Replacing A Pocket Clip

Proper knife care is crucial to maintaining, and protecting your knife.  A properly maintained knife can last years, and even be handed down.  My grandfather took outstanding care of his knives, and as a result, they were handed down to my dad, who in turn handed them down to me.  The care he took with each of his knives leaves me speechless.  You can see just how important these knives were to him, by how well he took care of them.  I can only hope that I can take care of my knives just as well and, ideally, be able to pass them on to my grandchildren as well.
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Upon inspecting my knives, I can say that, for the most part, I have been taking great care of them.  Cleaning and sharpening the blades with proper materials, lubricating when needed, and things of that nature.  But I recently realized I have completely neglected a certain area on all of my knives.  What area is that?  My pocket clip.
You may not realize it, but the pocket clip is easily overlooked and taken advantage of.  I came upon this realization rather recently on a 4-wheeling trip I took.   This summer we got the family ATV up and rolling, and as such, I was eager to take it out and see how it was handling.
The good news: the 4-wheeler was handling great, almost as good as new.  The bad news:  My pocket clip, not so much.  With how often I pull out my EDC and put it back, the pocket clip had come loose, and a little less reliable.  I took the ATV over a jump that my pocket clip wasn’t ready for.   My knife came loose and fell out of my pocket.  Luckily it was easy to find and pick up, but it could have been much worse.  Thank goodness I didn’t do any permanent damage to the knife or the ATV.  But, from this point, it was very apparent I needed to start taking better care of my pocket clips.
Over time, it’s normal for pocket clips to become loose or bent.  It’s just a sign of a well-used knife.  Nothing wrong that.  When this starts to happen, it becomes very clear that something needs to be done to protect the knife.    Sometimes fixing the pocket clip can be as easy as tightening the screws.  Other times you may need to remove the clip entirely and either replace it, or attempt to bend it back into shape.  Just a heads up, bending it back can potentially weaken the metal, causing it to break.  So be very careful when taking this route.   Many knife companies, on their website, offer tips, tricks, and even tutorials on how to go about fixing the pocket clip.  Companies like Spyderco offer great resources for replacing all kinds of pocket clips.  And, you can always look online for tutorials on sites like YouTube, and Instructables.
In the unfortunate case that your pocket clip breaks, worry not, we have you covered.  Many knife brands offer a replacement, completely free of charge.  Companies like Gerber, and SOG have a warranty on their pocket clips.  All you need to do is to go to their website and follow the warranty instructions.  It’s a nice feeling to know that a company has your back when it comes to replacing a much used part.
Other companies, like Cold Steel offer replacement parts for a very affordable price.  That way, you can purchase several at a time.  This way, if the pocket clip breaks in the future, you don’t need to wait for another one to be sent to you, you already have a replacement on hand.  It’s a great way to ensure that you always have the parts you need to keep your knife in top shape.
No matter which option applies to you, it’s great to know that there are options when it comes to replacing such a vital part of your knife.  Or, if selecting a new knife, its great to see which companies offer the best warranties and replacement parts.
What company has helped you most when it comes to taking care of your knife?  Any tips or tricks for replacing that pocket clip?  As always let us know in the comments below. Check out our Knife Pocket Clips Guide to see the benefits of each type.

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