After reading through this from the beginning I just have to offer a few thoughts (and please note I know both ppl involved in it - and as have both of them have stated they are both good guys to deal with irrespective of the posts here).
Personally, i think its important to remember that both of these guys have excellent reputations - and while I can't necessarily offer a solution to the problem at hand hopefully I can bring a cooler head and offer a view of the situation from 10,000 feet.
Primarily I think this has been blown WAY out of proportion by individuals who don't have a dog in this fight but feel it necessary to offer an opinion, or add as many derisive comments as they feel they can get away with. The fact that both individuals are frequent users of the sales forums really has no bearing on the issues at hand.
Firstly, I am suprised at the amount of vilification being heaped on frankp - having sold a good many blades to a good many individuals on this forum and others, I feel I can safely say that if I had received the knife in question the way the frankp did I undoubtedly would be extremely upset. I am also quite sure that most, if not all of you, would feel the same way.
If a knife that I have sold is returned to me I expect it to be in the EXACTLY the same condition as when it left me hands, not with the pivot tweaked, not with new scratches on the pocket clip, or as in this case, dripping with oil.
I would also point out that in some instances oil can cause irreversible staining to a blade, especially an non-stainless blade which 3V is (and as I understand it the blade on the Hoback is 3V), additionally oil residue on the blade tang can/does create an absurd amount of lock stick.
Second off, I am surprised by the assertion that the knife is in some way defective because it has an modicum of "detent" slop, that is simply absurd. I have bought and sold knives from Kershaw to rexford that have exhibited some type of detent slop. The fact that blade had to be pre loaded other tension most likely means that the detent hole is slightly larger (and I'm talking by the hundredth of an inch) then others by the same maker - it does not affect the integrity of the blade, the action of the knife overall, and more then likely ensure that a thick ass blade such as this is kept in the blade channel under more strenuous circumstances. Additionally, it surprises me that the mods feel it necessary to admonish frankp for not "strenuously" examining the condition and function of the knife prior to sale. As mentioned previously, "detent slop" is not, in my view, a defect and while some individuals may find it annoying, much like a modicum of lock rock, many knifemakers specifically build it into their folders, and to admonish a participant in this forum for NOT finding it troubling or annoying seems a little ridiculous.
After going through the posts again, I am slighty troubled that Meat mentioned a couple of things - one that he oils "all his blades". This would lead me to believe that he received the blade, looked it over, felt it was good to go, and chose to oil it as he does all the knives under his ownership. Second, Meat also mentions that upon purchasing other knives he chose to sell the A8. I am not sure how it works with the rest of you guys, but normally I only sell blades that belong to me, and I would argue the very action of chooisng to sell the blade constitutes aknowledgement of ownership. In dealings I have had in the past, once another member chooses to sell a knife they purchased from me, (and note I did not say SELL) then it certainly is no longer my knife and I certainly would not accept responsibility for it or the return of said knife.
In my very humble opinion, I believe Meat decided the easiest way to get the money out of the blade was to return it to frankp - and the more I re-read the thread, the more I find it difficult not deal with frankp's assertion that he is in the right. If u extrapolate the very act of ownership to something else (i.e watch, a stove, Tv, whatever) would any of us be so quick to say that Meat was in the right?
In any case if I sold something to a private buyer, as a private individual, I would assume - free of any defects - that the deal was done once the other party had effected a change to the item that he felt was his/her right as the new "owner" of said item - and note I am not saying a permanent change.
When it comes down to it, I can say that yes frankp has responded to this thread with some of the cusp comments that could be interpreted as being hot headed - but again I find it surprising that many of you would not do the same thing if your own reputation was being called to question. I do know one thing however - in the end no one will "win" here. Both parties will end up being bitter and pissed off as "their position is the right one".
I would also offer that the threats of banishment need to stop - irrespective of who is making them - they rarely bring any common sense to the situation and I personally have found that when I am threatened intend to come out swinging.
Again all of the above is my personal opinion formulated through numerous deals both here and on other private forums - so take from it what you will.
