Low Rider Clip on Paramilitary

rpttrsn

rpttrsn

Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
1,347
Just got the knife this week and felt bad not being at the 2008 Blade show so I decided to make a change to the Knife. The clip is 300 series stainless steel and 0.046 thick. My first time making this type of clip. Have made a couple modified clips for some of my other knives. (Leek & Composite JYD)
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That is awesome... I carry a D2 para now to EDC..
That clip compliments the knife very well...
I would love to have one...
Matt
 
trimcut123 said:
That is awesome... I carry a D2 para now to EDC..
That clip compliments the knife very well...
I would love to have one...
Matt
Click to expand...

My D2 Para is on the way as well, and boy that clip would be nice;)

Good work on that one rpttrsn:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the compliments. The first one I started on Friday and the drill picked it up out of the vise ( not clamped very well ) when I was putting an after thought hole in the clip. It ended up as a ball of metal hitting the vise while spinning on the drill bit. Saturday re-designed the clip and this is the result.
 
Not to make you write out the entire process, but just out of curiosity, how do you shape the clip after you've laid out the design? Grinder, belt sander, jigsaw?? Secondly, what do you use to make your bends.

It's just that I've toyed with the idea of customizing a little bit and thought clips would be a good place to start.

Thanks,
Jon
 
Very nicely done. I am a fan of low rider clips. I too would be interested in how it was shaped. Was it all cold working?
 
Some of the tools used in fabricating the clip are as follows: Fine tooth hacksaw, bench vise, 1/8" X 3/4 brass flat stock, round stock, file, bench grinder with flex wheel, grinding wheel, vise for drilling, drill press.
First I did the layout on paper just to get an idea. Then I put masking tape on SS and did layout. Drilled 3 holes to mount clip to knife. (copy off of origional clip for location) Put in bench vise and cut with hacksaw close to the lines on the tape. With file and flap wheel on grinder came close to finished size. Placed clip on one side of brass and clamped in vise. Bent SS over the brass end w/radius to form top of clip. Used round stock (3/4"-1") to form the pressure part on pocket. (any size you want) Bent the end in small vise in picture. Also used the vise and the brass between the clip to drill the 3 larger holes in the clip. Largest hole is 15/64" to clear the screw. Middle hole 0.159 to get to screw for pressure on the blade pivot. Small hole just for show and uniformity. It can be done with all hand tools but the drill press and grinder make it go faster. I hope this helps you understand how I did it. I'm sure others might do it differently.
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Thanks a bunch for that post!:thumbup: Very informative and helpful. Once again, nice job.

Cheers,
Jon
 
That is truly excellent work, rpttrsn! It compliments the knife very well. :thumbup:
 
Thanks Al. It came out better then I expected. Wanted to make the D2 Para a little different. Seems like a great knife.:)
 
Great job! I'd suggest sending that to Texas Knifemaker with a note describing the type stainless its made of and have it hardened to like a 45 Rockwell or so if you haven't done it yourself. Otherwise it may just bend real easy on you and not spring as well as it could. I used to use a lot of 410 stainless when I made my first clips and always had them hardened afterwards. You'll have to refinish it afterwards but its a night and day diff once hard. Stainless will spoil you for how easy it works though. It is rather nice in that regard before hardening especially when folding it over for a low rider when compared to titanium.

The clip you made sure looks good man. Its a good looking addition to the folder for sure. I've been making clips for a long time for that knife and it looks better than mine usually do out of titanium! Expect to get some requests for those because that knife is one of the ones I get calls about more than any other.

STR
 
I appreciate the kind words. Like to tweak most knives that I have. If they come apart I take them apart. Sometimes can't leave well enough alone. STR's compliment does mean something to me as all of yours have. Thank you all.
 
If you consider it... I will take one...
Although... i doubt you would be up to it... I know how long side projects can take...
Matt
 
Awesome looking clip. You've just fixed the only thing wrong on the Paramilitary. I wish more knives were made with low riding clips.
 
Ryan and Matt,
Thanks for the orders but I have retired a year and a half ago. I put in 40+ years as a machinist/mechanic and no longer wanted a real job. Have made a few knives and I am always modifying others. This is my hobby now. If I starting accepting orders for my work it would be like having a job again. UGH! This would make my hobby no longer fun. I now do "WHAT I WANT, WHEN I WANT" as long as its OK with my wife. I hope you can understand this. Again thanks, as it is a nice compliment you gave by asking me to make clips.
Ron
 
Why doesnt Spyderco just change the clip configuration on the Para? They're so good at listening to their customers requests..I'm sure Sal and the gang are aware of how many people consider the clip on the Para the only negative of the knife.
I have a D2 Para headed my way now as well..and after I have it for a bit, I know it will be sent to STR for a tip up/down low rider.
Just wondering what your guy's thoughts on this is? Maybe Spyderco just feels the Para is good enough as is..cuz it sure is a damn good knife!

Sorry to take away from your thread rpttrsn..your work there is superb:thumbup:
 
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