Spirit with pocket clip

hiraethus · **on:** February 10, 2016, 11:25:57 PM

I've always wished that Victorinox offered a pocket clip on the Spirit and it was a mod that I've wanted to do for a while. Most of the clip add ons I've seen are self adhesive though there are a few (J-Sews, Metropolicity) that have added a fixed clip, usually Leatherman ones, to the tool. I realised a few months ago that the Enzo pocket clip from the PK70 knife would be perfect (see image below), if I could drill and tap two M2 holes for it to mount to...

I decided to mount it to the scissors/file side of the handle - I think it'll be less obtrusive when using the knife blade that way.

Clip, screws and Spirit.

Masked the handle then ground the rivet flat on my belt sander. Couldn't get enough material off the rivet to make it properly flush with the plate so I took off the tape and sanded it further. Will polish the handle later to remove the scratches.

Punched, piloted and drilled the pivot. Fortunately it's nickel silver so pretty easy to drill.

Tapped the pivot to accept the M2x0.4 mm clip fixing screw.

Fitted the clip so I could mark the position of the second hole. Punched and centre drilled to start...

... then snapped two carbide drills and a diamond burr.

Turns out the side plates are just stainless and relatively easy to drill. The formed plier stop inside is some super-hard spring grade stainless that laughed at my puny tools.

No pics of the next bit, I was pretty cross. Drilled the main pivot out so I could get the pliers and plier spring/stop out of the way.

Did manage to tap the side plate for the fixing screw. It's only 1mm thick but there's at least 2 threads engaged and it's not the only screw holding the clip on so should be ok.

Here's where I had to leave it for tonight. Will need to turn a new pivot from brass to replace the one I had to remove. More to come...

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2016, 11:34:16 PM

Shame about the drill bits mate, but it's looking good so far.

zoidberg · **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2016, 11:41:12 PM

Quote from: Gareth on February 10, 2016, 11:34:16 PM

Shame about the drill bits mate, but it's looking good so far.

+1

Syph007 · **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2016, 11:45:13 PM

Awesome!

This one has been on my todo list for years. I'll get around to it someday, but it's nice to see yours!

sLaughterMed · **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2016, 12:05:33 AM

Looking good so far.

Syph007 · **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2016, 12:15:31 AM

I wouldn't worry about only a couple threads in the body, it will be strong enough. Its just to prevent it from rotating really.

I cant think of a stronger way to attach it unless there was room on the inside of the handle for a rivet head.

Funny that the very first mod I ever did was on my spirit.. way back in 2011, when I barely even owned any tools.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,32268.msg533662.html#msg533662

Aloha · **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2016, 01:04:41 AM

looking good.

Kampfer · **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:43:38 AM

Here is mine

hiraethus · **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2016, 12:07:23 PM

How well has the glue held up with use?

hiraethus · **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2016, 02:04:09 PM

New pivot made:

It's got a very small 'head' on it, like a pre-formed rivet. Drilled and tapped M3 x 0.5 a little over half way through from the plain side with an M2 x 0.4 thread in the other end to hold the clip. I'll countersink the Spirit scale a little to accept the head, shorten the pivot so it's just sub-flush with the scale and fasten with a button head bolt.

Boaz · **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2016, 07:38:06 PM

Nice write up and nice pictures. Hopefully see the end result soon.

Kampfer · **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2016, 08:00:36 PM

Quote from: hiraethus on February 11, 2016, 12:07:23 PM

How well has the glue held up with use?

At a time, I had to pull it off to reshape the clip, it was a good time to test how strong the glue was. Tried to pull it off straight but almost destroy the clip by doing so. At the end I had to use razor blade carefully silde the clip off.

jlwatso1 · **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2016, 08:01:11 PM

Very nice! Enjoyed the read and pics!

hiraethus · **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2016, 10:59:05 PM

Done:

The whole thing went back together really easily and the new pivot worked well. Got two turns of engagement on the lower clip screw in the end, feels good. There's a tiny bit of play in the clip but I don't think it'll cause a problem.

Doesn't get in the way too much when using the pliers and barely affects the grip when using the other tools.

Nice deep carry.

Very happy with the mod.

Kampfer · **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:26:46 PM

WELL DONE

Aloha · **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:48:11 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on February 11, 2016, 11:26:46 PM

WELL DONE

kirk13 · **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:48:44 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on February 11, 2016, 11:26:46 PM

WELL DONE

What Kam said!

SteveC · **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:50:46 PM

Great job

Syph007 · **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:58:24 PM

That clip looks well suited to the spirit, nice work!

Sparky415 · **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2016, 06:59:35 AM

^^^

What they said

Great job Mate

mrynnr · **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2016, 08:45:14 AM

Ooohhh

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2016, 08:52:23 AM

Nice work Chris

magentus · **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2016, 03:17:46 PM

hiraethus · **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2016, 03:33:25 PM

Thanks everybody. Even you, magentus.

Some better-lit pics:

Syph007 · **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2016, 03:56:29 PM

Damn you now my jealously might actually motivate me to put a clip on mine.

Id also like it to be OHO but there is no easy way to do that, since the main blade isnt even in the right spot for right handers.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2016, 05:22:35 PM

Nice job

Aloha · **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2016, 07:04:42 PM

Quote from: Syph007 on February 12, 2016, 03:56:29 PM

Damn you now my jealously might actually motivate me to put a clip on mine.

Id also like it to be OHO but there is no easy way to do that, since the main blade isnt even in the right spot for right handers.

I'd love you see what your take on it would be. OHO the knife maybe the powers at VIC will follow suit with this mod.

again H for taking the plunge.

hiraethus · **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2016, 11:11:03 PM

Quote from: Syph007 on February 12, 2016, 03:56:29 PM

Damn you now my jealously might actually motivate me to put a clip on mine.

Id also like it to be OHO but there is no easy way to do that, since the main blade isnt even in the right spot for right handers.

Do it do it do it do it.

Sparky415 · **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2016, 07:33:03 AM

I’m very impressed H, such careful and tidy work

Weasel · **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2016, 09:39:56 AM

Excellent mod buddy

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Spirit with pocket clip

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