Kershaw Pocket Clips

G

gnius

Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
413
Let me preface by noting that Kershaw is one of my most favorite knife brands, and I've carried a Kershaw in my pocket more than any other knife brand. I also highly recommend Kershaw to others. As a matter of fact, I have a Kershaw in my pocket right now.

There is, however, an issue, which has been bothering me for awhile, regarding Kershaw knives, and it's the pocket clips.

Issue #1: Batman style

The JYD, Tyrade, etc... all look amazing... until you turn them over. Not only do the clips look thoroughly overdone and unprofessional, but they also attract attention... which we all know is never helpful when it comes to carrying knives.

These are all excellent knives, well-designed, with good steel, and excellent workmanship. Please give them the respect they deserve, and simply change the clip style standard straight clips. You don't even need to play with the length or the width... just the shape.

Just take a look at the simple and elegant clip design of the Blur.

Issue #2: Shiny polish

I guess this is less of an issue, and more of a request (that I hope gets seconded by other enthusiasts). I rarely leave home without a nice blade, but having a bright shining stainless clip on one's pocket does attract unwanted attention. Considering that clips are removable, would it be possible to have black-anodized (or at least painted) clips available for knives that are not DLC coated?
 
Good points, but I've got to disagree somewhat.

As for the Tyrade, JYD and the ENER-G, remember these knives are the designs of well known custom makers. They designed the clips to follow the form of the knife. Take Kershaw's name off the Tyrade and put Ken Onion's name on it: Add a few grand to the price. The same goes for Tim's JYD and Lee's ENER-G. So while they may look to some that they're "out there", remember what you are buying.

As for shiny clips, again I believe this goes back to the designer.

You don't say where you're from, but it sounds like you might not live in a knife friendly area. Here in the mountains, having a folder or even a fixed blade on your person is not an uncommon sight. Its part of the culture. You grow up carrying knives.

There is a website that sells a boat-load of aftermarket clips in different styles and colors. If I can find it, I'll post it up for you. This may be your best remedy. There's also the option of removing the clip and attaching a small lanyard.

As for Kershaw's clips in general, I'd like to see them ride a little lower, or enlarge the lanyard hole to handle 550 paracord. But that's just me, and I hapily live with the great knives they produce. I've been looking at my Lahar for weeks now trying to figure out where to put a lanyard hole. The knife is big enough that if equipped, I'd remove the clip all together, and just use a small square sinnet lanyard.

Let me dig around and see if I can find the website I mentioned.

Here's the site I was looking for!
 
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I do not like shiny clips, because you always have some idiot saying let me see your knife. Some people I like to show my knives to, others I do not.
 
I gotta admit, Im on the fence on this one. I agree with alot of what DV says, and I do agree designer form is part of what we pay for, but at the same time, the practical side of me says that form follows function.

I would personally like to see more "practically" sized narrow clips with the tip up option on every single design.

The wavey or curved clips just dont lend themselves to reversal.
 
Clip design and placement is often a "deal breaker" for me. There have been many times where I have chosen not to buy an otherwise excellent knife because too much of the knife protrudes from my pocket or the polished clip draws too much attention.

This has nothing to do with knives being unacceptable in my area but is due to the fact that I don't like to advertise what I am carrying..
 
I tend to agree with you gnius. This is another reason the Chive, Scallion, Leek and now the Shallot are my favorite models. I don't have the Scallion nor a Shallot; although I plan on obtaining a Shallot in the future. The clip on the Needs Work is actually a little to small in a way. I had a Storm and couldn't stand the way it looked clipped in the pocket.
 
I'm going to steal a photo from RxEnergy that he posted in the Kershaw photo thread above, it is easier than taking a photo myslef! Thanks RxEnergy!

Take a look at the clip on the Hawk DOG folder, the one on the far right with the clip showing. The knife itself is pretty darn large but the clip works perfectly and the knife rides low and easy in a pocket. I just measured the clip on my DOG and it is 1 1/16" long and less than 1/4" wide at the widest point and only roughly 1/8" wide at the narrowest point. GREAT clip, have never remotely felt like I was going to loose the knife and it is tiny and looks like an ink pen clip almost. It is silver and I have never had anyone even notice it on my jeans or dress pants, though black would be even better I suppose.

Meanwhile I have lost my Chive out of my pocket several times when it was clipped on and had it hit the ground. The clip on my chive is 2 3/8" long too! Also on the tiny chive roughly 3/4 of an inch of the knife protrudes from the pocket on a knife that is only about 3" closed. The Hawk DOG is 4 3/4" long and only 1/8" shows above the pocket.

HAWKsr.jpg




I think clips could be made smaller and still work as the DOG shows. With all that said though, I never think about the clip until after a knife is purchased though so it does not affect my purchases. It does affect how much I carry and use them though.
 
Gespenst said:
Clip design and placement is often a "deal breaker" for me. There have been many times where I have chosen not to buy an otherwise excellent knife because too much of the knife protrudes from my pocket or the polished clip draws too much attention.

This has nothing to do with knives being unacceptable in my area but is due to the fact that I don't like to advertise what I am carrying..
Click to expand...


I agree 100%. Since I have found out about STR and gotten a clip for my Tyrade I am a little bit less worried about clip placement. It does seem like more knife companies are coming out with the low ride clip though. As far as a shiney clip, or even a bb clip goes, I always apply black 3M Stair Step tape to my clips to hide them and to give a better purchase to them when drawing the knife from my pocket.
 
That is a great idea! I will have to start looking for some of this tape.
Thanks!


cutter17 said:
As far as a shiney clip, or even a bb clip goes, I always apply black 3M Stair Step tape to my clips to hide them and to give a better purchase to them when drawing the knife from my pocket.
Click to expand...
 
I would have to agree, I'm a fan of low profile clips like on the E.T. I just got a Tyrade today. I like everything about it except the clip. I've passed up a JYD for the same reason. Even something like the clips on the ZT 300/200 series. I also have a Shallot, clip is OK, but would like smaller. Just my opinion.
 
I love shiny clips.

I mean... all my knives that have black clips became "unpainted" with the hard use. My jeans has the power to remove the anodized (or paint) from the black clips. That´s horrible...

I prefer metal natural clips, with no anodizing or paint.
 
It seems funny that the ZT line which I would call higher end designer type blades have simple clips.
 
I am going to side with SPX on this matter. I have always found Kershaw clips to be among the best among production knife makers. The black oxide used on some of the clips is very durable and looks great, IMO.

In the case of more exotic clips, such as on the JYD II, I have found that they are not designed on a 'whim', but rather form an integral part of the knife handle. From a design point of view, the JYD clip has a sort of organic flow to it, with swells that allow for a comfortable grip. The expanse of metal above the clip allows for an easy retrival from the pocket.

As SPX has suggested, the artist's/designer's knife interpretation includes the clip and I have yet to see a Kershaw clip that needs a mod or is a deal breaker for me.
 
Actually some clips can be works of art on their own.
I like the clips and the different shapes and sizes on all my knives.
But sometimes I would like deep carry and non shiny and/or black clips.
I'd buy a black version clip as an accessory if kershaw offered them.
 
the clip is the ONLY thing I don't love about my JYD II. However, it's just from an aesthetic standpoint. It's a bit too attention grabbing. It's a fantastic clip though - how it's curved out and short and fat makes it a cinch to slide down onto a pocket, yet it's got a wide contact area so it stays in place well.


I actually got rid of my Needs Work because I hated the clip, it was impossible to put in or take off of a pocket for me.
 
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