909 blade play

SadSappySucker

SadSappySucker

Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
2,700
This is my first post on here, but I recently bought a benchmade 909 and it has some blade play. I've tried tightening the pivot screw, but by the time I get rid of the blade play its literally too tight to open one handed. I have also tried taking it apart, cleaned and oiled it but still nothing. If it were a >$100 knife I wouldn't mind, but considering it was $150, lets just say I'm disappointed at best. Any suggestions?
 
I would send it back to benchmade . They will fix you up. I know it sucks to buy a new benchmade then have to send it in for them to make it right the second time. O ya welcome to the forum's.
 
Technically, it is a $100 knife, they sell it for more though. The coated blades are the worst for play.
 
Yeah it was an impulse buy. I'm not very big on the coated blades. Will they be able to tell that I've taken it apart, since that voids the warranty? As far as I can tell, I put it back together exactly how it came. I've since bought a mini grip, and it came as solid as can be.
 
I really don't think they care if you took it apart but I would just send it in and tell them about the blade play and nothing else. I have sent them a few knives with no problems, they always fixed them. They have very good warranty and customer service.
 
Ok, Im definitely gonna send it in now. I was just hoping there was a way to fix it and bypass sending it in. Thanks for the help.
 
It really is a fine line between having no blade play, and having it smooth.
Sometimes it's okay to take a deep breath, put the parts neatly away, then come back to it later.
If you decide to take it apart again, clean the washers and smooth them out with some fine paper or a strop.
Apply a little lube to both sides of the washers. Take your time when putting it back together. I usually just take the blade out unless it's a Barrage, but if you are removing the scales then make sure it all clicks back into place. Misaligned screws can make all the difference.
With the pivot, I start out with a super loose blade, then start dialing it in bit by bit. You should hit that sweet spot.
Have had a few 710's, Shot show grip and a Contego that I thought would have to go back. Ended up fixing them and they are so smooth, centered and solid.
Cheers
Edit.
Just realized you have a black coating. Try and remove coating from pivot area.
 
Some blade play with Benchmades is just part of the game, unless you want the opening super stiff. At least that's my experience with every one I've ever come across. How much you tighten the pivot screw directly corresponds to the blade play and ease of opening. It's very a fine line and I prefer to have the blade open easily with just a hint of horizontal play. Would be interesting to see how it would work with a bushing system similar to what is on the Manix 2. I own this knife as well and the pivot screw is down tight yet the blade free swings with the lock pulled back and there is not a hint of play with the blade locked open. I prefer the Axis lock, so this combined with a bushing system could potentially be epic.
 
I have the same problem I am sending it out tomorrow, also to replace omega springs. It is however inexcusable for an expensive knife to have ANY blade play. My Cold Steel Recon 1 has 0 blade play and that is $60!
 
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If it's side to side blade play, I can tell you every benchmade I own came with it. You can put some lock-tite on the pivot and dial it in and that will help, but even that wont last forever.
 
Well now I'm just waiting for my pm2 to come in before I send it back to benchmade. I let a guy handle it who has owned plenty of benchmades, and he said definitely send it back. I wasn't sure if I was just being overly critical, or if my points were valid. Lastly, I decided against sanding around the pivot area, because it seems like that would scream "I VOIDED THE WARRANTY" if I still ended up needing to send it back. Thanks for all the suggestions.
On a side note, if they decide they need to change the blade out, would they swap it for an uncoated for no charge or are they strict about putting everything back together exactly how it came?
 
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