All About Pocket Knives

A lot of these modern knives seem to be equipped with pocket clips which to me on some of these knives seem to interfere with the action especially on autos and spring assisted. Do most just live with that or remove these extremities?

Got no use for them. I’ve removed a few.

Ken

For my EDCs, I always use a pocket clip. Not only does it allow me to carry a knife large enough for my needs without feeling like I have an anvil in my pocket, but it protects the knife from the other items floating around in my pockets, makes the knife quick and easy to access whenever I need it and it keeps the knife from falling out of my pocket (which is how I've lost most, if not all, of the pocket knives I've ever lost). I've carried knives without pocket clips but generally prefer the accessibility and way the knife rides in my pocket when clipped in. As always, YMMV.

This is the only one I've completely removed. I didn't throw it away, though, in case I decided to switch it back. The lanyard covers the "ease of access" part for me.

Recently, someone posted a Case Kickstarter (I believe) with the clip removed and put low profile screws back in the clip holes for a completed look, I liked it.

Incidentally, the Fyltanium scale costs more than the knife!

I agree with royal.
I have a couple hundred knives with pocket clips, I've never had a problem with them interfering with the operation of the knife.

I ALWAYS remove the clips, but not because of operational issues, strictly to give the knife a cleaner looking profile. I have 2 cheap autos that have the clips integrated into the back cover using fixed rivets, so those 2 still have the clips on them. I wish more makers would include the little plate that covers the clip holes or indent once they're removed, just like AGA Campolin does for their "Zero" leverlocks. Hinder and Hogue also include the filler plate.

Nice, Mark.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:02 pm Nice, Mark.

Thanks John! You've seen my "Zero" before in the "Some of my autos" thread, don't you remember, or perhaps you were commenting on the filler plate?

Madmarco wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:10 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:02 pm Nice, Mark.

Thanks John! You've seen my "Zero" before in the "Some of my autos" thread, don't you remember, or perhaps you were commenting on the filler plate?

Yep, I like the filler plate addition.

The Lion Steel Thrill slip joint incorporates the best of both worlds. The pocket clip stays flush with the handle unless you want to use it. It's spring loaded so it automatically retracts into the handle when you unclip it from your pocket.

I don't own one but I think it's a brilliant design.

I do own one, and yes, it is a brilliant design! Sorry the pics are so dark.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:33 pm I do own one, and yes, it is a brilliant design! Sorry the pics are so dark. WIN_20211106_17_29_40_Pro.jpgWIN_20211106_17_30_34_Pro.jpgWIN_20211106_17_30_15_Pro.jpg

Nice, Mark!

Railsplitter wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:36 pm

Madmarco wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:33 pm I do own one, and yes, it is a brilliant design! Sorry the pics are so dark. WIN_20211106_17_29_40_Pro.jpgWIN_20211106_17_30_34_Pro.jpgWIN_20211106_17_30_15_Pro.jpg

Nice, Mark!

Thanks Rick! I remember discussing with you these Lion Steel knives when they were first available, and I found some here in Canada and couldn't resist! I also bought a "Bestman" with the drop-point blade and carbon fiber covers! Both very solid folders!

Oh boy, tried this out on my mago OTF and man what a mess torx screws came out okay (w/o stripping) but the tiny one decided to play hide and seek on the tiled floor. After finally found and when somewhat loosely put back together the action completely failed.
Seems as though the way this knife is built it really cannot be easily modified so maybe I will have to adjust my hand posture while using this very stiff stubborn trigger.

charlesf20 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:50 am Oh boy, tried this out on my mago OTF and man what a mess torx screws came out okay (w/o stripping) but the tiny one decided to play hide and seek on the tiled floor. After finally found and when somewhat loosely put back together the action completely failed.
Seems as though the way this knife is built it really cannot be easily modified so maybe I will have to adjust my hand posture while using this very stiff stubborn trigger.

