Small 31 annoyance Update 7/15 with video

Just received a call from Matt at CRK… he informed me that due to the nature of the design, and also the requirements of the pocket clips, this is normal behavior.

Nothing is wrong with the knife. This is good to know and verifies that it’s just the XL size of my hand applying sideways pressure to the pocket clips. Thus resulting in it moving over into the lockbar area.

Just an annoyance and not an issue. I think I can live with it.
 
Gizler00 said:
Just received a call from Matt at CRK… he informed me that due to the nature of the design, and also the requirements of the pocket clips, this is normal behavior.

Nothing is wrong with the knife. This is good to know and verifies that it’s just the XL size of my hand applying sideways pressure to the pocket clips. Thus resulting in it moving over into the lockbar area.

Just an annoyance and not an issue. I think I can live with it.
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Am I the only one that thinks that this is not acceptable for a knife that starts at $475? I have been looking at the smalls closely on the recon 1 website and it does seem even the small wood inlays look like they would slip off. I won't be buying any small 31's. If it's normal, what would you change it for? Meaning, if during use, it's intended to pop down onto the lock bar, why change it to sit on the frame in the first place? Looks like a maching error to me.
 
scottbrookes said:
I wonder if an aftermarket milled pocket clip (eg RGT, NGMCo) would be more rigid and less prone to this?
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Thanks for the idea. I am not sure what I am going to do.. I really like this knife, but it’s pretty annoying that it does this. Not sure if I will keep it or not.
 
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Silent Communicator said:
Am I the only one that thinks that this is not acceptable for a knife that starts at $475? I have been looking at the smalls closely on the recon 1 website and it does seem even the small wood inlays look like they would slip off. I won't be buying any small 31's. If it's normal, what would you change it for? Meaning, if during use, it's intended to pop down onto the lock bar, why change it to sit on the frame in the first place? Looks like a maching error to me.
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I hate to be negative about it, but I have the same thoughts in my head about it. I have had multiple inkosi’s in the past with the canted pocket clip. None of them exhibited this behavior. When talking to them yesterday, even Matt said he did not like the clip design placement. It does not have enough purchase on the flat slab to stay there when the pocket clip has so much flex.

He said they make the pocket clips to be slightly flexible like this to prevent tearing up the pockets. I understand, I get it……. But it really is annoying. Everytime I use the knife to cut something other than a soft piece or material, or open mail….. this happens.

I also get that I have big hands. I know some are going to say that I need to just get a large…… I don’t want the large. I have had them. They are too big for a good edc in my opinion.

I cannot be the only one who this happens to. It’s not a one off knife. I would be willing to bet that every single small 31 owner can flex the pocket clip over into the lockbar area if they tried. It literally takes nearly no effort for it to slip over there.

This is not a lock rock bash…… just a simple observation about something I don’t like with this design change.
 
Gizler00 said:
I hate to be negative about it, but I have the same thoughts in my head about it. I have had multiple inkosi’s in the past with the canted pocket clip. None of them exhibited this behavior. When talking to them yesterday, even Matt said he did not like the clip design placement. It does not have enough purchase on the flat slab to stay there when the pocket clip has so much flex.

He said they make the pocket clips to be slightly flexible like this to prevent tearing up the pockets. I understand, I get it……. But it really is annoying. Everytime I use the knife to cut something other than a soft piece or material, or open mail….. this happens.

I also get that I have big hands. I know some are going to say that I need to just get a large…… I don’t want the large. I have had them. They are too big for a good edc in my opinion.

I cannot be the only one who this happens to. It’s not a one off knife. I would be willing to bet that every single small 31 owner can flex the pocket clip over into the lockbar area if they tried. It literally takes nearly no effort for it to slip over there.

This is not a lock rock bash…… just a simple observation about something I don’t like with this design change.
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Definitely I understand your frustration. My one small was the same way. The funny thing is I got the new clip, but now I carry that one without a clip in the pocket so it’s a non issue. Ergos are better too. As someone else suggested you could try another type of clip, NGMco is excellent. But I do agree this issue shouldn’t happen. I tried 3 of my other small 31s and one if I really force it the clip could slide over, but not as easily as my plain small. My two others would not slide over. So in my sample size it’s more of the exception that this happens. And really only my small plain would I consider a problem. Honestly after using 21s I think they should just go back to the clip on the lock bar, but keep the rest of the 31 unchanged. Hope you can find a solution that works!
 
Foxhound13 said:
Definitely I understand your frustration. My one small was the same way. The funny thing is I got the new clip, but now I carry that one without a clip in the pocket so it’s a non issue. Ergos are better too. As someone else suggested you could try another type of clip, NGMco is excellent. But I do agree this issue shouldn’t happen. I tried 3 of my other small 31s and one if I really force it the clip could slide over, but not as easily as my plain small. My two others would not slide over. So in my sample size it’s more of the exception that this happens. And really only my small plain would I consider a problem. Honestly after using 21s I think they should just go back to the clip on the lock bar, but keep the rest of the 31 unchanged. Hope you can find a solution that works!
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Thanks for the reply! It’s definitely frustrating, and I am not so sure what I am going to do. It’s one of those things that’s not a huge issue, but it’s enough to make me not want to carry it. Don’t get me wrong, I still do, but……..

I agree, go back to the pocket clip alignment with the lockbar!
 
Gizler00 said:
Thanks for the reply! It’s definitely frustrating, and I am not so sure what I am going to do. It’s one of those things that’s not a huge issue, but it’s enough to make me not want to carry it. Don’t get me wrong, I still do, but……..

I agree, go back to the pocket clip alignment with the lockbar!
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For sure it shouldn’t happen and was never an issue with a 21. All other changes i’m fine with. I do think a small Sebenza is hard to beat and if I could have only one folder, I’d have to go with one of my smalls.

