The switch from pocket clip to wire clip...

peacefuljeffrey

peacefuljeffrey

Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
1,308
What brought this change about in the Spyderco line?

The only knife I have with a wire clip is a black aluminum-handled Salsa. I don't dislike it, but I am not sure I like it much, either. I grew to trust the regular metal clip a lot, and I have to admit that the spring wire clip seems kind of flimsy.

What are the definitive reasons for the change? (I am forced to wonder if the wire clips are possibly made far more inexpensively than the others were...)


Thanks for any info about this.


-Jeffrey
 
A lot of people like the wire clip because they are less obvious. I don't know how Spyderco decides which knives will have which clips. I remember reading a thread a while ago on most members preferring wire clips. I don't find the wire clips flimsy, just not as stiff as the regular clips. I don't have a preference on the clips.
 
Here is another thread about the wire clips. I dont know how to put in a link, so who knows if I will be able to get it to work. Sal Glesser says in this thread that the wire clips are more expensive than ones made out of sheet metal.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398624

I have no knives with a wire clip. My delica is old and has the plastic clip that is molded as part of the handle.
 
Wire clips are not only low profile, they're also more comfortable to grip. The tension in current models is just right! In the past (Salsa) they were either too tight or too loose.

Wouter
 
My problem with the non-wire clips is that they scratch the hell out of everything you rub up against.
 
Buzzbait said:
My problem with the non-wire clips is that they scratch the hell out of everything you rub up against.
Click to expand...

That and they scratch easily themselves. I'd really like to try a wire clip. I've only had traditional flat clipped knives.
 
peacefuljeffrey said:
I grew to trust the regular metal clip a lot, and I have to admit that the spring wire clip seems kind of flimsy.
Click to expand...

I agree on both points. I have already seen one thread (somewhere on bladeforums) where the wire clip snapped in half (I think it got snagged on something). My Endura got hooked on a fence that I was walking past and it got bent out past a 45 degree angle and I was able to bend it back into place with some pliers and you can't even tell that it got bent now. I'm not sure a wire clip would hold up that good. I wish they would make one of the clips and add on that way everyone could get the one they preferred.
 
I was being a fool and had my Military in my right rear pocket while screwing around at a skate park on my rollerblades (don't worry; first and only time. I usually just skydive!)

I dropped into a halfpipe (some 10-year-olds were coaching me how to do it!) and my feet went out from under me and I landed HARD flat on my back/ass.

The Military took such a pounding that the clip flattened out, having collapsed under the pressure.

I took the clip off, bent it back into shape with my Leatherman Wave, and reattached it. It's good as new, with a nice scrape mark on it down just below the screws. I had such bruises!

I think that a wire clip would probably have been more challenging to get back into original shape than the regular clip was, if it could even be returned to normal at all.

-Jeffrey
 
I like the old metal clips. They seem more secure and I kinda like when they get scratched up... gives the knife character.
 
I only have one Spydie with a wire clip, my MeerKat. It is actually my favorite clip, as I prefer tip down carry, and I like the low ride height. It is very secure (I accidentally left it clipped in a leg pocket of my carpenter jeans when they went into the wash, didn't notice until I heard the clunking in the dryer:o ) It seems less likely to scratch other things, like the paint on my cars, since there are no sharp edges, and it is the only clip on my carry knives that still looks new.:D
 
I have a few with wire clips and I like 'em, the clip feels much more securely attached. The obvious problem is that you don't get quite as much choice in carry position but, they are always set up okay for RH tip up so that suits me just fine.
 
I am starting to slightly prefer the wire clip but I think it needs to be bulked up a bit. I just say a $450 Surefire knife that had a wire clip and it looked very sturdy indeed! It looked much stronger than the ones that Spyderco is using.

The wire clip idea is a good one, just bulk it up a bit Sal!
 
Am I the only one who's pocket edge is all beat to hell from his non-wire clip? That to me seems like the best reason to switch- wardrobe kindness.
 
I like wire clips, but only carry one, the UKPK. The low rider is a great idea.
However, most of the knives I carry are the flat type.
 
A few months ago I bought my girlfriend a Dragonfly. After a month or so of carrying it, she complained that she was tired of everyone asking her what was in her pocket. I bought her a Meerkat and she tells me it's made a world of difference. I agree. Even though the Meerkat is a substantially larger knife, it is much less visible to the outside observer due to the wire clip.

Shao
 
I have been carrying a Meerkat in my left pocket and a Dodo in my right pocket for a while at work, and I do like the wire clips. The flat clips always seemed to get caught on something and bent out of shape. I like the looks of the flat clips, though!

The clip on my Meerkat is just right, but the one on my Dodo is tight as hell. On top of that, I don't have the right size bit to fit one side of it. Anybody know what the bit sizes are so that I can maybe loosen it a little?
 
I also prefer the wire clips than the regular ones. My titanium salsa is just perfect and is also comfortable to grip.
 
I also see the wire clip as an improvement. Less snag-able, more forgiving and more descreet.
 
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