Wire clips - need your input

Sal check out customjewelshop.com .Maybe on a future short run you could contract them to do the clips in jeweled colors.
 
I hear what Sal is saying, Spyderco has never been about looks, but about "reliable high performance." How many people, besides us, would call the Military beautiful? A hunchbacked, hole-in-the-blade knife rarely wins a beauty contest with the uninitiated.

So I do hear myself when I say that the wire "looks" cheap. That's why I qualified it with the admission that I haven't tried them.

But... That's still my honest feeling. Again I ask, especially in light of what I just learned, that the wires are more expensive, why?

Greater spring pressure? I've had I don't know how many Spyders, none were "too loose" in the pocket, some (I'm thinking Pro-Venator) were actually too tight.

Lighter? The difference between a conventional and a wire clip on a knife clipped in one's pocket? Anyone who could successfully determine a difference in weight in a blind test, well...

Scratching things, like autos and furniture, I know people mention sometimes, but it has never been an issue for me, so I can't say more on that.

Reversible? Lots of the conventional clips are reversible. Isn't this more a function of knife (lock, pivot screw, etc) design, than of clip type?

And more expensive?

I still say no. The gentle curve of the clip along the handle of my Militaries is one of the subtle engineering touches that make this knife perfect. And I like the little Spyder on there too!

An oversized paper-clip screwed to the G-10? A thousand times no! :eek:
 
'Paper clip' that is what the wire clip looks like to me.Very good description.
Truely if the wire clip out preformed the classic clip I would get used to it but for me the classic clip just works better than the wire.
 
Sal:

I have a old Delica with the integral, narrow FRN clip. I carried it five days a week while wearing slacks. I could wear out the slacks, but never had pocket abrasion from the clip. I don’t know about the wire clips, but I’ve heard that the sheet-metal clips do abrade. You may want to throw pocket abrasion into the mix.

Darrel
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser

Some of the comments against the wire clip is that they "look" cheap or "look" weak, etc. Just how much emphasis is placed on looks? Especially as comparing a lower cost but still hi-perforfmance piece like an FRN piece as opposed to a more expensive and more sophisticated model such as the Military.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the average ELU - including collectors - are going to assume that this is a cost cutting measure, that wire clips are cheaper; even though the opposite is true.

I think that one shouldn't move too aggresively in moving everything to wire clips. Let some out into the market to prove themselves with popular FRN knives first (Native III, Endura, Delica). Once market acceptance is established at the entry level, expansion into the higher-end would be reasonable. However, in the end, wire clips will never 'look' as high-end as the more refined stamped clips emblazoned with the Spyderco logo.
 
I like the classic clip. I have scratched some things with the clip, but I consider that my fault, not the knife's. The strenght issue makes me favor the classic, plus I like the classic's looks better.
 
I like the wireclips for the salsa, but to be frank I don't really care much about the looks. I only need a model or two that I could use without people thinking that I'm out to kill people, and for all the other models, I couldn't care if the clip is stamped or wired.
I recall my friend jjcoolay did screw up a Native's clip because he got it caught on something and he couldn't unscrew the barrel screw afterwards. I'm not exactly sure, but I think that was the reason.
I have yet to get any of the stamped clips to catch on something, but I do see that the more rounded Salsa wireclip has an advantage from snagging things.
I would like to see wireclips that let the knife sit deeper. The Salsa still stay above the pocket a good centimeter.
 
The classic clip wears well, but I've never tried the wire clip. Interesting to note that i had the double threaded screw come out of my Endura, which pretty much dropped the knife into my pocket (as opposed to me just losing it)but away went the clip and the other half of the screw. This is more a screw issue than a clip issue.

I'd be willing ot try one of the wire ones out, Sal, ifn ya send me one (oh, along with the screw that i lost;))

Keith
 
Do not have a wire clip yet (donations accepted :D);

Wouldn't more rounded edges on the stampped clips solve some of the problems the wire clip solves?
 
Very well stated Carlos.

Aesthetics are very important to a lot of knife aficionados and I think the wire clips leave a lot to be desired aesthetically. I have tried both wire and standard clips though and both work equally well. Call me a traditionalist but I like the look of the standard clips better.

I have not had a problem with the standard clips scratching anything but I have heard the complaint from others. I think AKA's suggestion is sound in that some chamfering could solve that problem.
 
I have only one knife with a wire clip (Meerkat, of course) and I find it... hmmm... interesting. Not very happy with it, I almost lost the knife a few times, the bastard was grabbing the inner coating of my my jacket when I was moving and I found it hanging there! So it's bad it hangs to things, but it's good it stays hanged there ;)
Yet, I preffer the old style clips. I think there's still place for some improvement(s) there, before jumping to wire clips (despite the logical and common sense arguments in their favor, sorry Mr. Glesser, Sir).
 
Sal,

I like the wire clips! The one on my Meerkat has performed perfectly. I prefer the wire clips to the standard clips and the "Lil Temperance style clips".

The only thing that would be nice are clips in colors and spare clips so you can change color to suit.
 
I am not a big fan of wire clips.

I had a Q with a clip that was always loose. I also recently had a reverse S meerkat with a clip that was overly tight to the point of almost being uncarryable.

I didn't particularily think the clips looked "cheap". In fact, I like the looks of the meerkat clip - almost looks like a pen in the pocket.

