Stripped out clip screw

SALTY · May 24, 2023

I purchased a "pre-owned" but ostensibly not used Recon 1.
I am such a sucker for Recon 1s as they are my very favorite carry/user-abuser EDC knives.

This particular one may very likely be AUS8 as the presentation side is marked "Recon 1" and the right side is marked merely, "COLD STEEL Taiwan."

In any event, one of the clip screws is stripped out and likely needs an over-sized screw and/or a drilling and tapping with an oversized screw.

Before I venture off ill-advised, I seek the wisdom of the Brain Trust here as I suspect this is not the first time my situation has been encountered.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

jux t · May 24, 2023

Can you tell whether it’s the screw that’s stripped, or otherwise the aluminum backspacer?

Vlade · May 24, 2023

Oh lordy this ain't going to be easy if it's a screw maybe ....if it's the backspacer that's bad . I have a feeling that eventually as our cold steel knives start breaking down and either get discarded or used up for parts we won't have any cold steel left. Anything and everything mechanical will break when I don't know but this is just an example of not being able to secure parts. Jux maybe can help you but I can't I don't have any idea what to do about that.

paul brown · May 24, 2023

try it with two screws, might be strong enough

Vlade · May 24, 2023

paul brown said:
try it with two screws, might be strong enough

It's an idea, I was thinking about trying to build up the threads with something and then loctiting it in. But that would be slipshod workmanship

SALTY · May 25, 2023

Thank you all for the replies; it would appear as though the backspacer would need to be tapped and the screw upsized.

For what it's worth, the clip seems quite secure with just the other two but the OCD (or the pilot) in me just wants it to be as designed.

jux t · May 25, 2023

SALTY said:
Thank you all for the replies; it would appear as though the backspacer would need to be tapped and the screw upsized.

For what it's worth, the clip seems quite secure with just the other two but the OCD (or the pilot) in me just wants it to be as designed.

I have an extra I can mail you. PM me if interested. Do the screw’s threads look fine? BTW, I’ve never stripped the threads from a Recon 1 back spacer and have messed with a lot of them.

Also, just curious, is the tang coated where the lock bar rides? If yes, it’s an unmarked XHP, if not, AUS8.

SALTY · May 25, 2023

jux t,

Where the lockbar rides it's just uncoated silver steel - as you suggest, probably AUS 8.

Thank you for your very kind offer to send a replacement but the screw threads looks fine. Tapping and perhaps upsizing the replacement screw is an option.

jux t · May 25, 2023

SALTY said:
jux t,

Where the lockbar rides it's just uncoated silver steel - as you suggest, probably AUS 8.

Thank you for your very kind offer to send a replacement but the screw threads looks fine. Tapping and perhaps upsizing the replacement screw is an option.

I meant I have an extra back spacer for a Recon 1 if you want it.