How to change clip pos.

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nc527

Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
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I have recently devoloped a surefire way to change the clip pos. of a tip down only knife, such as alot of cheaper knives, and some higher end knives like the spyderco military and para military. For me, it is a smith and wesson folder, that I wanted to try this and a couple otther mods on. Anyways, here goes!

Materials:
epoxy,(I use devcon 2 ton)
super glue
knife, with clip and screws.
drill with bit close to the size of clip screws.
sand paper

Instructions:

1. Remove the clip from its current pos. Then put the screws away. Next, super glue the clip in the pos. that you want it be in when finished.

2. Now, using the clip as a guide, drill out the handle material, till the screws will go all the way in.

3. Now simply pull the clip up to break the super glue bond.

4. Next, using another knife or sandpaper, you may need to scrape the superglue off the clip or handle material.

5. Now using low grit sandpaper, roughen up the clip and handle where the clip will be.

6. Now taking a bit of superglue, glue the screws to the clip, so the are attached to the clip.

7. Now mix the epoxy, spread a bit on the underside of the clip, around the threads of the screws, and put a bit in you new holes.

8. Lastly, insert the clip with screws in it, into the holes we drilled earlier. Now put pressure on it for about 30 sec. then clean up the excess epoxy to make it purdy.(:
 
Sounds good for a quick fix. I wouldn't do it to a more expensive knife. you can get tappers from http://www.knifekits.com

I did a similar thing a LONG time ago with a SS Police. But I used a carbide bit that was slightly smaller then the screws. so I just pressed hard and they tapped themselves into the soft SS. Never moved. Still tip-up today.
 
Sounds like something I will have to do to my Para. :)

Is that epoxy used instead of superglue for the screws because epoxy is stronger? How strong can I expect it to be?
 
Yes the superglue is just used to keep the clip on while drilling, so the holes are sure to allign. The epoxy used is very strong, and is used by knifemakers to glue knife scales on. If done very carefully, I would do this on higher priced knives, because if you are carefull with everything, it looks like it came that way from the factory.
 
If I was to do this,I'd rather just use a tap,instead of glue.If your gonna get the drill press out to drill your holes,you'd might as well go the extra mile and tap them IMHO.
Easy...Drill,Tap,put clip on,insert screws,tighten them down,Done. ;)
 
Not by much.You can buy the bit for 2 or 3 bucks then you buy the tap handle for like 6 bucks,and away you go.:thumbup:

But if your in a jam and all you can get is the epoxy,I guess it would work.That epoxy is pretty strong stuff.
 
I tried this on a cheap knife years ago and last year on my Para. Both times the epoxy only held for a few days before the screws came loose. If there's metal frame under the scales then definitely drill and tap new holes where you want them. That's the only surefire way to go.
 
nc527 said:
Yes but tapping is more expensive then the epoxy.
Click to expand...

But less secure. I'm not sure purchasing a tap would be that much more expensive. Especially if you end up decided to switch it back you don't have an awful mess left over.
 
frontline29 said:
Not by much.You can buy the bit for 2 or 3 bucks then you buy the tap handle for like 6 bucks,and away you go.:thumbup:

But if your in a jam and all you can get is the epoxy,I guess it would work.That epoxy is pretty strong stuff.
Click to expand...

Are there any brick and morter shops to buy drill taps?
 
I might check harbour freight out. Something tells me they will have something I can use twice then trash.
 
Ace Hardware sells tap and die sets. Harbor Freight does sell taps and dies but I don't know the quality.
 
Drilling and tapping is the best way to go. There doesn't have to be metal liners to secure the threads as G10 etc. will hold the clip when threaded. You can go back to the factory clip position and the knife still looks good IMO
 
My local sears has a few smaller drill/tap bit sets in stock and they are only a dollar more than epoxy.(just the drill bit and tap no tap handle). You may have to enlarge the holes in the clip just a bit but clips are cheap.
 
rpttrsn said:
Drilling and tapping is the best way to go. There doesn't have to be metal liners to secure the threads as G10 etc. will hold the clip when threaded. You can go back to the factory clip position and the knife still looks good IMO
Click to expand...

It may hold the screws for a while but I wouldn't, and don't, trust it. I've tried it. I even applied epoxy in the holes before fastening and that gave out after a while. If it's a knife you don't care about losing then go for it. Mortising out space on the inner side of the G10 and using either a nut or flat metal piece with a threaded hole is much stronger and will last you, done right.
 
Tapping isn't that hard. I've tapped dozens of shotgun barrels for beads and some rifles for scopes, and it really wouldn't be half as hard on a steel knife liner that is probably flat and easy to work with. Use a drill press with the tap to keep it perfectly straight. You could get by doing it by hand, but a drill press will make it much easier.
 
Agreed. Practice in some scrap metal laying around. Once you feel comfortable then tap your knife. Sometimes you just gotta learn by doing.
 
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