Cheap Painted Knife Clips--Remedy?

T

Travis Hale

Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
23
I don't know about you guys, but I find painted clips on a knife over $80 to be a let down. My Benchmade 940 is well north of that, but comes with a painted clip. I've had it no more than 2 weeks and it's already chipped and scratched. I'd really like to get my hands on the clip from the 707 Sequel as it has an unpainted finish. However, it seems like it might be difficult to source that part? So, what I'm thinking is to strip the paint off and use a gun finish like bluing or something similar that will wear a little better. Has anyone tried something like this?
 
I stripped the clip on my Benchmade Grip. Just used some spray on "Klean Strip" stripper. You might have to do it twice. I have found that the finish on the Benchmade clips does not come off as easy as it does on the Spyderco clips. Just finished mine with some steel wool and that was it.

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I'm not sure what the steel is but you could try a patina with vinegar. If that didn't work there would certainly be no harm in trying gun blue. Interestingly the Spyderco clips stripped probably have the more muted look but that's apples and oranges since you are talking about a Benchmade. You can't really tell by the pic but it more of a gun metal gray.

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Call Benchmade customer service, and ask them if you could buy a couple of clips with the parkerized finish. That is not painted on and takes wear very well. Problem solved ;)
 
It is stainless so a gun blue won't 'stick'. Brownells may have something for stainless but I'm not positive and may be remembering incorrectly. As mentioned you can call Benchmade and buy a parkerized version. They don't scratch easily but will get an almost polished look where it contacts something hard. More of a glossy streak on a matte finish. You can also strip the paint and use a torch to heat red hot which will darken it some but no where near black. I will try to find or take a pic of one of my clips I heat colored.
 
RevDevil said:
Call Benchmade customer service, and ask them if you could buy a couple of clips with the parkerized finish. That is not painted on and takes wear very well. Problem solved ;)
Click to expand...

BM will on occasion send you a free clip.
 
It's Sunday so I just sent them an email. I'm in no big hurry anyway. I also had a few other issues to discuss. Hopefully, i'll hear from them in a few weeks.

In the mean time.. Can someone tell me what size wrench I need for the clip screws?
 
T6, they are torx head screws, some people call 'em stars, do not use allen wrenches unless you want the heads stripped.

It's best to call them, e-mails can take time.

What other issues?
 
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