Wire clips - need your input

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

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I notices that some like and some do not like the new wire clips that we're using. We've tried several types ("Q", Meerkat, Salsa).

I would be curious as to what wire clip you "like" or "hate" and why?. If the wire clip was an unpleasant experience caused by the early Meerkats, I can understand. There were some design errors on that part. However, the Salsa clip, Native III clip, the Assist clips and the D'Allara clip have performed flawlessly.

They bend so the plastic isn't torn out. They are round so they don't scratch furniture, autos, etc. They are reversible, They are lighter, less mass for the "visual" and they have greater spring tension. All of the logic is there for a wire clip. I would really be interested to know what it is about the wire clips that is liked and disliked. Personbally, I see a very useful future for wire clips, but I would really appreciate your input.

sal
 
Ok I'll go first:) . I have only one wire clip,that one an early (440c)Meercat.I like the wire clips!! Ok the early ones like mine had a bend in them that was not quite right but I understand that has been fixed.

I like mine because of the low profile.In an office or college enviroment it looks like a well,clip but one used for papers etc. not a knife.Which is why I think a pink Delica with a pink plastic clip would be great as that would appear as a highlighter clipped to a bookbag,pocket.
 
I had some reliability problems with the Meerkat clip, the wider format wire clips have been good. The early Salsa clips were a bit tight, but the clips on the later models, as well as the Assist and Native III have been perfect, and for FRN knives I think it preferable to the old style. I'd like to see these latest generation of clips applied to the Endura/Delica/Spyderhawk along with next gen 3-D handles.

I think that classic clips still have a place on higher-end knives, especially custom collabs as they add an important element to the overall fit and finish.

Wire clip = tool knife
Classic clip = object d'art, collectible knives
 
I don't care for the looks of the wire clips. I had a Salsa and I thought the clip "stuck out" from the body of the knife, in other words had more space under the clip which caused it to bang into things more. The logic does make sense. But, like Carlos said, I am just a traditionalist and like the three-screw clip. I don't really care for any other types of clips. I love the Sebenza, but don't like the single-screw clip. Maybe I'm just pining away for the "good old days", sorry! I do like the new clips on the CF Delica/Police. They are great and look really nice. HOWEVER, I do not like the barrel screw/clip well arrangement on the current FRN Endura/Delica, etc. If there is any way to remedy that, I am all for it. Just don't like the wire clips. Thanks!
Leo Gilbert
 
sal, i have one of the AUS 6 kats and i love the clip. haven't been able to obtain one of the others yet but so far i love the clip. it isn't as obvios as some of the other clips used (endura, police, millie, etc) i also love how low the knife rides in te pocket when using a wire clip. at first i must admit that i was a little aprehensive about a wire clip. figured it would bend easy and be cheap. i find now just how wrong i was... THEY'RE GREAT! thanks for asking for the input.



Grace and peace
sven
 
I was a bit worried about wire clips after first having one on a "Q", it was far too lose.

But I think the new generation of wire clips are absolutely brilliant.
The clip on the Ti-Salsa is tough as a tank and the Meerkat clip lets the knife ride very low in the pocket (very important in my line of work).

I've found the wire clips catch in obsticles far less, I've bent more than one folded metal clip. They're also a lot more friendly on furniture (no more getting yelled at for scratching the dinning room chairs :D )

Keep producing them and I'll keep buying them.
 
Hi Sal,
I bought a new Salsa at your factory sale last week. So far, I am having a hard time with the clip. It really is tough. Very tight and hard to push my pants pocket into it. Also, the Salsa has opened in my hand while I am pushing the clip into my pocket.
I been not cliping it to my pants and will probably remove the clip, which is ok for me. I wanted a knife like the pride but one that locks for a EDC. And this fit the bill.
Thanks for the opportunity to give you some feedback

Jack
 
Sal,
I like the Ti Salsa one and the native III. The salsa one was very tight but is fine now. The III was just right. I like it because I'm a wide person and it doesn't scratch chairs when I sit down. Also less noticable in my work environment.
Chris
 
They are round so they don't scratch furniture, autos, etc. They are reversible, They are lighter, less mass for the "visual" and they have greater spring tension.
Click to expand...

That pretty much sums up why I am a great fan of the wire clip. So many makers have been trying to redesign the clip in the past decade or so. The primary difference between many modified clips and the standard/original Spyderco clip is the silhouette and screw placement.

The wire clip is more of a radical change. And like Sal said, these changes are only a logical step towards a more refined concept of what a clip could be. The Salsa is my first wire clipped folder and I wish more of my Spyderco folders had them. If you actually look at the clip from the perspective of industrial design, it is quite modern and minimalistic in its conception. Congratulations on such a sophisticated idea.
 
I only had one knife with the wire clip, a "Q" that I bought at my first knife show in 1998, I still have the knife, but I lost the clip. :(
 
I like the wire clip on my Meerkat. I also like how it rides low in the pocket.

