Cookie sheet: A cookie sheet with raised edges, lined with an old towel, helps prevent loss of small screws and parts during folder maintenance.
back the screw (male) side of the pin out and put a drop of blue Loctite on the threads. Replace the screw in the female side of the post (being care- ful not to drip any Loctite into the knife’s action) and tighten the screw firmly until the blade binds. Then, progressively back it out an eighth of a turn at a time until you achieve the desired degree of tightness in the action. Allow the Loctite to dry com- pletely before using the knife. DO NOT purposely loosen your
blade pivot to make your knife easier to “flick” open. This can compro- mise the lock function and pose a serious hazard.
Staying Organized One helpful hint that I learned the
Liner-lock lubrication: Sometimes the ball-bearing detent of a liner lock can drag and impede the action of the knife. A single drop of oil on the detent ball can eliminate the problem.
hard way is to work on my knives over a cookie sheet with raised edges, that is lined with an old white towel. This keeps parts from falling off the table and makes them easy to see. Working over hard floors rather than carpet also makes screws easier to find if they do hit the floor. If you do drop a steel screw, pin or spring, a flat bar magnet is a great way to find it quickly. An ice cube tray or egg car- ton is also handy for storing screws and other small parts in the order in which they were removed, making re- assembly a lot easier. Since I mentioned the idea of keep-
Clip tightening: To tighten a clip, remove it and use padded pliers to flex it near the base.
ing track of multiple folder parts, I should add that most manufacturers will void your warranty if you disas- semble your knife beyond a screw or two. Why? Because they can’t guar- antee you will put it back together correctly so it will function as de- signed. If you do choose to disassem- ble your knife to a significant degree, take digital photos or even video the process so you can remember how it goes back together. If, despite your best efforts, you
happen to lose a screw, there is still hope. Many hobby shops, well-stocked hardware stores and dedicated fas- tener suppliers (like Fastenal) stock micro screws. If your knife was made overseas, it’s likely that its screws are metric sized, so bring it along and test fit possible replacements carefully to make sure they’re right. Most manufacturers will also pro-
Clip adjustment: To loosen the ten- sion of a pocket clip, pad the jaws of a pair of pliers with masking tape and gently flex the clip near its base, not at the tip of the clip.
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vide replacement screws for your knife. When you contact them, make sure you identify the exact model of knife you have and the specific screw or part you need. If necessary, e-mail them a photo that clearly shows the knife and missing part.
Switching And Fixing Clips Clothing clips are the most frequent-
ly bent, broken and adjusted parts of
tactical folders. Let’s start with proper adjustment. A clip that is too tight can make the knife difficult to draw, while a loose clip doesn’t stabilize the knife in the pocket or provide positive reten- tion. To increase the tension of a steel clothing clip, first remove it completely from the knife. Place the closed knife on a towel or mouse pad and, using the proper type and size of tool, apply firm downward pressure as you loosen the clip screws. This will prevent stripping the screw heads. Once the clip is removed, wrap the
jaws of a couple of pairs of pliers with masking tape and use them to gen- tly bend the clip in the direction of the knife’s handle. Then replace the clip on the knife and test its fit. Once you’ve got it right, remove the clip, Loctite the screw threads and tighten them securely. Loosening a tight clip can be done
in the same way, or you can adjust it while still on the knife. To do that, find needle-nose or duckbill pliers that will fit under the clip near the base and wrap the jaws with several turns of masking tape. Then, careful- ly bend the clip away from the handle near the base of the clip. A small bend can drastically affect the fit of the clip, so go slowly and test the fit often. This is a much better method than trying to bend the clip from the tip and is less likely to “spring” or break the clip. Obviously, during this process you
can also change the position of your clip to achieve left- or right-side, tip- up or tip-down carry — provided your knife offers those mounting options.
Stay Sharp A defensive folding knife must
be razor sharp when you need it. As such, I recommend you carry a sec- ond knife for utility cutting chores and preserve your tactical folder for defensive use. To ensure that it is as sharp as possible, you should invest in both the equipment and the practice to sharpen your knife properly. There are many sharpening devices on the market that take the guesswork out of the process and produce outstanding results with little effort. My personal favorite is the Spyderco Sharpmaker, which not only takes all the worry out of achieving and maintaining proper sharpening angles, it is one of the few sharpeners on the market designed to sharpen serrated edges. Like any potentially lifesaving the tactical
weapon or tool, folder
needs to be maintained carefully if you want it to perform when you need it. Given the high stakes of the game, investing the time and effort into reg- ular folder maintenance is well worth the effort. *
PERSONAL DEFENSE • SPRING 2011 SPECIAL EDITION
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