Good luck! Report back if you have an update.
 
Foxhound13 said:
For sure it shouldn’t happen and was never an issue with a 21. All other changes i’m fine with. I do think a small Sebenza is hard to beat and if I could have only one folder, I’d have to go with one of my smalls.

Good luck! Report back if you have an update.
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Definitely. I agree the small is the perfect EDC. I love the large, but it is just that….too large.

Not sure what I’m
Going to do. I’ve thought about passing it along
 
Since you have two pocket clips, you can play with one by either bending it so it will rest on the slab more or shaving off some of the clip where it seats in the recess to make it rest more von the slab. That may cause the clip to move where it’s secured down. Or remove the clip, get a pocket sheath with a clip. I’ve got one from Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery . Coleman does top notch work.
 
XL883N said:
I had a S31 that didn't do that with OEM or Hawk clip. And CRK saying that's normal is total bull. All they have to do is angle the clip hole 1 or 2 degrees and problem solved.
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It is what it is…. It’s just the fact that there’s not enough purchase on the Ti Slab combined with the flexibility of the clip. But I agree with you. Small modification would fix this

Ajack60 said:
Since you have two pocket clips, you can play with one by either bending it so it will rest on the slab more or shaving off some of the clip where it seats in the recess to make it rest more von the slab. That may cause the clip to move where it’s secured down. Or remove the clip, get a pocket sheath with a clip. I’ve got one from Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery . Coleman does top notch work.
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I am not so sure I want to do anything like that. I would rather pass it along to someone else that doesn’t have huge hands. Or just leave it as is. I may check out the aftermarket pocket clips, but if I’m being honest, I don’t know if I want to spend more money on an already expensive knife.

I will have to check out Coleman’s offerings! I have seen some on here. Love his work
 
The main issue I ran into with this being on the 31 is that, if I remove the clip on a 31 with an inlay and use a filler tab, it looks a little strange with an oddly shaped inlay on the clip side where the inlay is cut out for the clip.
 
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I think you’re one of the only ones experiencing this or it has to be very few people. CRK has such a huge following and demand that I can’t imagine this would be an issue for the majority of users and pretty much nothing has been said about it. The standard is one of the highest in the industry and they would have fixed this if it was an issue for even 10% of users in my opinion.

It does look like you have some pretty big paws and maybe your specific hand just grabs the clip if the worst way possible. I tried re-creating exactly what you did and could not make it happen on any of my small 31s or large 31s. I would highly recommend a bigger CRK 21 with the clip that rests directly on the lockbar, a Demko AD20 or AD20s, or something like that to accommodate your bigger hands/unique grip. I’ll have medium/large hands and a small 31 is a little too small for me for anything beyond light cutting tasks.

https://imgur.com/a/UzuphK4
 
Silent Communicator said:
The main issue I ran into with this being on the 31 is that, if I remove the clip on a 31 with an inlay and use a filler tab, it looks a little strange with an oddly shaped inlay on the clip side where the inlay is cut out for the clip.
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I never thought of that.. I have never owned a CRK with an Inlay. I always wanted to get my hands on one first.
 
John Phillips said:
I think you’re one of the only ones experiencing this or it has to be very few people. CRK has such a huge following and demand that I can’t imagine this would be an issue for the majority of users and pretty much nothing has been said about it. The standard is one of the highest in the industry and they would have fixed this if it was an issue for even 10% of users in my opinion.

It does look like you have some pretty big paws and maybe your specific hand just grabs the clip if the worst way possible. I tried re-creating exactly what you did and could not make it happen on any of my small 31s or large 31s. I would highly recommend a bigger CRK 21 with the clip that rests directly on the lockbar, a Demko AD20 or AD20s, or something like that to accommodate your bigger hands/unique grip. I’ll have medium/large hands and a small 31 is a little too small for me for anything beyond light cutting tasks.

https://imgur.com/a/UzuphK4
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Thanks for the reply and video!! It definitely looks like your pocket clip is sitting over on the flat portion of the Ti more than mine it. I can literally just flex it over with minimal effort when the knife is open. I should make a video of just that and post it up.

I think it’s more common than we think… especially after talking with CRK and they said it’s normal.. They were not surprised or caught off guard with it. I sent them the video and they were like….. yes, that’s normal, it’s going to move like this because of……x,y,z..

I still love the brand and this knife. Just a little annoyance with it is all. I will get another video

Edit: I did show that in the end of my video. With the knife open, I can just barely put pressure on the pocket clip, and it slips off into the lockbar area. The 1:04/1:05 minute of the video
 
Gizler00 said:
Thanks for the reply and video!! It definitely looks like your pocket clip is sitting over on the flat portion of the Ti more than mine it. I can literally just flex it over with minimal effort when the knife is open. I should make a video of just that and post it up.

I think it’s more common than we think… especially after talking with CRK and they said it’s normal.. They were not surprised or caught off guard with it. I sent them the video and they were like….. yes, that’s normal, it’s going to move like this because of……x,y,z..

I still love the brand and this knife. Just a little annoyance with it is all. I will get another video
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Well, I hear you but in 5 years being on this forum specifically as a CRK enthusiast, your the first and only so far. I could be wrong but I just haven’t seen this come up yet. Try a 21, they are better all around and you can pick one up here on the forum for $375-$475.
 
I appreciate the info. I have a small 21, but it’s in the safe for the time being. I also have had about a dozen crk’s but this is my first 31…

I have also been on here since 2006 and have not seen this yet. Must be a fat hand problem. Hahaha.

Yours definitely looks to be further over on the scale though…. Mine is barely on the flat
 
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