Alps SKCM Blue
ClickyThe grail clicky. Vintage Alps SKCM Blue delivers a crisp bump and a full-bodied click that collectors still hold above every modern switch, long discontinued and harvested from 1980s boards.
Sound & feel
Among vintage switch collectors, the Alps SKCM Blue sits at the top of the hierarchy. Produced in Japan in the mid-1980s, its complicated assembly of tactile and click leaves creates a click with real body, crisper and fuller than the hollow rattle of MX-style click jackets.
The rectangular Alps stem is completely incompatible with MX keycaps, and the switches were only made for a few years, so the supply is boards from the era, 1985-1988 OEM machines such as the Leading Edge DC-2014, harvested and restored by hand. Condition matters enormously; dirty or worn Blues lose the magic.
For the simulator, this is the reference point for what "a great click" meant before Cherry's patents shaped the modern market. The SKCM Blue is documented at 70 gf. Alps did publish force data for parts of the SKCL/SKCM line, including a 1994 catalog and a 1999 specification sheet, though per-switch coverage of the rarer colors is incomplete.
Sound on this page is synthesized from the switch's published specs and community-documented character: an honest simulation, not a recording. We're progressively replacing simulations with our own studio recordings. How our sounds are made
Compare it
- Alps SKCM Blue vs Alps SKCM White , or jump to Alps SKCM White
- Alps SKCM Blue vs Kailh BOX Jade , or jump to Kailh BOX Jade
- Alps SKCM Blue vs IBM Model M Buckling Spring , or jump to IBM Model M Buckling Spring
- Alps SKCM Blue vs Matias Click , or jump to Matias Click
Frequently asked questions
What does the Alps SKCM Blue sound like?
full-bodied vintage click, crisp leaf snap with body. Use the player on this page to hear simulated press and release sounds derived from its real specifications.
Is the Alps SKCM Blue good for gaming or typing?
Clicky switches like this are typing-first: the click is satisfying but loud for shared spaces and voice chat. For quiet environments, look at silent tactiles instead.
How heavy is the Alps SKCM Blue?
70g actuation. Note that Alps officially rates actuation force. Brands differ, so check the basis when comparing switches.