protech tr-3 thumb stud tearing up my thumb

[jluedke]

So I just orderd this beautiful limited run protech tr-3 and it has one major problem, the thumb stud has edges that are almost as sharp as the blade. After a day of fooling around with it my thumb had become raw. The sharp edges on the stud are also catching in my pants when i try to pull the knife from my pocket which often causes the knife to open. I have almost cut myself a few times as a result. Kinda disappointed that a detail like this was over looked on such a pricey knife. Wonder if anyone has any recommendations on how to dull the edges on the thumb stud without destroying this otherwise beautiful knife.

 

[Phydeaux]

You could take off the thumb stud and replace it with one that is not quite as sharp. Check some of the knife supply places, they usually have thumb studs.

I looked at a YouTube review of protech. Looks like there is a screw that holds the thumb stud on. Here's what I'd try:

Take off the thumb stud. Get a screw with the same sized threads, put the stud on the screw. Screw head off. Put the thread screw in drill with the stud sticking out. Turn on drill, carefully sand the rough edges with some fine grit sand paper. Take the stud off and remount (don't forget a little loctite).

I've made some home made thumb studs with phenolic (Micarta) by drilling a blind tapping a hole in it and mounting it on a screw for a spindle. Chuck it up in a drill, use files and sand paper to shape. Its my poormans' lathe.

Ric