The wire clip on the salsa is good. If anything it could maybe be a smaller gage wire and just a bit smaller in over all size.

I hope to see more knives with the wire clip.
 
I for one hate wire clips.I have had all the knives that have them.The only one that I came close to likeing was the Salsa.I have a Native lll now and carried it for 6 hours.It seemed that everything I walked by wanted to grab the clip.Another thig is that I just do not like the looks of them .IMHO it makes the knife look cheap.I showed it to several people at work,they are true ELUs they know nothing about knives except they need them to cut stuff.No one I showed it to liked it.I asked why because they like my other Natives and they all said they didn't like the looks of the clip.This was 8 people in all and not one liked it.I thought this was REALLY strange because anytime I get a new spydie I take it to work to show it off and I useally get neet,cool and the like.Sorry but you asked and I am not one to say I like something when I do not.
 
I'm with u812 on this one. My objections are almost solely aesthetic. The wire clips, IMO, make the knife look like something other than a knife (money clip? beeper maybe?). I'm fond of the Spyderco clips with the Spyderco symbol. In part, the symbol itself bespeaks quality. I am disappointed to hear that the Paramilitary is designed for a wire clip.
 
I don't like the wire clips. They look cheap. Please bring back the Spyder clip with the Spyder symbol.
 
Wow, it's great to see this.

My only experience with the wire clip is with the meerkat, and I was not entirely impressed.

My main quam with wires is they don't seem nearly as durable as traditional full metal clips. I can't say this from experience, because I've never broken one. But... it's just a bent piece of thin wire... Perhaps some of Spyderco's testing will prove me wrong? I base my opinions of the appearance of used traditional clips. Man, are those nasty looking. My coworkers delica's (which just came back from sharpening @ CO) clip is just awful looking. Paint rubbed off all over, scratches, etc. My dragonfly's metal clip (when I got the plastic one removed) goes the same. Dents, scratches, paint wear. I can't fathom a wire holding up to the kind of abuse that Spyderco's were built for. Like I said, I could be wrong- wires could be damn tough and I might never know it. I guess, that gives me a reason to pick up the much awaited Dodo. :)

What I DO like about the wire is the concealability. Definately A++. Staying inconspicuous is definately to our advantage, especially to those in college/workplace, especially in this day and age. I like how the wire clip attached to the meerkat allows for a very low carry when clipped. However, I think mounting the three-holed traditional clip very close to the pommel would be equally acceptable. People would see the black/silver clip, but not the knife that rides inside the pocket.

Plus, traditional clips are easier to grab.


Is there an ETA on the Dodo?
 
I for one like the wire clips. Maybe not on all knives but I feel they definitely have a place. Love them on the smaller knives. But feel the larger knives still should have the classic metal clips. You might also think of wire clips made from other metals such as titanium. Or maybe as an option offering optional clips so that users could change them to fit the attire. Such as gold plated, black, khaki, or blue wire clips. Just a thought.
 
My only experience is with early salsa model blue and a titanium model. I like the fact that they are so much more comfortable for the hand!Plu, they are definitely more low profile. The downside is that hey are so tight! plus, on tip down models they could be hard to grab. But I don´t grab any of the clip on withdrawing tip up knives.

Overall, I like them but make them less tight.

Wouter
 
I think that the wire clip works well on smaller Spydies and it's a real plus when you want to carry in a discreet manner. But Sal, I hope that y'all don't gravitate towards the wire clip for all your models. I think that it would look "cheap" on the larger and/or custom collaboration models. The standard clip just looks, and IMO is, more substantial and classier.
 
I don't own any Spydercos with the wire clip, but I do have some wire-gated carabiners (used for rock climbing). The wire is very similar and quite durable. No problems losing springiness. Also, someone slammed one of mine in a door, bending the wire. It was pretty easy to bend things back into shape (though it took a good bit of force). So I don't think durability is a huge issue.

I also like the low profile of wire clips, and the lack of flaking finish/paint. As for the sheet metal clips, I definitely like the spyder. I'm a bit curious about how well the clips on the Lil Temperance and ATR work - haven't been able to handle either of these yet.
 
"I just do not like the looks of them"

"It makes the knife look cheap."

"No one I showed it to liked it."


Hey, Sal; how many people said this about the "classic" clip back in '81? :D

(Not to single you out, u812; it's just that your comments sum up a lot of people's objections to the wire clips :) )


Personally, though I have very little experience with 'em, I'm in favor of the wire clips if they work properly (seem to), make the knife seem less "knifelike" in the pocket (seem to), and eliminate or minimize the clip-twisting problems that I've had with the barrel screws (here's hoping).

I haven't been a Spyderco user for too long (about two years now), but the wire clip just "makes sense" to me. I see it being another ubiquitous knife market convention that everybody copies from Spyderco.
 
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