Why did the 1st Enduras have plastic clips?

[Jacks]

Why were the first enduras and delicas made with plastic clips? Why are they made with metal clips now? Does anyone prefer the old plastic clips?

[yablanowitz]

The first ones were made with FRN clips most probably as a cost saving measure. If you mold the clip directly into the handle, you eliminate several stamping, drilling, tapping, coating and attaching operations. The problem is, they can break, and they are not easy to fix if they do. After several mold changes (six according to Sal) they gave up on molded clips.

Personally, I like the molded clips on my old Delica and Endura. So does the paint on my car ;)

[WOTANSON1]

I happen to be a big fan of the integral clip! I own three Enduras with them.
Cheers,
Rob

[markg]

Spyderco started them and man makers had them (Cold Steel Voyagers as one example).

I think in time, the clips broke and there was no way to fix them. A removable metal clip seems a better option.

[DRod]

My friend at work has one... Its in near mint condition and Im strongly considering taking advantage of his ignorance to Spyderco... He told me, ten bucks and its yours... lol... I had five bucks on me at the time, and I haven't bugged him about it since.
I have a medium voyager tanto with a molded clip and an xlarge voyager tanto with a metal clip. The metal is much better IMO.

[dete]

my delica is like that.
had it for over a decade of abuse.
I love the thing. it works really well.

if it ever breaks I will cry.

then I'll go get a native.

[tonydahose]

My friend at work has one... Its in near mint condition and Im strongly considering taking advantage of his ignorance to Spyderco... He told me, ten bucks and its yours... lol... I had five bucks on me at the time, and I haven't bugged him about it since.
I have a medium voyager tanto with a molded clip and an xlarge voyager tanto with a metal clip. The metal is much better IMO.
for 10 bucks i would snatch it up.

[TheSavageRabbit]

My molded clips loosened over time causing the knife to slip out of my pocket (back when I carried it in my right rear pocket). I like the steel clips better.

[rickk]

In my opinion, the molded clips were the way to go. I carried a serrated Endura with a molded clip for 8 years before I just simply wore the blade out. The replacements for it had a metal clip. The clips bent constantly, and I was always loosing them when they clip snagged on something. I lost several permenantly before changing to a brand that had a much more durable clip.

[RIOT]

i originally liked the molded fat clips better then i had no choice to buy the newer versions, it turns out the metal clips tend to cling better to prevent loss, which is a huge plus for me, i always thought that the molded clips prevent scratches on my car when getting in it but to this day i still dont have one scratch from the newer metal clips

[The Deacon]

I'm left handed, so for me molded FRN clips are worse than useless. Can't be moved, can't be removed.

[D-Roc]

The first ones were made with FRN clips most probably as a cost saving measure. If you mold the clip directly into the handle, you eliminate several stamping, drilling, tapping, coating and attaching operations. The problem is, they can break, and they are not easy to fix if they do. After several mold changes (six according to Sal) they gave up on molded clips.

Personally, I like the molded clips on my old Delica and Endura. So does the paint on my car ;)

I've got a few scratches on my truck from years of carrying my :spyder:
;):rolleyes::eek::D:(:)

[yablanowitz]

I'm not sure which has done more damage, metal knife clips or the fifty or so keys I have hanging off my belt. :o

Neither can compare to the amount of damage done by idiot drivers, so I don't worry about it.

[Doc Pyres]

Neither can compare to the amount of damage done by idiot drivers, so I don't worry about it.

Ain't that the truth!

By the way, are the Catcherman Filet molded clips subject to the same breakage issues as the older Enduras? How about the Dragonfly? I just got a white Dragonfly. Is it easy to snap off the clip? I assume breakage is less of an issue with a smaller, lighter knife like the Dragonfly or Spyderco wouldn't still be using them.

[markg]

They are fairly tough, I would not say they break "easily" if that helps.

[J Smith]

I loved to old wide FRN clips,the wide spot at the pivot felt right too.

[Bluntrauma]

My friend at work has one... Its in near mint condition and Im strongly considering taking advantage of his ignorance to Spyderco... He told me, ten bucks and its yours... lol... I had five bucks on me at the time, and I haven't bugged him about it since.
I have a medium voyager tanto with a molded clip and an xlarge voyager tanto with a metal clip. The metal is much better IMO.


I need friends like yours DRod. :)

[zenheretic]

In my opinion, the molded clips were the way to go. I carried a serrated Endura with a molded clip for 8 years before I just simply wore the blade out. The replacements for it had a metal clip. The clips bent constantly, and I was always loosing them when they clip snagged on something. I lost several permenantly before changing to a brand that had a much more durable clip.

Curious first two posts...but welcome to the forums anyway. I believe you will have a bright future ahead. :cool:

[kbuzbee]

Like many here, I would think cost and ease of design made them a natural "first pass" innovation. I'm actually surprised the Dragonfly clip has lasted this long. For the day, they were great, but in almost every way (except paint protection) the newer clips are superior.

I too have bent earlier metal clips (even tore one completely off a Lil'Temp:rolleyes:) and scratched the paint on my car with them. But I'll be stunned if I ever bend the clip on my Phoenix. That thing is a tank!

That said, the low ride, tempered wire clips are, IMO, by far the best clip design on any Spyderco (or any other pocket knife but for all the other brands I own, I always wind up carrying Spydies!).

Ken

[bladese97]

:spyder::spyder::cool::spyder::spyder:Wow...Very interesting info:cool: I have a Endura, and a Clipit Rescue with intragle plastic clips, and carry them, but I prefer the metal clips. As for scratchin my ride...Done that:mad:, and from then on, my Spyders have riden clipless, deep in my pockets, so no more scratches...lol:D