My constant problem with folders. Advise appreciated.

Walking Man

Walking Man

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I love folders. One handed folders. all kinds of folders.
However, I do not love opening folders because the clip gets in the way. And I am talking mostly about production pieces. When I open my folders I use, in part, rotational force which eventually looses up the clip. (because I have to push against it) And this always seems to happen. Am I doing something wrong, or should manufacturers pay more attention to developing things like recessed indentions and/or clip security in general.
thanks all.
Elishewitz has over come this problem for me by only using small clips which stay out of the way when opening. And I'm sure there are others who have "solved" my little problem in other ways. Please mention these as well.
 
I use a press fit pin in addition to two torx screws to secure the clip and keep it from rotating and twisting. It serves also to give something additional to push against when opening as you have described. It's nice to have as many textures and other tactile elements as possible for opening and manipulating folders.

soreef4.jpg
 
Thanks, Peter,
Greatly appreciated.
It's good to know others have considered this situation.
 
Sweet knife Mr.Atwood!!

I have recently come to appricate carrying my EDC in a belt sheath as it frees allot of room in my pocket and makes the knife feel, oh so better in my hand. For times when I am running out somewhere without a belt on, I do throw a clipped knife in my pocket, but have never really ran into any problems with the clip loosening.

Is it possible that you may be using to much force to open your folder? Just something to think about. A nice stiff thumb flick does it for me
 
Have you tried a Spyderco? I find Spyderco opening holes to be much easier to manipulate than thumb studs.

Peter - Awesome knife!!! That thing is friggin' GORGEOUS!!!!
 
Yes, and it has happened with a Spyderco that I owned.
I eventually just took the clip off.
Maybe because it has smooth micarta handles?
 
I suspect that it depends on how precisely the holes were drilled and the quality of the screws used. It happens on a few of my folders while I don't encounter that problem with others and apparently it doesn't have much to do with smoothness of the handle material.

I don't think it's that much trouble though. Just tighten the screws carefully and tightly and they should be fine for quite a while.
 
You could always throw some LOK-TITE on the screws, to keep them from coming loose.
 
It's never quite that simple.
The Several times I have tightened they came loose.
I suspect your right, it probably is due to design or execution imperfections
 
Loctite the clip screws. That should work. If it doesn't, I don't know what to tell you. I don't ever "push against" the clip when I'm opening a knife. I just hold onto the handle and thumb the knife open. If you have to exert great force on the clip every time you open the knife, maybe it is not the knife for you. I have had some clip screws come loose, but I loctitied them and that was the end of the problem.

I just wish they would quit using torx screws smaller than a T-10 for clip screws!!!! Damn, why can't manufacturers use a simple phillips head screw for stuff like that?!?!:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
At most I put one finger on the clip(and two on handle slaps, tha'ts on an Endura), but never had a clip come loose myself. Between changing your grip, trying anotehr knife and locktite, I think that's about the only solutions to your problems.
 
I like my knives. All of my knives, and I really don't think I'm hard on them, I probably baby them too much, actually.
What gets me is that many, if not most production folders are built so that the only real way to open it is to pust against the clip.
I tried just now to open a folder without the clip. Okay it works, but you can't close it while holding onto the lip, that's not safe at all. In order to avoid any accidents I definately do not want to get into the habit of keeping my finger by the lip.
 
You may not have this problem on a tip-up knife since the clip is mounted from the butt of the knife. Try and take a look at Cold Steel Voyagers which are not only tip up but have a very small clip.

Then there is also the option of removing the clip and going with a William Henry or Elishewitz Kangaroo style pouch.

Here's one of several I have made for carrying my Bali's...


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You are right. Pirtle.
Maybe tip ups are for me.
Now, how about a few recommendations, please.
 
Al Mar Sere 2K is tip up... and one HELL of a great knife! I have never had the clip screws loosen on me.
 
Oooh yeah, I forgot about the SERE. It's a great knife, but the detente on mine is a little loose. I bought it used here on BF, but I may try sending it to AM for adjustment anyway. Anyway, yeah, SERE 2000 is tip up and really nice too. CRKT makes several models that have reversible clips, I know for sure the M1 Lightfoot is. Microtech has a few too, the LCC carries tip up and people are always raving about it.
 
I have a decent number of one-hand-opening folders and have never experienced what you are talking about (loosening of the pocket clip/screws). Okay, some of those knives are Delicas with integral plastic clips... :p but the rest don't have the problem you describe, anyway.

I can't imagine a knife requiring so much force to open the blade that the force of my other fingers actually loosens the clip. Try taking off the clip and getting used to opening the knife without it -- or at least check the different feel. I suspect that if you can open the knife with the clip not present, you'll do alright when it is replaced. AntDog suggested something about holding the handle as opposed to the clip. That's what I recommend.

Also, consider that the stud of a blade is supposed to be rotated *around* the pivot, NOT *directly perpendicular to the handle*. This was my mistake when I recently got my first thumb-stud knife -- a Kershaw Vapor. I quickly realized that pressure from my thumb had to be exerted not out from the handle, but off on about a 45degree angle toward the front of the knife.

Hold your knife with the thumbstud side facing you, in your right hand. Angle it so that the pivot and thumbstud are on a directly vertical line (the knife should be now tilted about 45 degrees to your left of vertical). Now consider the thumbstud: if it were to begin to rotate around the pivot, it would be moving directly to your left (a tangent to the circle). Hold your knife vertically now, and realize that the tangent is not out to the side of the knife, but to the side and front simultaneously. That realization helped me learn to rather effortlessly open my Vapor and Vapor II. Good luck.

---Jeffrey
 
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