay a few $ more for a knife with a durable GB style black clip.
 
bead blasted titanium!but that would drive cost way up,so we are stuck with stainless painted or plane,as long as it holds/keeps my knife in my pocket its fine by me,the color thing is a hole different matter,i like mine ether way!black or plane SS.
 
Ken,

Totally agree with GB1 clip.
Try burning the sanded clip, it'll darken and not shiny anymore.
Pics from the linked post (though not Spyderco, but I've done Cara Cara with same result).
8190003078_d91abd1180_b.jpg


Not mine, but from same thread:
6994959434_f0c2af1cbd_b.jpg


jbmonkey,
Anyone scrutinizing will see the clip even if it's dark. However, a shiny bling clip attracts eyes immediately, which is the reason jewelry is created to shine. I think that's the meaning of being discreet.
 
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