"THAT" Knife clip

brandoak

brandoak

Joined
Aug 1, 2015
Messages
1,351
We have seen leaps and bounds made in the way of knife design, locking mechanisms, deployment methods, and pivot systems just to mention a few. But when it comes to knife clips it seems as though we have been stuck in a rut to say the least. We've seen little in optimization or implementation of this very important sidekick to our EDC. I know, "don't fix whats not broke" right? Well hold on, not so fast.
I have no problem with people thinking outside the box and quite possibly even improving on functionality.

If your like me, you've probably lost, or came close to loosing a knife because of the clip. When considering the purchase of a knife the clip is one of first things I study and although my parkour days are over (jk), I still want a clip that's going to keep my knife in my pocket securely. While traditional clips have "worked", I still feel like I'm waiting for "THAT" knife clip. The grail of knife clips. A new knife clip that is so well received that its adopted by the industry like the CRK frame lock.

A possible contender:


The Miltner Adams SLC Clip

The Miltner Adams self locking clip was licenses to a company by the name of Nite Ize and sold as a versatile all purpose pocket clip for all your gadget needs, Nite Ize called it the "Eclipse". It was originally made of stainless steel and highly praised, but from what I understand it was discontinued due to the fact that it was primarily being used as a cell phone clip and something about having metal attached to a cell phone was a big no-no. The license with Nite Ize was terminated and Miltner Adams again reintroduced the SLC this time in a Carbon Fiber Composite. In 2013 Nite Ize picked the product back up in its new form but overall enthusiasm fell short due to complaints about breakage.

While Many have implemented the adhesive backed stainless steel Nite Ize Eclipse on Leathermans and SAK's, I think it begs to be re-engineered as a proprietary screw fixed knife clip design. Imagine an improved version of this product milled out of stainless or titanium. Food for thought.?




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtnzkQ_sr1s
 
That design would require twice as much finger manipulation to pull your knife from your pocket and I think it would give the user a false sense of security. What happens when the buckle wears out? Presumably the clip itself is going to get pulled away from the knife side with each use of the buckle, possibly creating a gap, which could result in a surprisingly loose knife clip.

The idea of engineering better clips is a good one though.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
That design would require twice as much finger manipulation to pull your knife from your pocket .....
Click to expand...

I have the stainless version of this and it comes right out of the pocket with ease, doesn't even require practice. A better, well made version of it would be nice.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
The idea of engineering better clips is a good one though.
Click to expand...

I agree with that in theory, but it seems in practice that whenever someone has an innovative clip it sucks in some new and special way rather than being particularly useful. The disappearing pop-out spring loaded clip on the Microtech version of the Sigil is a neat sounding idea, but in practice I found it a sub-optimal clip. The "let's put the clip on the spine" design like on the CRKT Swindle makes the knife ride funny in the pocket. The "shaped like poop" clip on the Ken Onion CRKT Wrinkle looks like poop. The Chaves cool tough skull clip looks like a duck-billed human skull (cannot unsee that now, and I've tried). The Southard pointy clip is good--if you like punching holes in your pants at least.

Innovative clips, in my experience, kind of suck. The V with a ball clip that Begg uses is actually really nice, though--but then you're stuck with a gaudy Begg knife attached to it.
 
I was going to add an "atrocities" tribute like the Rockstead ryo clip and Microtech Sigil but my post was already getting long winded..lol
 
I don't have much trouble with clips coming loose. I think more importantly is the clip not ripping apart my jeans. The clip with a ball at the end seemed to fix that. Like the one of the TB steelcraft.
65ae23b81ec526b10726178c2d13017c.jpg
 
russianpolander said:
My favorite is Spydercos wire clip.
Click to expand...

What's not to like about those? Good retention and easy on the pants. It does look kind of crappy when a knife has a reversible wire clip, though. My stepped titanium Chaparral would look a lot prettier if the non-clip side didn't have two ugly slots cut into it.
 
This would be a great way to OVER complicate a simple clip that works perfectly fine. Spyderco/Benchmade/ZT all have clips that just work.
 
What about the Andre de Villiers clip on his Pathfinder model? The clip has rotating "rolling" pin to more easily slide the knife into/out of the pocket. If I had the money I'd like to try one.

When it comes to spring loaded, spine-mounted, and overtly phallic clips, I'll pass too.

The Wrinkle just makes me wonder if Ken Onion was constipated when he designed it. What would have been more funny would have been if the clip was normal looking and mounted to that handle.

Strange clips seem like they would be hard sells, but companies mass produce them anyway. That's a whole other thread...
 
I have/had a mess of two variations of the NiteIze clips.
They work as intended but one eats pockets like there is no tomorrow and the other is a tad flimsy.
As mentioned, they work but I only put them on knives and tools, which hadnt already a clip.
That was my primary reason for purchasing the clips.
As others have stated, Spyderco for example makes some excellent clips and I wouldnt replace a Spyderco clip with a NiteIze clip.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
What about the Andre de Villiers clip on his Pathfinder model? The clip has rotating "rolling" pin to more easily slide the knife into/out of the pocket........
Click to expand...

Kind of the opposite of what I was getting at in a way,...I was leaning on the design that would help retain the knife not make it easier to come out.:) nice to see someone doing something different tho. :thumbup:
 
BladeScout said:
I have/had a mess of two variations of the NiteIze clips.
They work as intended but one eats pockets like there is no tomorrow and the other is a tad flimsy.
As mentioned, they work but I only put them on knives and tools, which hadnt already a clip.
That was my primary reason for purchasing the clips.
As others have stated, Spyderco for example makes some excellent clips and I wouldnt replace a Spyderco clip with a NiteIze clip.
Click to expand...

I think it was a good idea, but just poorly executed. Imagine if Michrotech was to make it? :cool:
 
What about the G&G Hawk clip?
(Afaik) Added pressure on the clip tip to reduce the knife from becoming unintentionally dislodged, while having a tab to press on to draw your knife or just drag it out as with a regular clip.


brandoak said:
I think it was a good idea, but just poorly executed. Imagine if Michrotech was to make it? :cool:
Click to expand...

If Microtech made it, I would look to KAI for the original version. ;)
 
Spyderco and ZT clips...wire-clips, whatever...all have worked fine for me. I see no need to replace them.
The nastiest clip I've ever owned came on a BM 755 MPR, but I will thank BM for sending me a suitable replacement clip. My pockets just about fell apart when I carried that knife.
 
NJBillK said:
What about the G&G Hawk clip?
(Afaik) Added pressure on the clip tip to reduce the knife from becoming unintentionally dislodged, while having a tab to press on to draw your knife or just drag it out as with a regular clip.




If Microtech made it, I would look to KAI for the original version. ;)
Click to expand...

Was just about to mention the hawk clip, an awesome idea that's well executed. Too bad it's not available for more knives.
 
While that theory is interesting I really don't see the need. I've never lost a knife out of my pocket, so I've never desired a "better" clip. If I were in a situation where knife loss could be a concern, I would attatch a lanyard from the knife to my belt.
 
brandoak said:
Kind of the opposite of what I was getting at in a way,...I was leaning on the design that would help retain the knife not make it easier to come out.:) nice to see someone doing something different tho. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Oops, I guess that clip wouldn't help you situation so much. Unless the ADV clip was so tight that it needed the roller to even fit a pocket. :D What if instead of a little roll pin mounted horizontally, the ADV clip had a pin mounted vertically that somehow the user could hand tighten to clamp their blade to their pocket? Not handy, but it might stay in if you decided to rekindle your love for parkour.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top