Another fella takes the grinder to his Sebenza 25 pocket clip!

kidcongo · Feb 21, 2016

Inspired 100% by this thread from dweglarz13: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1360494-modded-my-sebenza-25-clip-pics?highlight=25+pocket+clip , I set about making my own mod to correct what I percieve (my opinion only) as one of the biggest design mistakes CRK ever let slide. I think their decision to apply the defacto standard CRK pocket clip to the Sebenza 25 has held the model back. In my own experience the annoyance factor of the clip has kept me from ever really liking the knife as much as I might have otherwise (again, just my take on things).

I went on a rant here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1157256-25-Pocket-Clip-I-agree-with-the-haters which sums up my case against the 25 clip placement (yes there were sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and cold sweats

). I also feel CRK is somewhat aware of this issue, hence the angled clip on the Inkosi.

So fast-forward to today. I really enjoyed Steel Addiction's post about his long term carry of his 25: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1163430-Sebenza-25-**Update**-from-Last-June-2013?p=15781843#post15781843 and noticed he was running clipless. Clearly the knife is a great knife to foster 3 years of loyalty, but what of that clip? I have tried to like the 25 clipless, but the knife seems not to sit nice loose in my pocket. I want it clipped!

Taking the cue for dweglarz, I completed my own mod. I went for something asymmetric similar to Brad Southard's design on the Spyderco Southard Flipper clip. I sawed off the end with a dremel cut-off wheel, and refined the edge with the flat of the cut-off wheel and a Dremel fine rubberized stone wheel, then did some final touch ups with a loaded strop.

Things to know about the result of this mod:

1 - Be warned!! The original CRK pocket clip is absolutely perfect - this mod does nothing to improve the clip, it just makes the knife better in hand (which to me is more important - YMMV).
2 - Although the modded clip is arguably more "pokey", it is pokey in a place where there is nothing to poke.
3 - A very steep tip angle is required for the modded clip to still slip over the thick double-crease of some jeans. If you bend the clip tip to where it 'looks right', it will catch on jeans, you must bend it more. It really needs a fairly steep angle if you want to use it one-handed, with jeans.
4 - It helps to take some overall spring-tension out of the clip, so it is easier for it to slip over the lip of the pocket
5 - Start by removing just a little material and testing. You can always cut off more, but can't go the other way. Be patient and prototype.
6 - If you do this mod, and hate it, you can always buy a new clip for $15

Here are some pics of the finished product:

The picture below shows the clip "BEFORE" mods (note clip digs into middle finger).

This picture shows the clip "AFTER" mods (note new 'pokey' clip is clear of both fingers).

Thanks for the read, and by all means you are welcome to completely disagree. I wish CRK offered the 25 with a shorty clip, but I suppose this detail will be corrected with the large Inkosi, which I imagine will have an angled clip like the small.

My hand is now in 25 heaven........Ahhhhhhhh.......the ergos finally make sense! :thumbup::thumbup:

Ajack60 · Feb 21, 2016

Did you flatten the factory bend and make a new shorter bend?
Why didn't you try to crest the new bend so it wouldn't be so pointy?
What took you so long to do the mod? It looks good as usual!!!!!

Here's something weird, on my RH 25, my right middle finger has the same issue with the clip poking it, but it fits perfect in my left hand. On my LH 25, the fit is perfect in the left hand and pokes the right middle finger. I think it has something to do with the right side of the brain.

d.weglarz13 · Feb 21, 2016

Hey brother thanks for mentioning me, and that looks amazing!!! I did do the same on my inkosi because I guess it's just my hands, but the extra tip just lets my hand feel the clip more, almost...but not quite a hot spot. Even on the inkosi it feels better with the mod to me.

I will post mine in different thread so as not to take away from this one. Makes me feel like I should have went with a design like this now

Didn't I tell you it feels like a brand new knife?!!!

Again, that looks awesome man.

Dave

kidcongo · Feb 21, 2016

AJack, No, I didn't make a new bend. I only removed material and adjusted angle. I didn't want to go too deep as I don't have a lot of experience with Ti. I agree a complete re-make of the original clip tip, by rebending a clip, would be a better solution, but I wasn't sure if I could achieve that and not make a mess. I may still try that someday with a different/newly purchased clip. You would have to take the old bend out first, to have enough material to form the new tip. That's the part that makes me nervous.

I was inspired by dweglarz, so hadn't thought a mod might work previously. So far I am happy with the mod. I may take it to the next level someday, but the good news is I am carrying a 25, and that's worth it.

kidcongo · Feb 21, 2016

d.weglarz13 said:
Hey brother thanks for mentioning me, and that looks amazing!!! I did do the same on my inkosi because I guess it's just my hands, but the extra tip just lets my hand feel the clip more, almost...but not quite a hot spot. Even on the inkosi it feels better with the mod to me.

I will post mine in different thread so as not to take away from this one. Makes me feel like I should have went with a design like this now

Didn't I tell you it feels like a brand new knife?!!!

Again, that looks awesome man.

Dave

Thanks for the inspiration Dave. You really sorted out my long-standing dilemna with this knife. I appreciate that a lot.

d.weglarz13 · Feb 21, 2016

kidcongo said:
Thanks for the inspiration Dave. You really sorted out my long-standing dilemma with this knife. I appreciate that a lot.

Just glad to be able to inspire someone, I appreciate the kind words.

Vaporstang · Feb 21, 2016

Too late to do it tonight, but I am going to have to check my different models with the clip in hand. Some i carry with a clip and some without. I have a 25 that I've never carried - maybe subconsciously that is why! And thanks for your post.!

kidcongo · Feb 21, 2016

Vaporstang said:
Too late to do it tonight, but I am going to have to check my different models with the clip in hand. Some i carry with a clip and some without. I have a 25 that I've never carried - maybe subconsciously that is why! And thanks for your post.!

