"Spyderco Delica-Like" with plastic clip?

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Kawamax

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If I've got my pants on, I've got a knife on. I prefer the repeatability and quick access of a knife clipped to my pocket, rather than having to grope around inside my pocket feeling for it. And that is the problem...

In the mid/late 80s I was able to buy Spyderco Delicas with an integral FRN/plastic handle and I loved them. Particularly when if I leaned against one of my cars and the knife didn't scratch the finish. :) Current Delicas all have a metal clip (yes I have several) but I'd really prefer an EDC that didn't have a metal clip.

I've looked, and the non-metal clips seem to be a thing of the past for most/all knives. I can't find replacement clips that are plastic either. So I'm throwing myself on the knowledge of the forum to see of anyone knows of something that might work. What I'm looking for: 2.5 to 3.5" blade, thumb or flipper release (I guess automatic would be OK too), reasonable quality. I'd go to $150 for something that was a perfect match, but $50-75 would be better. If the clip and knife were blue to blend in better with my jeans that would be a plus as well. Thanks for your help!

PS. I have a pic I scrounged from ebay to show the type of clip I am looking for.

842619677_tp.jpg

PPS. Current EDC is a Kershaw Leek. I really like the knife, except for the non-deep metal clip...
 
Spyderco with remove and replace a broken plastic clip with a metal one. Now, I found over time that the black metal clips would fatigue and break. If I had a knife with a broken black metal clip, I would buy from the a stainless clip as they were more substantial. If you talk to them on the phone they can determine which one will fit a given knife.

That's not your answer, but just info for the readers.
 
What about trying to find someone with a good 3D printer that can print ABS? A friend who has a good printer tells me that the cheaper printers can only use PLA filament, which is brittle, but ABS can flex. So, maybe find someone who can print you a clip from a ABS (or perhaps a more suitable material) for the knife of your choice.

Or, even simpler, cover a metal clip with heat shrink tubing, or some sort of other rubber tubing to get an even less marring exterior on the clip.
 
Thank you for the info. I'm afraid that the plasti dip or heat shrink tubing will wear poorly, but it's a good out of the box idea for my existing blades, and I will give it a shot. I'll also follow up on the coldsteel knives - thank you JohnKSa.
 
Or, even simpler, cover a metal clip with heat shrink tubing, or some sort of other rubber tubing to get an even less marring exterior on the clip.
I like the heat-shrink idea. That stuff can be really strong. If I were going to take that approach, I would take the clip off and really smooth all the edges. The smoother the edges, the less likely they are to cut/wear through the tubing over time. Then I would try to find heat-shrink that was a tight fit before shrinking and try to get a couple of layers on for extra "padding" and durability.
 
I' not trying to close the thread, as I'd love more input if people have it. But I thought I'd give an update: Firstly, the heat shrink idea works for protection, but it makes it very hard to both clip and unclip the knife to my pocket. I'm going to try it a couple more days and see how it goes. I'll also try it on a metal Delica, as the current test subject is a Kershaw Leek and the Delica may have a looser clip than the Leek.

And lastly, I've also ordered a Luzon (well 2 actually) and a Kiridashi. :)
 
I remember owning 2-3 of the old molded plastic clip spyderco knives. As I remember, I eventually "sprung" every one of those clips and unlike the metal clips there was no way to bend them back (I still end up with "sprung" pocket clips, but the metal one's I can usually bend them back).
 
I was young and dumb and fell for the whole "clip on" marketing years ago and bought an expensive Benchmade and clipped it onto my jeans. Shortly after I lost it because the clip caught on a shopping cart in a crowded high noise environment. And I will never carry a knife on a clip again. I have worked jobs where I watched guys lose key rings, knives, radios, tools etc. that were "clip on". If it's important it needs to be secured to your belt - not clipped on your pants.
 
I was young and dumb and fell for the whole "clip on" marketing years ago and bought an expensive Benchmade and clipped it onto my jeans. Shortly after I lost it because the clip caught on a shopping cart in a crowded high noise environment. And I will never carry a knife on a clip again. I have worked jobs where I watched guys lose key rings, knives, radios, tools etc. that were "clip on". If it's important it needs to be secured to your belt - not clipped on your pants.
That doesn't account for individual differences. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of military personnel have carried modern folders clipped to their pants pockets, or clipped to the MOLLE webbing on their body armor. When you're wearing a piece of body armor that comes to just above your belt (or just below it depending on your torso length) it's much easier to access a knife that's clipped to your pants pocket. I carried a Benchmade 530 clipped IWB to my PT shorts when I was in PT uniform in Iraq - JShirley and Sam Owens ARK knife from Spyderco wasn't available yet. I know lots of LE who carry a folder clipped in a pants pocket because they have too much other gear held onto to their duty belt. Lots of sailors and white water rafters carry a folder clipped into a chest pocket or webbing on their PFD. I've often carried a folder clipped IWB or in the pocket of swim trunks when at the beach or boating. If clips were just marketing hype that didn't work for most people, they wouldn't be on most folders 40 years after Spyderco introduced them on mass produced knives.
 
I used to work at a regional airport and our guys had to race up and down active runways and taxiways all night on tractors and hanging off of fuel trucks and aircraft. A guy lost a keyring that was clipped to his cargo pants. I asked him if they could be on the runway he had just drove on. He said yes. The tower had to shut down that runway until we found the keys. All night search on an 9000 ft. runway. We found them. Nobody on my crew ever clipped any gear to their pants after that night.
 
I used to work at a regional airport and our guys had to race up and down active runways and taxiways all night on tractors and hanging off of fuel trucks and aircraft. A guy lost a keyring that was clipped to his cargo pants. I asked him if they could be on the runway he had just drove on. He said yes. The tower had to shut down that runway until we found the keys. All night search on an 9000 ft. runway. We found them. Nobody on my crew ever clipped any gear to their pants after that night.
What was the key ring clipped to his cargo pants with? And you're asserting that because of that very specific work environment we should all act like we work on a runway where there's a real danger of turbines sucking in FOD and disabling planes?
 
Every clip is a compromise, and even the spring gates on carabiners can let you down. The easier they are to use, the less secure. The more tenacious the grip, the greater the frustration and wear on fabric. I would love to see a hinged or cam-type mechanical clip that would be flush with handle when not in use. Exterior could wear the G-10. It could be done, but patents would likely make it expensive and/or rare.
 
If your knife is expensive or important to you then wear it in a sheath on a heavy belt or keep it IN a pocket. Otherwise it's like following a Harley rider around who is dropping parts all over the road.... The other reason I don't like clipped knives is because they attract the attention of far too many LEOs who have nothing better to do.......
 
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