IMHO, the problem with wire clips is that the combination of round slick wire, very deep pocket carry, and tight clips is that the knife was very difficult to get out of the pocket.

The relatively small surface area of the clip seems to make it difficult to grip with the fingers.

In addition, I had the wire clip catch on a few different items. It sort of acted like a hoop, and caught on to pointy things.

I don't see scratching cars/etc as a major issue, and I don't think it warrants a redesign.

I would be interested in seeing how wire clips function on a larger knife. For the time being however, I would have to say that I like the standard clip.

-- Rob
 
I have a Delica PE FRN, an Endura PE FRN, and a Salsa (all purchased
within the past year). The wire clip on the Salsa is, to me, annoying
to use. It's too tight to easily slide onto or off of the edge of a
pocket, or waistband, or anywhere else I've tried clipping it. The
clips on the Delica and the Endura are far better, IMO.

True, maybe that extra tightness would be better if I were
in situations where the knife might fall out, and thus I might
lose the knife. But to me, I'd rather actually be able to
pull the knife out of its clipped position with one hand - and
with the Salsa, I find I have to hold onto the pocket edge with
the other hand, just to get the clip off.

Maybe the wire clips are preferable with smaller knives, but
I'd really be disappointed to see them used on the larger
knives.
 
I never liked the "classic" clips, so I see the wire clip as an improvement.

Colored clips would be ok only if they were heat treated - no paint please.

On the Ti Salsa - the clip placement should be higher, for deeper pocket ride.

I always liked the clips on the Military and the original Chinook. I haven't handled one, but the new Chinook II clips are so damn ugly it makes me wonder what Spyderco was thinking.

The aluminum-handled knives should have the "classic" clip. The wire clips are rather flexible and they scuff the coating on the aluminum in both directions - all you have to do is breathe on the aluminum salsa clip and the scuffs show right up. :)

If the alternative is the Lil Temperance clip - stay with wire.
 
Although I have only briefly handled some Spyderco's with the wire clips, I have not purchased any of those knives. With all due respect for those who do like the wire clips--personally, I don't like it. I don't like it's looks (cheap), feel (when the knife is gripped) and design (whereas the traditional clip has one chance to get snagged onto something, the wire clip has two chances to get snagged onto something).

My preference is the black clips (with the gold spyder logo) that comes with most collaboration models. With strategic placement (as with the Shabaria) the knife can be made to ride low in the pocket.

The wire clip may be suitable for the smaller models; however, it would seem to be a mistake to make it standard on all models big and small. That would probably be the end of my Spyderco purchases. (Yes, I feel that strongly against it).
 
In regards to Sal's inquiry about the aesthetics of the wire clip, I'm reminded of one of Allen Elishewitz's old clip designs. I think it was right beofre the bug wing clip. It wasn't a "wire" design, but was hollowed out. Larry Chew's present clips look very smiliar to what I'm referring to.

If you wanted to go in that direction, the contour and outline of the wire could be played around with to break away from the "paper clip" look. In other words, a more angular design. Personally, I don't feel it's necessary.

There are a lot of great ideas in this thread, but I get the feeling that many of the detractors of the wire clip really haven't given it a chance. It also seems possible that many posters haven't had much experience with the wire clip. I just got my first wire clipped Spyderco last week (Salsa) and think it is one of the coolest evolutions of the pocket clip. In fact, I'd like to see a wire clip on my L'il Temperance. This is besides the point.

Remember when the Worker model first came out? Those ugly serrations, that ungainly pocket clip, and worst of all, that horrendous hump on the blade spine with that ridiculous looking hole. What a gimmick! It took a while for the industry to come around and finally see the inherent virtues in the thumb hole, pocket clip, and serrations. Now they are industry standards imitated by numerous top of the line companies and custom makers.

It seems ironic that when Spyderco comes out with another innovation (wire clip), too many of us don't want to see the improvements, instead, we opt for the comfortable, familiar and dated designs we have grown to love. As a result, we hastily condemn any deviation from the established aesthetic and tactile qualities of the solid body clip.

Get a Salsa or any wire clipped Spydie, carry it, really get aquainted with the wire clip. It actually doesn't look or feel cheap if you handle it closely (as opposed to viewing in pics). It's quite sturdy, elegant and just frickin cool. I just keep thinking about when the Spyder hole came out in the 80's...no one liked it back then.
 
As for athestics, I think it really depends on the knife. I wouldn't consider a Salsa with a classic style clip, and I won't consider the Starmate or Chinook with wireclips. I think perhaps that a longer handle makes the classic clip a better "fit", while the shorter blades may best served with a wire clip.
 
Calyth,

That was also on my mind as well. But I assume if Spyderco decided to put a wire clip on larger models such as the Military, they would go with a thicker gauge and longer clip? That may solve the problem. I know it's not a popular idea on this thread, but I'd like to see some larger models with the wire clip.

How about a Military with a wire clip, cobra hood, and a compression lock?
 
That would be a entirely differant knife that I would have no intrest in.IMO the liner lock on the Military is perfect and I could only imageine the things that the very large wire clip that it would take for this size knife would hang on.The cobra hood looks like it would work but I have problems with it hanging up on the side of my pocket while takeing it in and out,in mostly.If the hood was narrowed quite a bit I think it would work better.
 
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