Screw question

[BenjaminRush]

Hi all, quick question -- I'm not much of a tinkerer, so I was hoping someone with more knowledge than me could help me out. I apologize in advance for my ignorance.

I generally remove the clips from my knives, as I think they mess with the ergos. Usually, I can just replace one or both of the clip screws to fill the hole / void, but I'm having an issue with a couple of Sharp By Design knives, where the clip screw is structural, holding in the opposite side of the frame. The screw hole, however, isn't tapped deep enough to allow me to just take the clip off and have the screw sit flush for my Apex and Mini Tempest. I don't really want to grind down the stock screw in the case that I ever want to put the clip back on. So I'm hoping to find a spare, shorter screw that might fit.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for determining screw size or where to source additional screws for their knives (short of contacting the maker for extra hardware, which I feel like is a pain for them).

 

[Triple_D]

Don't much likes clips, myself. Any chance you could use a washer on the screw, or would that cause the screw head to protrude too much?

Edit: BTW, if you do figure out the screw size, you can likely get whatever size you want, at McMaster-Carr . Shipping isn't cheap, though.

 

[Spey]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for determining screw size or where to source additional screws for their knives (short of contacting the maker for extra hardware, which I feel like is a pain for them).

Most decent hardware stores will have a Screw Gauge you can use to determine diameter, pitch, and length of an existing screw, or you can buy one for future use without need to borrow others tools.
One example of a typical Screw Gauge:


Optionally, a lot of folks already own a wire-stripper, and may not understand many of these tools have an integral Screw-Shear that can be used to both measure screw diameter & pitch and also to shear exisiting screw to shorter length.
Example of Wire-Stripper with Integral Screw-Shear:

When I need pocket clip screws, scale screws, Kydex clip screws, etc.; I head to my corner hardware store as they have a couple trays of various of what they term as "gun screws" in the 2-56, 4-40, 10-24 sizes (which fit many of the small applications mentioned). Other considerations include head-shape (countersunk, button-head, etc., and driver (Philips, slot, hex, Torx, etc.).


EDIT:
Please understand, I DO NOT consider Home Depo to be a hardware store (per my above references) but here is a link to get some idea of what is available through H.D. as most folks have one of these stores local (I simply did a search for 4-40 screw):
Home Depo Machine Screws

 

[Phydeaux]

Check the country of origin. If it is made over seas it may be a metric size. There are some metric threads that are very close in size to standard threads, so be careful.
I use calipers to measure the diameter and a pitch gauge to size screws. If I don't have access to a pitch gauge, I use a screw of known pitch and see if the threads mesh together.

Another place to check for screws is Olander (sunnyvale, CA). They have an amazing inventory. They used to cater to the aerospace industry back in the day.

Maybe a local gunsmith could help you size the screw.

Have you contacted the maker and asked if they can send you some replacement screws for the clip?