On the 21s and Umnumzaans, this is not a problem, as your hand is free to shift left or right, and the clip tip falls between your fingers. There's some good photos of what I mean in the "Haters Rant" I shared in my OP above. The 25 is only an issue (for me) because your hand is forced into a certain grip by the finger choils/grooves on the slabs. My complaint, as also expressed by quite a few other forum members over time, is that the 25 should have a different clip to place the clip tip between your fingers, rather than halfway into the meat of one of them. The mod discussed here is a desperate CRK fans attempt to fix the issue for oneself.

A great experiment for you, Vaporstang, is to take the clip off your 25 and feel it in hand. You will likely be impressed with the improvement. Then slip the clip, loose, under your fingers to the point where it disappears and is not annoying. You will find that the tip is now between your fingers, but the clip screw tab is hanging off the end of the knife. At this point you will become extremely frustrated because you'll want that great comfy feeling, but won't be able to fit the clip permanently in this location. Your next choice it to scream loudly at the sky "God grant us a shorty 25 pocket clip", or if you are not a religious person, you fire up the Dremel tool and take care of business as best you can.

In a perfect world, I would like to see CRK offer an official clip upgrade. I'd pay 20 bones, without a second thought, for a clip that matched the ergos of the knife.

lemmuhj · Feb 21, 2016

Props to you Kidcongo! Always respected someone who had the nads to mess with their knives like this. Never had an issue with the clip (for me) but i am tempted to take it off and see the difference, Im just scared i will strip out the clip screw

(ive done it before)

kidcongo · Feb 21, 2016

lemmuhj said:
Props to you Kidcongo! Always respected someone who had the nads to mess with their knives like this. Never had an issue with the clip (for me) but i am tempted to take it off and see the difference, Im just scared i will strip out the clip screw (ive done it before)

Thanks Lemmuhj. I by no means want to rain on the 25 parade. If you like the knife the way it is, that's the best option by far. I know you've been a long time 25 promoter, and it's this sort of loyalty that makes me want to carry the blade. I figure for this mod, the worst that can happen is you end up buying another clip. At least it's not the actual knife being changed. At the same time, there's probably 10,000 25 owners who have never noticed or given the clip a second thought.

kidcongo · Feb 28, 2016

So a week into carrying this mod and.........YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Finally enjoying the 25 for all that's good about it. I'll never understand why CRK designed a knife with a pocket clip that extends halfway into the finger choil, but with this fix, I am totally happy with the blade. Going in and out of jeans pockets just fine, nothing bothering me otherwise. I am going to rock the 25 until the end of March and maybe give some decent impressions of it then. Something I have never done for this model.

1 ADAM12 · Feb 28, 2016

I like the leather lanyard too..

lemmuhj · Feb 28, 2016

kidcongo said:
So a week into carrying this mod and.........YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Finally enjoying the 25 for all that's good about it. I'll never understand why CRK designed a knife with a pocket clip that extends halfway into the finger choil, but with this fix, I am totally happy with the blade. Going in and out of jeans pockets just fine, nothing bothering me otherwise. I am going to rock the 25 until the end of March and maybe give some decent impressions of it then. Something I have never done for this model.

Awesome dude!

To be blunt...CRK wasnt about to design/manufacture a whole new clip. Look at all the recent shared parts/streamlining they are doing with their knives. I understand but dislike it as a fan.

kidcongo · Feb 28, 2016

lemmuhj said:
Awesome dude!

To be blunt...CRK wasnt about to design/manufacture a whole new clip. Look at all the recent shared parts/streamlining they are doing with their knives. I understand but dislike it as a fan.

I hear yah, and totally agree. Just seems like Chris and co. sat down and designed a great new knife, with a great new blade shape and grind, and even new fasteners to match the pivot screw, then in the 11th hour the slapped the old trusty pocket clip on it, rather than giving it the one it needed.

Anyways......no point crying about the obvious......after all it is a production blade at a reasonable price point, so they gotta streamline things as you say. I can see how it would not bother most people and that's fine. I was bothered by it, but no longer.

I guess the good news is I am finally getting some miles on the knife that I know you, Ajack, and several other regular contributors really like. I'm on board now.

lemmuhj · Feb 28, 2016

kidcongo said:
I hear yah, and totally agree. Just seems like Chris and co. sat down and designed a great new knife, with a great new blade shape and grind, and even new fasteners to match the pivot screw, then in the 11th hour the slapped the old trusty pocket clip on it, rather than giving it the one it needed.

Anyways......no point crying about the obvious......after all it is a production blade at a reasonable price point, so they gotta streamline things as you say. I can see how it would not bother most people and that's fine. I was bothered by it, but no longer.

I guess the good news is I am finally getting some miles on the knife that I know you, Ajack, and several other regular contributors really like. I'm on board now.

:thumbup::thumbup:

DrtyHarry · Feb 28, 2016

This is a really good ideaI wonder why this did not come like this from the factory. It makes perfect sense. Perhaps they didn't do it so they have something to modify come time for the "30"? I know MXG gear sells low riding clips.it would be a really wise move if they designed clips that would help with the 25's ergonomics. BUTI still for the life of me don' understand why they don't sell low riding BLACK clips. I have a large 21, and really want to get a low riding black clip. BUTI'm also looking around for a 25 right now. My 21 has ebony inserts so it will look fine with a black clipthe 25 "Starbenza" I want to get might look a little awkward with a black cerekote clip since the entire handle is titanium. BUTI want black clips because all I wear are black jeans and black pants soI got low riding black cerekote clips for my Spyderco Military knives from them. They are nice, but they tighten up the pivot if you over tighten the clip screws. I don't foresee any problems with the Sebenza though...