Spyderco Forums

I've had my Para 3 Lightweight since May and I like everything about it except for one thing: I've knocked the wire clip off of it four times.

I've got a ton of Spydercos with the wire clip (Sages, Dragonflys, Lil Native) and I've never had this problem before. I moved the clip over to left-hand carry and I've dislodged it twice getting into my car and twice bumping something as I walked by. I moved from carrying it in my left back pocket to my left front pocket, but have popped the clip off from both places. So far I've been lucky and realized that it's happened but I figure it's just a matter of time before I lose the clip.

Has any other Para 3 Lightweight owner seen this problem? Anyone have any advice?

I pulled out my digital vernier caliper and measured the thickness of the handle including the wireclip height and got about 11.4mm as the width for the clip setup for right-hand carry. I then moved the clip over to left-hand carry and measured again, getting 11.5mm on one leg and 11.6mm on the other, telling me that the left-hand groove for the wire clip is 0.1mm to 0.2mm shallower than the right-hand side. I would not have thought that would make a difference but clearly it does. I've stopped carrying the Para 3 lightweight because I can't reliably keep the clip on through normal use.

It's a beautiful knife with great ergonomics, but since I can't keep the pocket clip on it, I can't carry it.

Mine has not been knocked off, but in the month I've had it, the clip has come lose twice. Luckily I was able to tighten it both times, but if I was out in the woods when it happened who knows if I would have lost it or not. I guess I could put some locktite on it, but I would prefer not to.

I took the clip off of mine and wanted to put it back on.
No chance to remove the screw. It was turning and turning.
I even removed the blade and used some force - no way to remove the clip screw...

Hi Clrkwllms, Jaysus,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

Have carried my Para 3 LW almost everyday since I got it in April. Have not had a problem with the wire clip yet, but I carry right front pocket. I will keep an eye on it though

My dad hasn't had the clip fall off, but when I tried to move it for him the D shaped flat rounded off on the hole and the screw just turned as well. I had to grab it from the other side with a pliers to loosen it and subsequently tighten it.

You know, my LW P3's clip has acted like it wanted to come off, never did come off though.
If I have to, may mill the insets a bit deeper????

No issues with mine.

No issue with mine as of yet, carry it 4 or 5 days a week in my shorts while I exercise. Love my wire clip Spyderco knives!

Try levering the screw upwards as you undo the screw.

An easy fix is to flatten the the two ends of the clip that sit in the scale. I use my DMT coarse diamond stone. The clip will sit firmly and won't roll.

NewSpy wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:27 am

An easy fix is to flatten the the two ends of the clip that sit in the scale. I use my DMT coarse diamond stone. The clip will sit firmly and won't roll.

This worked amazingly thanks.

I’d send it to warranty and repair. The P3lw has become my most carried model by far (3 different ones from different batches) and I’ve never had this problem.

Have all five para3 exclusives (6th M4 incoming) and haven't had that issue.

I think the slots for the wire clip arent as deep on the p3 lw as other spydercos with a wire clip.

I havent had a problem, although my clip screw was loose from the factory.

I've had mine loosen up a bit a few times, but not bad at all since I applied some 243 loctite to it. If it really bugs you, I'm sure you could get a LynchNW replacement clip for it.

Yes, I noticed this as well, the clip will roll on both of mine, and that hasn't been an issue on any of my wire clip knives except the Para 3s.

I replaced one of my Para 3s wire clips with an aftermarket deep carry Ti clip and love it, it's better all around. If I decide to keep the other P3 it will certainly get a Ti clip as well.

Ez556 wrote: My dad hasn't had the clip fall off, but when I tried to move it for him the D shaped flat rounded off on the hole and the screw just turned as well. I had to grab it from the other side with a pliers to loosen it and subsequently tighten it.

Ric wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2019 10:58 pm

I took the clip off of mine and wanted to put it back on.
No chance to remove the screw. It was turning and turning.
I even removed the blade and used some force - no way to remove the clip screw...

My 20CV LW shipped with a clip screw barrel that was significantly smaller than the hole in the FRN scales, leading to this issue. I love carrying this knife but it's definitely been the most problematic spyderco I've received from the factory.

metaphoricalsimile wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 02, 2021 2:26 pm

My 20CV LW shipped with a clip screw barrel that was significantly smaller than the hole in the FRN scales, leading to this issue. I love carrying this knife but it's definitely been the most problematic spyderco I've received from the factory.

This makes so much sense - I am currently having trouble re-tightening the clip screw on my knifejoy lw after taking it semi-apart for maintenance, and I thought I had damaged the hole in the FRN somehow.