Why The Clip?

In 1981, Spyderco revolutionized pocketknife design by adding a pocket clip to a folding knife. This innovation—along with the manual one-hand-opening function afforded by our Trademark Round Hole™—literally defined the form of the modern folding knife.

By positioning a knife at the top of the pocket, it became easier and more convenient to carry, allowed full use of the pocket for other items, and dramatically increased the ease and speed with which the knife could be deployed.

That innovation led to the creation of our groundbreaking CLIPIT® series—a family of folding knives that proudly combined the advantages of clip carry, manual one-handed opening, and the option of a serrated cutting edge. Those features also distinguished Spyderco in the marketplace and earned us a devoted following worldwide.

As our product line grew, we continued to innovate. The original single-position metal clips were joined by integral, injection-molded clips, clips that provided the choice of tip-up or tip-down carry, reversible clips configurable for left or right-side carry, low-profile wire clips, deep-pocket clips, and even four-position clips that support all possible carry positions.

More than four decades later, the pocket clip is a common feature on most pocketknives. To Spyderco, however, it remains one of our proudest contributions to knife culture.