Barrel clip screws aka "Big wheel" screws

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I've seen these while browsing online stores, basically screws with extra large screwheads. What is the point of these? Do you buy them? If so, why? Just trying to understand, thanks.
 
Maybe a pic of what you're referring to would help David?

A Google search for "barrel clip screws" didn't lead me to any specific sort of hardware.
 
Can't find a thing either. Corby bolts, Chicago bolts, Sex bolts but no Big Wheel or Barrel Clip.
 
iu
 
I've seen them on etsy and stuff, looks like a hot spot waiting to happen. Or at least uncomfortable. But I guess some people like to customize for the sake of customization...
 
I agree K.O.D. K.O.D. 100%

It is one thing when the screws sit above the pocket clip (like in the pic above) but in the case of the BM Bugout (see below) the clip is over the screws and you are going to tear up the inside of your pants with those proud screw heads if you push your pocket clip down all the way.

il_fullxfull.1532583447_nhu7.jpg
 
gazz98 said:
I agree K.O.D. K.O.D. 100%

It is one thing when the screws sit above the pocket clip (like in the pic above) but in the case of the BM Bugout (see below) the clip is over the screws and you are going to tear up the inside of your pants with those proud screw heads if you push your pocket clip down all the way.

il_fullxfull.1532583447_nhu7.jpg
Click to expand...
Kinda negates the whole "deep carry" idea.
 
Just a new way to pimp your "hidden" knife .

Doesn't look to be comfortable to actually use , but what's that matter ? :rolleyes:
 
I can't believe how popular they seem to be. I once emailed an eBay seller to ask about them, what they are supposed to be for, because he had no description in his sales posting. He responded and said he had no idea why people buy them, but that they sell well. Go figure.

K.O.D. said:
I've seen them on etsy and stuff, looks like a hot spot waiting to happen. Or at least uncomfortable. But I guess some people like to customize for the sake of customization...
Click to expand...

Sort of what I thought, but I wanted to run it by the community before I unreservedly wrote it off as pointless. The only thing I ever thought of as a possibility was maybe to give more surface area to grab a hold of for pulling the knife out of the pocket, but a fob would seem to be the more effective route in that case. And with what D Danke42 pointed out that couldn't be the rationale behind them with deep carry clips.

I feel less hesitant now in my suspicion that it is just a pointless waste of money.
 
Socket head cap screw.....
They work ok when used as intended, counter sunk into the handle for instance and used with a binding post. The deeper head allows for more positive tool engagement and lessens the chance of stripping it out inside.
 
Arathol said:
Socket head cap screw.....
They work ok when used as intended, counter sunk into the handle for instance and used with a binding post. The deeper head allows for more positive tool engagement and lessens the chance of stripping it out inside.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Finally a solid reason for them. Sounds like they need to be sold as a combo with properly countersunk pocket clips though. Of course, the other issue with that is if you take the example of the Tenacious pic I posted above, I think if you tried countersink enough for the size of the heads on those screws there won't be any pocket clip left for the screw to engage with... So if it's an attempt to solve the issue of stripped screw heads, it's a pretty clumsy one, at least in some cases.

I'm definitely learning from this thread, which will be helpful as I ease my way into making folders. Thank you all.
 
Looking at the pic in post #5 my thought was maybe it's for better grip when pulling the knife from their pocket. Maybe the owner prefers to grab the knife from that area and the pronounced screw heads make the knife easier to grab (I just noticed you mentioned this possibility in post #11).

Or, is it possible the person needed replacement screws and those are the only ones they had on hand, or they were the easiest ones for them to acquire?

Those are my thoughts regarding why an owner might use such screws. I have no idea why a manufacturer would.
 
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DocJD said:
Yeah , I considered this as possible . But why not use a fob / lanyard , which would work much better and not be something to sore you in use ? o_O
Click to expand...

Not everyone likes lanyards. I've never used one.

Here is a pic of my Al Mar SERE 2000. I ran a 4-40 bolt with an acorn nut through one of the clip holes to give me a "knob" to grab onto with my finger when pulling the knife from my pocket. It worked fine.

Pulling the knife from my pocket a few times a day didn't cause me any pain or raise any blisters. Outside of a job that requires frequent knife use, how many times a day do people actually pull out their knives?

vbQ8iXD.jpg
 
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killgar said:
Not everyone likes lanyards. I've never used one.

Here is a pic of my Al Mar SERE 2000. I ran a 4-40 bolt with an acorn nut through one of the clip holes to give me a "knob" to grab onto with my finger when pulling the knife from my pocket. It worked fine.

Pulling the knife from my pocket a few times a day didn't cause me any pain or raise any blisters. Outside of a job that requires frequent knife use, how many times a day do people actually pull out their knives?

vbQ8iXD.jpg
Click to expand...
I believe in whatever works .

That may differ from one individual to another . I'm cool with that ! :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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