Pocket clips and grip

jill jackson

jill jackson

Joined
Sep 5, 2006
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Sometimes you read complaints about a particular knife having a clip that interferes with grip. I've found if a clip is made of sturdy metal and well designed (doesn't move, fits tightly to the handle with rounded edges) it can enhance grip, giving you extra surface and something for your palm to mold around.
Does anyone have complaints or praise about clips on folders they own? As far as how they feel while using the knife. I think the Junkyard Dog, by Kershaw has one of the best.
 
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I think that it depends upon what type of cutting you're doing....

If you're just cutting the odd piece of twine, or a plastic strap, or maybe cutting open a package, etc..., then you will not find the pocket-clip to be a problem.
But if you're carving or cutting for long periods of time, unless you have really tough hands, the pocket-clip will gradually become less and less comfortable.
It can cause a blister or otherwise damage the skin.
 
It has to do with the length and the material the clip is made of as well as how hard or soft it is and thickness. Some stainless clips are .050 thickness or a little more. Some are titanium at or around .040. Longer thinnner ti clips will bend and move more than a stainless of equal thickness and so on. The good thing about titanium is that it has a better memory to spring back to the original shape over stainless by a wide margin.

STR
 
jill jackson said:
Sometimes you read complaints about a particular knife having a clip that interferes with grip. I've found if a clip is made of sturdy metal and well designed (doesn't move, fits tightly to the handle with rounded edges) it can enhance grip, giving you extra surface and something for your palm to mold around.
Does anyone have complaints or praise about clips on folders they own? As far as how they feel while using the knife. I think the Junkyard Dog, by Kershaw has one of the best.
Click to expand...

That's surprising, I owned a JYD2 and I can't think of a clip that decreased ergonomics as much as that one. Mainly due to the swell it has when your index finger goes, that part always stuck out and made my index finger sore.

I've had some other knives that gave me the same problem to a smaller degree. I used to be 100% about taking off all my pocket clips and carrying clipless for this reason, because I valued ergos over quick knife access, but after carrying clipped for a while to try it again I'm a convert. Now I'm to the point where I'll pay someone to install a tip up clip on a knife I really like that only carries tip down.

My main issue with clips are ones that can't be positioned for tip up carry. I think tip down clips usually feel worse in the hand, I don't like a tip down draw as much and when I reach in my pocket I'd rather rub my hand against the flat back of a knife than the portruding spine of the blade (All my EDC's have Spyderholes so the blade sticks out a good bit).

The best clips I've used are the Spyderco wire clips. I haven't ever held a clip that's as ergonomic for me. Their new hourglass style clips like the Tenacious, E4 / D4 and Stretch 2 have are very good more traditional pocket clips. I also liked the clips on the E3 / D3 and Native 1 because of how easy they are to remove or reverse.

Kershaw is weird when it comes to clips. I think it's since they vary their clip design so much, but I found some of theirs like the Groove that felt wonderful in the hand, and others like the JYD2 that didn't work for me at all.

Benchmade Griptilian's clip felt too square and bulky to me, and I took it off. I had a Gravitator as well and I liked the clip, but it couldn't be switched for tip up (Which isn't a bad thing with how easy that knife came open) and it wasn't as tight as I like.
 
I like the JYD clip because it's very solid (won't move when the knife is twisted and shifted while in grip) raises up in a nice arch from each end, has irregular shapes along the sides that help keep the hand from slipping and it's tight on the tip end to help keep it down where it belongs. I can grip mine hard and it's very comfortable.
 
I had an issue with my M2 AFCK's pocket clip digging uncomfortably into my index finger. A quick trip to mr dremel tool and it's comfy AND more secure.

m2afck.jpg
 
AllenC is spot on. In brief usage, a clip is not going to be noticed. That's the way most of us use our pocketknives--we pull it out, cut what needs cutting, and put it back. However, if you are going to carve a wooden duck or butcher a hog, you will eventually wish that the clip was not there.
 
This topic gets my attention. I like the clip for carrying a knife but it is not that comfortable on some knives, especially for prolonged use. The clip on my Kershaw Ram and Skyline are good and don't rub me the wrong way. I belive it is the flatness and shorter length of the clips. Also, the clip on my Sebenza and my STR Ouperator don't bother me. I thinks it is time for manufactures to look at more ergonomic clips.
RKH
 
jill jackson said:
Does anyone have complaints or praise about clips on folders they own? As far as how they feel while using the knife. I think the Junkyard Dog, by Kershaw has one of the best.
Click to expand...

Two of my knives in particular have clips that I do not feel much when cutting (I count that a good thing). They are
- Spyderco Native III with its wire clip,
- Benchmade Monochrome with a narrow clip that fits into the crook of my hand and does not interfere with my grip.
 
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