Did it look like this when you took it apart?

I won't carry a knife without a pocket clip.

charlesf20 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:50 am Oh boy, tried this out on my mago OTF and man what a mess torx screws came out okay (w/o stripping) but the tiny one decided to play hide and seek on the tiled floor. After finally found and when somewhat loosely put back together the action completely failed.
Seems as though the way this knife is built it really cannot be easily modified so maybe I will have to adjust my hand posture while using this very stiff stubborn trigger.

Charles! I had similar trouble with my version of a Mago OTF when I went to assemble it due to it being sent to me in 2 packages. I found that I was tightening the torx screws too tight and that was causing the firing lever to be compressed against the inner body which made moving the lever a 2-thumbed affair and extremely difficult. Once I figured this out and loosened off the screws it now operates flawlessly.

Railsplitter wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:16 pm The Lion Steel Thrill slip joint incorporates the best of both worlds. The pocket clip stays flush with the handle unless you want to use it. It's spring loaded so it automatically retracts into the handle when you unclip it from your pocket.

I don't own one but I think it's a brilliant design.

I had an OXO Good Grips pen which had made its way into my pencil case during my community college years that worked this way. It was so innovative, I've kept it to this day. The clip deployed when the pen was retracted, but when you went to use the pen, it folded into the frame. Always wanted a knife that worked this way. Glad a cutlery company actually put that idea into practice.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:59 pm Did it look like this when you took it apart?

No I didn't quite get into it that far, but that does looks like the inner workings of my earlier versions of Lightning & Titan when I thought I had broke them when they misfired.

charlesf20 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:13 am

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:59 pm Did it look like this when you took it apart?

No I didn't quite get into it that far, but that does looks like the inner workings of my earlier versions of Lightning & Titan when I thought I had broke them when they misfired.

That's what my pictures are from. Not sure what your knife looks like, any pictures?

Madmarco wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:54 pm Charles! I had similar trouble with my version of a Mago OTF when I went to assemble it due to it being sent to me in 2 packages. I found that I was tightening the torx screws too tight and that was causing the firing lever to be compressed against the inner body which made moving the lever a 2-thumbed affair and extremely difficult. Once I figured this out and loosened off the screws it now operates flawlessly.

Wish I had read this post Friday Mark
Finally came to the same conclusion

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:15 am That's what my pictures are from. Not sure what your knife looks like, any pictures?

Gotcha, thanks! I've never had one of those apart but I bet Mark has.

*Edit- looks like he helped you out. I can see why you would want to ditch the clip on that one.

charlesf20 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:22 am

Madmarco wrote: ↑Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:54 pm Charles! I had similar trouble with my version of a Mago OTF when I went to assemble it due to it being sent to me in 2 packages. I found that I was tightening the torx screws too tight and that was causing the firing lever to be compressed against the inner body which made moving the lever a 2-thumbed affair and extremely difficult. Once I figured this out and loosened off the screws it now operates flawlessly.

Wish I had read this post Friday Mark
Finally came to the same conclusion

Did you back the screws off a bit Charles, and if so, did it work? If it didn't work, or actually even if it did, you might also try applying a drop of Quick Release oil into the outside trigger channel and working the trigger back and forth a few times to distribute the oil throughout the channel, it should help with the action, and it certainly can't make it worse. This is the knife I was referring to, although it didn't come with a clip, just a bolster screw on each side. For my knife I believe it was the over-tightening of the body screws that caused it to be too tight, but the inner body frame does run up and down far enough to include the bolsters so perhaps the 2 bolster screws were the one's causing the trouble. This knife came with bolster "ears", just like your model, but I ground them off with a Dremel tool to give the knife a more "Icepick" profile. I've heard these knives referred to as "Tomb Raider" knives, but we all know that the true T/R knife had a SS finger loop attached to the top bolster. This is my 9" model and I also have the 11" model with blue swirl covers and bolster "ears" intact!