How to Change the Position of Your Pocket Clip

When Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser designed our first folding knife, the Worker™ model, he incorporated a clip to allow it to ride comfortably and conveniently at the top of the pocket. Inspired by a unique frog-shaped keychain he had, this feature kept the knife instantly accessible and freed the rest of the pocket to carry other items. It also complemented the one-hand-opening convenience of our Trademark Round Hole™ to not only define the form of Spyderco’s revolutionary CLIPIT® models but set the standard for all modern folding knives.

Since the introduction of the Worker in 1981, Spyderco knives—and our clip designs—have evolved considerably. While early models offered only a single carry position, later designs incorporated the option of tip-up or tip-down carry. In 1997, we introduced a reversible “barrel-bolt” clip design, which is easily configurable for left-or-right-side tip-up carry. Today, many of our designs offer the versatility of a four-position clip, which supports left- or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. In fact, we are not only the pioneers of clip carry, but consistently offer more clip-carry options than any other manufacturer.

To take full advantage of the versatility of our clip designs, it helps to be familiar with the proper methods of removing, installing, and configuring the various styles of clips we currently use, as well as those used on older Spyderco knives. This article is intended to give you that knowledge and guide you through the process.

The first step in tightening or reconfiguring a pocket clip is to determine the proper type and size of tool or tools you need. The best way to start this process is with a magnifying glass or loupe. Getting a close look at the heads of the clip screws will help you determine exactly what type they are and what type of driver you’ll need to loosen and tighten them. It will also enable you to determine the condition of the screw heads and make sure they are “healthy” enough to be removed with ordinary tools.

In general, the clips and clip screws on Spyderco knives fall into the following categories and require the following tools:

• Older knives with flat metal clips and three Phillips (shaped like a “+” sign) attachment screws require a small Phillips screwdriver (#1 Phillips).
• Older Value Folders with flat metal three-screw clips (like the members of the Tenacious family) originally used hex-head screws and require a 1.5mm metric hex-head (aka “Allen”) wrench.
• Value Folders manufactured in recent years have flat metal clips with three Torx® (star-shaped) attachment screws. These require a T-6 Torx driver.
• Most other Spyderco knives with flat metal three-screw clips also have Torx screws and require a T-6 Torx driver.
• Knives with wire clips held in place by a single Torx screw require a T-8 Torx driver.
• Some Salt® Series folders and some of our older non-Salt models use a two-piece “barrel bolt” that requires one or two coins (a U.S. penny or nickel works best).

To change the position of a flat metal clip, first place a folded towel or computer mouse pad on a firm, flat surface. This will protect your knife and keep it from rotating as you work. Place your closed knife on the pad (never work on a knife with an open blade), insert the tip of the appropriate tool into the first screw head and apply firm downward pressure as you turn counterclockwise to loosen the screw. Make sure that you maintain downward pressure to avoid stripping the screw head. Repeat this process with the other screws until they are all loose, but leave them in the clip holes.

Lift the clip and the screws together, holding the screws in place with your fingertip to avoid dropping them. Apply a small drop of temporary thread-locking compound to the threads of each screw and then align the clip and screws with the handle holes for your preferred mounting position. With the knife again supported by the towel or mouse pad, turn the middle screw until it engages. This will align the clip with the holes and make the other screws easier to install. Turn all screws down until snug. Finish tightening them while applying firm downward pressure on the tool to avoid stripping the screw heads. Do not overtighten.

For wire clips and deep-pocket wire clips, place your closed knife on a towel or mouse pad and, using a T-8 Torx driver with firm downward pressure, loosen the single Torx screw that retains the wire clip. Once the screw has been loosened a few turns (it doesn’t have to be removed completely), lift the wire clip up and remove it from the grooves in the handle. Push the screw head on that side of the handle down and turn the knife over. Insert the ends of the wire clip under the screw head on the other side and tighten the screw to hold the clip in place. If desired, you may remove the screw completely and apply Loc-Tite to the threads before completing the installation.

Some current Spyderco knives—like the Atlantic Salt® and Saver Salt®—and many older models feature reversible tip-up carry clips held in place by barrel-bolt hardware. To reconfigure the clips on these knives, hold the closed knife over a towel or pad on a table (if you drop any small parts, they will not bounce as far) and place your thumb over the head of the barrel bolt. Insert a coin into the slot on the other side of the barrel bolt and, while maintaining firm pressure, turn counterclockwise to loosen it. Remove the bolt assembly completely to move the clip to the opposite side. Place the clip into the recess in the handle and insert the body of the barrel bolt (the larger piece with the internal threads) through the clip hole into the handle. Keep the flat washer on the male side of the barrel bolt in place and apply a drop of Loc-Tite or similar product to the threads. Screw it into the barrel bolt body and, using the method described above, tighten the barrel bolt securely with the coin.

If thumb pressure alone is not enough to allow you to loosen the barrel bolt, you can use coins on both sides of the hardware to achieve a better purchase and additional leverage.

More than 45 years after we pioneered the use of pocket clips on production folding knives, we are still the leaders in the industry. With the proper tools and knowledge, you can take full advantage of our versatile clip designs and configure the carry of your Spyderco knife to best suit your needs, preferences, and tactics.