Let's talk clips.

[Cricket Bite]

I have always used my clips and assumed it was part of the knife. Just a few days ago after using a cricket for years with one I decided to take off the clip and put it in my little 5th pocket in my jeans. I love it. I personally have no need for quick deployment so that isn't an issue for me. The knife feels a bit weird without it but I think I will get used to it quickly. I love clips and think it is a great concept but I think for certain applications I could do without. Does anyone else do this with anything larger? Or are clips just a universal part of the knife for you?

[Blade and Flame]

I've been carrying a C22 Michael Walker in ZDP-189 clipless and its a joy. The C22's clip placement has always rode high—I prefer just dropping it in a pocket, it's so light it disappears.

[PanChango]

I normally prefer the clip as it gives me a little more to grip, but they are more discreet without them.

I have taken the clip off my dragonfly and also my JD Smith.

I normally keep the dragonfly in a front pocket and the JD Smith dropped in my back left pocket.

[jackknifeh]

I loved clips when I got my first one. Then I bounced back and forth with clip or no-clip for a while seeking to regain some youth by not using a clip (like all my life :) ). Since that didn't work I now use clips most of the time for pocket carry. It's just easier to get the knife out if it's at the top of the pocket. But, I have to say I don't consider the clip part of the knife at all. It's a necessary evil for "top of pocket" carry. The knives I carry in a pouch (BF (does anyone know what knife this is?) and Sage4) have the clips removed. One added benefit for knives that I like with no clip is when making scales for them. Not using a clip makes making one scale easier. I haven't made scales and added the clip work on the scale for left hand carry. Why have those extra cuts visible? I will never use them. Also, sometimes I like to make scales thicker than the original which means I'd need longer clip screws and for now I don't know where to get any. The scale in the pic is twice as thick as the original at the front. This would make the clip VERY tight on the pocket if it weren't bent and I hate doing that. This is another reason the clip is not "part of the knife" for me. Tried making a set for my BF but buggered em up. Getting off subject.



Most people don't make scales so this is a personal benefit. But I'd rather use the knife without a clip for a more comfortable grip. I think if I used a knife that I normally have a clip on (D'fly, Chaparral) for HARD work I'd remove the clip and carry it as best I could. If Spyderco could make the clips more comfortable while using a knife that would be wonderful. However I think they have done a great job making them as comfortable as possible and I don't know what could be done to improve this. Solid, wire, etc. clips are just a little bit uncomfortable and only when using more than average force. With normal use (for me) they aren't really uncomfortable at all. They are just there and I'd rather they not be there but I'll take them for the benefit of easier getting out of the pocket. :)

[tvenuto]

I've removed the clip from my Manix XL because it rides to high in the pocket with it on. I've got a lanyard on it just in case, but it sit high enough in the pocket on its own.

[The Deacon]

Been carrying Spydercos and a few other knives that come with clips, for about ten years and, aside from when I was "test driving" a pre-production Manix 2, the only ones I carry clipped to my clothing are autos. The rest get the clip removed before they ever see a pocket, then carried the same way I'd been carrying pocket knives for 50 years before I discovered Spyderco. Larger ones get carried in my left back pocket, smaller ones in my watch pocket.

[Pockets]

I like clips, but if I knew I'd be using the knife hard, I might remove it.
Jackknifeh, I make scales too, and I've found that you can put a small bolt through the lanyard hole to hold the clip on. This works on knives like the Delica and Stretch, but it wouldn't work on the Ulize, for example, as it has no lanyard hole. It's not ideal, but it works plenty good for me. Plus, if I take the clip off, there are no marks on the scales.

[gbelleh]

I like clips. They are valuable space savers. I carry a lot of stuff in my pockets, and having a knife loose in a pocket just doesn't work for me. However, I do keep something in my watch pocket, normally a micro multi-tool, but lately a Dyad Jr., which has come in handy several times so far. But I almost always prefer to have a clip.

[paisa777]

I've removed the clip from my Manix XL because it rides to high in the pocket with it on. I've got a lanyard on it just in case, but it sit high enough in the pocket on its own.

My thoughts exactly as to the XL riding high. Anybody know of any low rider clips that are available for the XL?

[phaust]

My thoughts exactly as to the XL riding high. Anybody know of any low rider clips that are available for the XL?

STR can make one for you as long as you're ok with the fact it will sit on top of the lanyard tube, making the tube unusable.

[Jazz]

Clips are the only way to go for me. They are a great invention (thanks, Sal), they give more grip for my big hands, they help the little guys open easier by adding a gripping spot for the pinky (Cricket, for example), and you can still throw them in your watch pocket with the clip on, but just ignore it. More room in your pockets for other things and your knife is quicker to get to (if you ever had to in an emergency), and more handy.
While we're at it, I prefer solid clips over the wire ones, except on the Dfly and Squeak.

[thurin]

I carry a Balance with the clip removed in my watch pocket. Other than that, I prefer the wire clips on the Sage 1 and Caly 3 as the ride pretty low.

[Holland]

i dont use the clips for any of my knives, but i keep them on because it provides more grip when opening and losing knives

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

On many knives I think that a clip is silly. I like pocket carry with most medium and small knives. Some of the larger ones, Bradley folder and Military, I like having a clip. But pretty much everything else, I take the clips off.

[gull wing]

Saw my first clip(Spyderco) many years ago at a show in Houston, fell in love with them and was sold. I've used them since. Before Spyderco's wire and hourglass clip, I often made my own in titanium because I didn't like how they looked or felt or were too tight.(thank's Sal for listening)

Love the clip, best thing since the bottle cap.

[Evil D]

Diehard clip guy here. Back in my youth before I discovered a knife with a pocket clip, I very rarely EDC'ed a knife, because I can't stand belt sheaths and didn't like them flopping around in my pockets. I would carry them when I knew I would need them for something. I don't even remember the first knife I had that came with a clip, but to me it's so important that I've passed on buying some knives that I really liked because they didn't have clips.

[VictorLouis]

I feel there's another great advantage to the clip, at least in tip-up carry. That is, it helps keep the lint and crud from lodging where it can interfere w/locking-up. I went to open my my CalyJr.(free-floating in my pocket) the other day, and didn't hear, nor feel the 'click'. You guessed it, a big dust-bunny stuck in there. Now, I'm going to be keeping it in some kind of pouch, LOL.

[xceptnl]

I am with David; diehard clip guy here. I have however purchased an AIR and Kiwi recently that now swap duties in my watch pocket. When I wear pants without that dedicated pocket, I go without those clipless knives also. Never fear, I always have a backup or three.

[Evil D]

There are some traditional slipjoints that I really like, but I don't buy them because they'd just sit in a box and never get used. If it wasn't for my tackle box, I probably wouldn't use my SAK very often either but it does see a good bit of use when I'm fishing.

At some point I'm bound to own one or both of these