Clip Knives
A clip knife has an exterior clip that makes the knife easy to clip onto something. Often, the "something" is a pocket, which helps keep the knife fast and easy to get to.
Below is a wide variety of sizes and styles of clip knives for sale. Please scroll down for tips on what to look for when buying a clip knife.
You might also like: Serrated Clip Knives.
Below: A clip knife with a plain (non-serrated) edge.
From eBay and Etsy
Clip Knives: Good Things To Know Before Buying
When buying a clip knife there are some things to make sure you know before you make your purchase.
- Is the clip knife new or used?
- If the clip knife is used, does the seller state the exact condition of the blade? Are there enough photos to show you the blade?
- How long is the clip knife when it is opened (overall length)? How about when it is closed (if it is a folding knife)? How much does it weigh?
- Does the blade have a plain edge, a serrated edge, or a combination? Serrated or partially serrated edges are popular for a couple of reasons: 1) They cut rope better than a knife with a plain edge and 2) Serrated edges cut better when dull than a plain edge. However, some knife owners find serrated edges harder to sharpen. Serrated clip knives are popular among cowboys and ropers because of their superior ability to cut rope (from baling twine to lead ropes to lassos).
- What is the clip knife blade made of? Below is a brief description of
two common materials (but by no means the only materials) that may be used
when making knife blades:
- Stainless steel. Stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion and discoloration than carbon steel but does not hold an edge as well.
- Carbon steel. Carbon steel is more durable than stainless steel and is able to hold an edge better. Unfortunately, carbon steel corrodes and discolors easily.
- A mixture of stainless steel and carbon steel. This type of knife might have numbers such as 440A, 440B, or 440C in their descriptions (as the letters go up so does the carbon content). Note: Knife blades that are described as 440 should always have a letter behind the 440 number. The 440 by itself is meaningless. A seller that describes a knife blade as simply "440" is either uninformed or dishonest.
- If you read the description and the material the knife blade is made of is something you don't recognize, try looking the words up in an internet search engine or email the seller with your questions before you bid or buy.
- If the knife is a folding knife, is it a slip-joint or a lockback style? A slip-joint knife does not lock open, but a lockback knife does (lockback knives need to have a release of some sort activated before they will close).
- If the knife is a folding knife, can it be easily opened with one hand? This is usually done with a thumb-stud (for your thumb to push on to open the blade) or an opening hole (a hole for your thumb to fit into when pushing the blade open). Not everyone will want a folding knife that can be opened with one hand but they are a favorite among cowboys and horse people.
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