Converting a Police model for tip-up carry

T

Tracker81

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Dec 14, 2004
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Hello,


I'd like to start off by saying just how much I've enjoyed using Spyderco knives over the years and I find these tools as being some of the best designed I've ever owned. My fav folder is the Spyderco Police model which I believe is almost perfect, but I would love to be able to convert it to tip-up carry.

Considering that the handle is stainless steel, I would imagine that it shouldn't be very difficult to get through with the proper tools. My question is, having little to no metal-working knowledge of my own, what type of person should I ask to help make the conversion and what type of tools should they have at their disposal?
 
Any local machine shop can do this, provided they have a decent drill press and/or milling machine. Shop labor is gonna be around sixty bux and hour. The job you're talking about should take no more than one hour. Interested in why you'd want tip-up carry for the Police??? It was specifically designed tip-down so the user could "Spyderdrop" the knife open and employ it into quick action.

Anyhoo, welcome to the forums. ;)
 
Thanks for such a quick reply! I guess you can chalk this up to ignorance but I have no idea what the spyderdrop method you mentioned means. My reasons for wanting the c07 tip up are for quick deployment but please tell me more on this other method. Thanks!
 
I have yet to do a clip flip to a Military or a Police but I've done several other Spyderco knives in the past that were both my own and other forum members. I would assume the Military can also be done about like those.

I've converted a Veile II some CJs a Para Military, Almite Walker, and I can't remember what else.

If you want to do it yourself you will need to order some things to do it. Many times it is not just a matter of flipping the clip by turning it upside down and remounting it. If the handle is curved the original clips that were tip down may not work real well for tip up and in some cases actually curve the wrong way or would be uncomfortable in the hand if you did mount it and force it to work.

On the Veile II and the Para Mil I custom made new pocket clips for them.

I use a 2-56 tap to thread with and the wrench. I use either a 1/16" or number 51 drill depending on the medium I'm threading into. Sometime I use a number 48 drill if it is one of those situations where it is a higher probability that I'll break a tapper.

I have never been able to figure out the thread size of the Spyderco knives original screws and consequently have never been able to reuse them: unlike the BenchMades that are mostly 2-56 from the factory in my experience. In particular the Japanese made ones from Spyderco are troublesome to reuse the original screws but it has been the case with some of the Golden knives also. I just use my regular torx or hex head 2-56 screws and replace the original ones.

ModifiedCalypsoJr-copy.jpg


ModifiedPara-Military-copy-copy-copy.jpg


ModifiedVelietipupclip-copy.jpg


Harrysknivesafter-copy.jpg
 
Tracker81 said:
Thanks for such a quick reply! I guess you can chalk this up to ignorance but I have no idea what the spyderdrop method you mentioned means. My reasons for wanting the c07 tip up are for quick deployment but please tell me more on this other method. Thanks!
Click to expand...

"Spyder-drop" is an opening in which you draw the tip-down knife, pinch the opening hole firmly between your thumb and index finger, and snap the handle down into the palm of your hand. It's the fastest way to open some Spydies, but works best if you have a weak detent (like on the Military) or a heavy handle (like on the Police).

In terms of "quick deployment", from my point of view the Police doesn't benefit from either of the advantages tip-up carry can have on a knife.

The first reason to go tip-up is that you draw the knife in just about the grip you're gonna open it in, so the draw-and-open requires fewer movements. Thing is, on a long folder like the Police, you're gonna end up holding it in a "natural" grip... down at the butt end. You'll need to shimmy your hand down the handle to work the opening hole. On longer knives, tip-down carry puts the "business end" in your hand right away, and the necessary readjustment really isn't that difficult.

The _other_ advantage of tip-up is that it sets the folder up for an easy inertial opening. I've heard from some tip-up afficionados that they need it that way to get a natural draw on a knife carried in a rear pocket. That makes sense to me (though I'd never carry a folder clipped to my back pocket--too paranoid somebody'd grab it :D ), but the Police isn't a great knife to inertial-open. It's a heavy little folder, and the smooth handle doesn't give that much grip.

The bottom line is that it should be fairly easy to get that Spydie drilled and tapped for tip-up carry, but you might wanna get used to carrying it tip-down instead... 'Course, at the end of the day, there's so little difference in deployment that it all comes down to preference. :)
 
Yeah David's knife had a clip. I did the clip flip for a fellow forum member and friend on the BM to the left and the Spyderco to the right and used the Boye of my own as a reference to show him the knife I used to model the clip installs for his two knives. Thats how it ended up in the photo to begin with.

As for the Bail. Yep it had one. I still have it but it rattled and I hate noisy knives so it had to go.

It was the only pic I had of the Walker. Sorry.

STR
 
By the way. I agree that it is a matter of preference in the way you carry. Some knives feel better one way over the other. I've converted some and then realized they just didn't feel right to me afterwards. I have both in my collection and seem to be able to go from one way to the other with little effort.

Most of my own knives that I convert from tip down to tip up are from what I call "knuckle beater knives". On some like the Para Military for example you can get the crap eaten out of your hand when reaching deep into your pocket to get something other than your knife from the big protrusion where the lock meets the blade to form the stop and the thumb grooves can do a number on you also. So to me those are prime reasons to convert the knife IMO.

On the others it just seemed to be a more natural position for me and having the tip and the blade nestled into the corner of my pant pocket seemed more secure to me even though some would debate that with me due to the effects of gravity. Gravity is more likely going to cause problems on a liner lock than a lockback or compression lock though. On some that have very little retention with the detent ball it can be risky to carry a liner lock tip up. Just falling can be enough enertia to open the blade just enough to cause a serious cut so I'd look it over good before converting it in the case of a liner lock. I always check the detent for security and at times I have even reset them so they sat a bit higher to hold more securely.
 
I love the Police model, and I love tip-up, and I'm a lefty, so that means some kind of conversion. I sent one to Ron Cochran some time ago, but he's been plagued with health issues, poor fellow. So I contacted Chax Knives, and got a quote. Seems reasonable. The one modification I did on my own was to buy some of that grey 3M Safety Tread stuff and cut it in the shape of a rattlesnake. I applied it to the handle of the Police, and it works quite well. Stays stuck on perfectly after more than a year, adds very little to the knife's slim profile, and works superbly in adding control to it.
 
Folks,
I'd recommend STR for putting the regular Spydy clip on or one of his custom titanium ones. I think his prices for both are the most reasonable I've seen. I've had three other people do the drill-tapping job for me. STR's job quote was the least expensive and, yet, when finished the most professional, as far as fit and finish. STR's customer service was also outstanding. I'm thinking about asking him to do some custom clips for my Temp. Jr.'s.
bob7
 
(Sorry to hijack the thread guys) Lost Jaguar,

I also have a knife in for work with Ron and he has had it for over a year now. However, I can't seem to contact him about it and have heard nothing for months now, my mails go unanswered. If you've got a working e-mail address or telephone number for him, if you could PM me with it that would be appreciated.
 
Jhivaro Man--I tried to send you a rather lengthy message via pm, but received a message saying you could not receive them. Try to pm me and see if you can get through.
 
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