Rounding the flipper tab on an XM-18?

[jacobconroy75]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but a search didn't provide anything to read.

The flipper tab on the XM-18. It's sharp. Everybody knows that.

What if I simply "rounded" the pointy part a bit? The knife in question has a "nuclear-level" detent, and though this makes it a very fun flipper....it's hard on fingers. It will open reliably with both the "light switch" and "push-button" methods. I'm close to grinding the little sucker, but would really like to hear from someone that's already tried it first. Google could provide zero examples of posts or pictures. Maybe this is a dumb-butt idea?

I am not concerned with warranty or resale issues after modification. If y'all have tried it, please post up a picture and tell me how it worked out.

 

[ferider]

I've done it once, on an old XM24. Just take a sharpening stone and grind off part of the first "tip" off the flipper. Not sure if you can see it, the knife is in another state currently, so I don't have a better photo ....

Note that new triways do start off with a hard detent sometimes. They do break in, though.

 

[jacobconroy75]

I've done it once, on an old XM24. Just take a sharpening stone and grind off part of the first "tip" off the flipper. Not sure if you can see it, the knife is in another state currently, so I don't have a better photo ....

Note that new triways do start off with a hard detent sometimes. They do break in, though.

Thanks for posting that. It's a lot less grinding than I was thinking about. The Halftrack is what put these thoughts into my mind.



The Halftrack is painless (despite having a very heavy detent as well). Maybe I'll do a little grinding at a time and see where it winds up.

Looks like you did a radius. Probably a good place to start.