Wire clip - why?

[huugh]

What do you find good about wire clips? I have yet to try one but it doesn't seem "right'. I tend to believe traditional clip is safer (and better looking :) ). Am I wrong?

So why some of you seem to like it so much?

[fishwatcher]

I don't have one either, but am very interested in getting the Spyderco Caly3 CF, in part, because of the wire clip.

I'm very interested in the replies to this question as well.

Low profile and discrete carry, particularly with wire clips that don't show much of the knife handle, is what makes this option appealing to me.

[J Smith]

I don't like them at all.If I like everything about the knife and it has a wire clip I will not buy it.

[cobrajoe]

My favorite thing about the wire clips is the fact that they have no sharp edges whatsoever. I have many shirts that have little holes down by my right front pocket just because I bumped into something and the clip cut through my shirt.

[PSU]

I love wire clips! I prefer them over any other type of clip that I have seen. I think that the main issue that people have with wire clips is that they perceive them are not being strong or durable. Spyderco has been using these clips for quite a while and I have not heard of any wire clip performance issues (aside from the occasional stories of clip breakage that show up for any type of clip). Wire clips are plenty strong to hold a knife securely in the pocket and I have not experienced any degradation in strength over time.

Also, I find wire clips more aesthetically pleasing. An important concern of mine is that they are hardly noticeable when clipped to a pocket or waistband. They allow for very discrete carry. Plus, I challenge you to take a look at the clipside of a UKPK and tell me that its wire clip isn't a thing of beauty :cool: Another type of clip just wouldn't be appropriate.

I'll admit that I was unsure about wire clips before I gave one a try. Now, after giving them a try, I wish that wire clips were on most of my knives :D Give a wire clip a try...you won't regret it!

[fishwatcher]

J Smith,

I'd love to hear why you don't like wire clips. What are the disadvantages?

Thanks!

[bartedge]

I have three knives with wire clips, and many with other clips, and wire seems to work just as well for me, even on the D'Allara, the largest of the Spydercos I own. Of course you wouldn't consider the carrying that I do a "field test" of any sort, but I don't see a disadvantage for EDC. I like the visual subtlety of the wire clip. It lets the overall design of the knife show through. Also it feels a little less obtrusive against the hand than the pocket clips on some of the knives I have.
Sometimes I like a pocket clip to carry some of the personality of the knife. For instance, my aventura has a uniquely shaped clip that's rounded and shaped to be very easy on the hand, and has a :spyder: engraved on it. It actually looks cool over the pocket. The thing with fancy clips, though, is that they inevitably get scratched up. The wire clip, which I think is unique to the brand still says "Hey I got a Spyderco", but doesn't show scratches.

-Bart-

[yablanowitz]

The paint on my car prefers wire or molded FRN clips

I have snagged and bent wire clips on a couple of occassions. I have snagged and bent stamped flat clips on more than a couple of occassions, but I have carried more of them. I have lost more knives to stamped sheet metal clips snagging and pulling the knife out of my pocket than I have to wire clips snagging (score is currently 3 to 0).

On larger knives i like the sheer metal clips. On the smaller knives, the wire clip is great.

[J Smith]

J Smith,

I'd love to hear why you don't like wire clips. What are the disadvantages?

Thanks!

For the ones I have had they are more difficult to clip in the pocket,do not feel right in hand and the open design can catch on things and lastly IMO they look cheap.For me they have no advantage at all over a standard clip.

[J Smith]

Oh,just about forgot.A wire clip if bent out is much harder to fix.

[clovisc]

well, i seem to like the wire clips just fine, although i do like having a little spyderbugs peeking out of my pocket with the other clips...

i've had a lot of trouble with the wire clip on my d'allara always bending out of shape... i think because the knife is so large/heavy.

on a knife like the dodo, though, the wire clip performs just fine.

[jon shannow]

i have a few with wire clips and like them as much as standard clips the advantage i think they have over normal clips is weight
when weight is a factor like with smaller knives i think the wire clip is a good choice
knives like the salsa with its aluminuim handle i think benifited from even more weight saving with its wire clip
i also think it just suits some of the knives its been used on like the dodo and poliwog

[Bolster]

I prefer wire clips when I'm trying to carry discreetly--they virtually disappear along the waistband, under a belt. If someone DOES notice a wire clip, it still doesn't shout "Hey I have a knife in here!" This is important to me because I'm in a profession were people are easily spooked and many have ideological prejudices against the concept of SD...until they are mugged, of course...

[Left Hand Path]

I also like the wire clip, especially on my Caly 3, for carrying a knife discreetly. I also appreciate the lack of sharp edges, and wire clips seem to be easy on the pocket.

Caly 3
UKPK
D'allara
Dodo
Salsa
S
Native 3
Meerkat
Assist
Poliwog

Upcoming?:
Superhawk
T-mag
P'kal

Which other Spydercos have a wire clip?

[Axlis]

The wire clip seems to hold best for me, and in the case of the Caly III, can make for SUPER discreet carry.

I guess it's a "like 'em or hate 'em thing", as for me, I love 'em!

[kgriggs8]

I used to hate wire clips until I got a knife that had one. Really, until you try one, it is not fair to hate them.

[smcfalls13]

In my own personal experience, the pros and cons of wire clips are as follows:

Wire Clips

Pros:

-Very discrete carry, looks like a pen in most cases.
-Looks exactly the same after months of carry, doesn't get scratched and banged up.
-Easier to fix if it bends.
-Easier to adjust pocket retention.

Cons:

-On larger, heavier knives, it's not as secure in the pocket.
-Loosens more quickly than traditional clips.

Wire clip is perfect for lighter weight knives. Caly 3 and the Dodo in particular are two that would just look worse with a standard clip. Big heavy knives like the Manix or ATR, a wire clip just wouldn't cut it, there's not enough material to hold the knife.

[gamewraith]

The wire clip is the way to go for the smaller knives. It allows the smaller surface area to show it's stuff. Again true as many have stated, on a larger knife it adds to the elegance of the larger size, and accomodates the greater heft. Besides there aren't many other companies that I know of that have gone this route, it just sets Spyderco on a different level ( in a good way).

[jaislandboy]

I like wire clips mostly for Discretion when carrying....esp if mounted low profile style like on the Dodo and Caly3.....I dislike shiny clips (in general)... :rolleyes:

[DRod]

In my experiences, they usually don't get caught up on things that the regular clip would. Im a forklift driver and feel naked without my seatbelt on. But I noticed the day I got my Native that when ever I dismount, it would catch on my seatbelt and pull out of my pocket. Wouldn't do it every time, but just enough to piss me off. I've also caught it on my truck jumping in and out. New Chevys don't look to good with scratches.

I haven't had any of these problems with the my wire clipped D'Allara. But I've also noticed the newer clip on the Endura4 seems to have solved my previous problems as well. I HIGHLY prefer the hourglass and wire clips over the older squared off clips.