Drill&tap the Mouse?

Costas · Dec 17, 2000

Every single one of my (numerous) folders has a tip-down clip, and the only reason I have not ordered a Mouse yet is the tip-up clip.
I can't stand it any more, I WANT A MOUSE!

I have drilled and tapped before, but never for such a small screw size. Would I be able to do this to convert the Mouse for tip-down carry without ruining it?

tique · Dec 17, 2000

I have not played with a mouse much before, but I imagine if you go drilling into one, it would get all kinds of pissed off and die eventually

.
But if you are talking about a Wegner mouse, I bet you could with no trouble if you watch what you are doing. All you have to do is make sure you have enough hardware to drill into without hitting the pivot pin, and you should be all good. I don't personally have one to look at for sure, but most knives do have the space to do that as long as you make sure you are paying attention to where you drill and put some planning into it.

MNH · Dec 17, 2000

Looks to me like you would have to put the clip below the pivot, not enough room above.

Mike

Brian_Turner · Dec 18, 2000

Sounds to me like you're missing out on a good knife because you won't try something new. If you want it, order it.

It's like the new Taco Bell commercial where the guy dives over the counter to stop a customer from putting hot sauce on the new "double super chicken thing" (whatever), and says, "Sir, would you at least try it before you mess with it?"

Costas · Dec 18, 2000

Two of my knives are tip-up/tip-down convertible, so I decided to "practice" with one of them, and I carried it for a couple of days tip-up.
I tried, it just didn't work, I always ended up with the knife upside down in my hand. I could get used to tip-up carry if I only had one knife, but with 15 knives tip-down and 1 tip-up it just wouldn't work.

Leo Daher · Dec 18, 2000

I think Costas has a point. Tip up works as well as tip down, but you'd better get used to one method of carry if you ever envision having to draw and deploy quickly, without much conscious thought. JMHO, of course.

Regards,

Leo Daher

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"Though the meek shall inherit the Earth, they won't keep it past Saturday night..."

Brian_Turner · Dec 18, 2000

Quick deployment of a sub 2" blade?

First off, I go both ways (tip up and tip down), just like I teach myself how to use both arms and legs with every technique I learn. If you specialize yourself or your equipment, you're only handicapping yourself when your specialized equipment is unavailable, or you encounter a lefty.

Second, it's a MOUSE! I don't worry too much about rapid deployment of my moneyclip...

RJT · Dec 18, 2000

Brian,

The difference is that you don't have to remember if you have both arms or legs to use a technique.You either have them or you don't.You do however,have to remember what kind (tip-up/tip-down) of knife you have in your pocket for a fast draw.If you bounce around carrying a tip-up knife oneday and a tip-down knife another,that is one more thing you must be thinking about if a quick draw is required.I personally carry tip-down knives only so I don't have to think to myself,"Am I carrying tip-up or tip-down today?".If one believes they don't need any speed in a draw it doesn't matter either way.Honestly though,with a Mouse I can't see much of an advantage if it were tip-down.It's not my idea of a knife that I would need a great deal of speed to deploy

I'll stick with my Military!!

Brian_Turner · Dec 18, 2000

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RJT:
Honestly though,with a Mouse I can't see much of an advantage if it were tip-down.It's not my idea of a knife that I would need a great deal of speed to deploy

I'll stick with my Military!!

</font>

My point exactly... Although in my case it's more likely to be my Chinook!

Leo Daher · Dec 19, 2000

My comment was about carrying either tip up or tip down, and a possible need for a speed draw; it was about a concept, and had nothing to do with any specific knives (personally, I'm not interested in such a tiny folder as the Mouse). As RJT said, "If you bounce around carrying a tip-up knife oneday and a tip-down knife another,that is one more thing you must be thinking about if a quick draw is required". He obviously understands what I was trying to say...
Anyway, if Costas wanted to use the Mouse as a moneyclip, he wouldn't care about tip up or tip down, now would he?
Even Sal Glesser, who pretty much created those things, admits he sometimes gets confused with the two configurations while drawing. It's got nothing to do with arms and legs.

Regards,

Leo Daher

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"Though the meek shall inherit the Earth, they won't keep it past Saturday night..."

Dirk · Dec 19, 2000

Costas, if you can get ahold of a Wegner Mouse and look at it and there appears to be enough room and material, you shouldn't have a problem. Koval knives has the drills and taps and screws. I would guess that the screws are most likely 2-56. You would want to verify that first.

There are probably many places to on theinternet to get the correct drills and taps.

Costas · Dec 19, 2000

Thanks, people, for your opinions. I didn't want to start another classic tip-up/tip-down debate. I am just asking how easy is to drill&tap such a small diameter hole in aluminium. I have done it for larger holes of around 4-5mm, but never for such a small screw size.

Greg Melcer · Dec 19, 2000

Remember to use some sort of tapping lube when drilling and tapping those holes in aluminum. It's soft, but it can gall and rip out the threads you just cut, especially in something as small as 2-56.

I ruined enough parts for Dad to know better now.