Benchmade 710 Issue

P

PaulTR

Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
215
First time thread post here, so go easy on me folks ;)


I got a screaming deal on a Benchmade 710 - D2 back in May and loved the heck out of the knife. It was perfect in every way save one: the infamous "blade hitting backspacer" issue. Now normally I wouldn't care all that much, but I'd heard BM offers a service for 710 owners where they refit the backspacer with standoffs or barrel spacers. Since I like free flow designs more than closed construction, I contacted BM about the issue. They were very understanding and said I could send it in for a barrel spacer refit. That was in early July.

Well, I got back my 710 yesterday and it looks gorgeous with it's new spacers. Plus, the blade was resharpened for free and my credit card wasn't charged for the barrel spacers. But as I examined my knife, I was disheartened to find my prized-710 now has bladeplay...and I'm not talking a little wiggling. I'm talking audible, significant, non adjustable, bladeplay. Now, I understand a little play is to be expected from Axis Lock knives, but this is incredibly significant. No amount of fiddling with the pivot reduces it; it makes the knife completely unenjoyable for me, knowing that I've traded a minor quibble with a bigger problem. I think it might have something to do with the stop pin, but I'm not sure. I haven't had that much experience with bladeplay issues with my other knives.

My question: is there some way to fix or reduce the bladeplay short of sending it back to BM? I really don't want to wait another couple of weeks for it to come back, but if there's no solution I guess I'll bite the bullet. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!
 
PaulTR said:
First time thread post here, so go easy on me folks ;)


I got a screaming deal on a Benchmade 710 - D2 back in May and loved the heck out of the knife. It was perfect in every way save one: the infamous "blade hitting backspacer" issue. Now normally I wouldn't care all that much, but I'd heard BM offers a service for 710 owners where they refit the backspacer with standoffs or barrel spacers. Since I like free flow designs more than closed construction, I contacted BM about the issue. They were very understanding and said I could send it in for a barrel spacer refit. That was in early July.

Well, I got back my 710 yesterday and it looks gorgeous with it's new spacers. Plus, the blade was resharpened for free and my credit card wasn't charged for the barrel spacers. But as I examined my knife, I was disheartened to find my prized-710 now has bladeplay...and I'm not talking a little wiggling. I'm talking audible, significant, non adjustable, bladeplay. Now, I understand a little play is to be expected from Axis Lock knives, but this is incredibly significant. No amount of fiddling with the pivot reduces it; it makes the knife completely unenjoyable for me, knowing that I've traded a minor quibble with a bigger problem. I think it might have something to do with the stop pin, but I'm not sure. I haven't had that much experience with bladeplay issues with my other knives.

My question: is there some way to fix or reduce the bladeplay short of sending it back to BM? I really don't want to wait another couple of weeks for it to come back, but if there's no solution I guess I'll bite the bullet. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

I doubt it if messing with the pivot does absolutely nothing.

If it were me I'd do a full takedown and re-assembly and if that doesn't work, send it back to BM.
 
Bear in mind that disassembly may void your warranty. If there is horizontal bladeplay that adjusting the pivot won't fix, I'd send it back to Benchmade. If there is significant vertical bladeplay that cleaning out any gunk that might be interfering with the meeting of tang and stop-pin, I'd send it back to Benchmade. Otherwise, you'll always focus on it, and it will -- as you say -- make using the knife unenjoyable.
 
Benchmade's customer service has been pretty great when I've used it. It's a hassle, but if you send it back to them I bet they'll make it right.
 
Gadfly22 said:
Bear in mind that disassembly may void your warranty. If there is horizontal bladeplay that adjusting the pivot won't fix, I'd send it back to Benchmade. If there is significant vertical bladeplay that cleaning out any gunk that might be interfering with the meeting of tang and stop-pin, I'd send it back to Benchmade. Otherwise, you'll always focus on it, and it will -- as you say -- make using the knife unenjoyable.
Click to expand...

My take on that is unless you don't know what you're doing and the knife is totally f'd when you send it in, there's no way they can prove it. YMMV
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far! I should've clarified that the blade has side-to-side play; no up-and-down play whatsoever. Also, after taking a magnifying glass to the knife, I definitely think its a stop pin issue: its not fully sunk into each steel liner, and the front portion of the knife looks like its slightly flaring to each side. I'm surprised I didn't notice it first. I'm considering gently clamping the handles together to sink it back in, but that might be a bad idea.
 
Side to Side or up-down.

My current experience with the last few axis locks has been disappointing. Side to Side blade play has been the norm, and there should be NO blade play in a properly constructed axis lock, but something happened at BM, and side to side blade play is now the norm. I've sent in one Griptillian three times for blade play, and it comes back with blade play. So I gave up...
 
You say the stop pin looks like it isn't seated in the liners. I would be tempted to pad some plier jaws with leather, and give it a squeeze in that area. It may seat the pin properly, and give you the correct clearance. If you just crank on the pivot screw, it might strip before you can close the gap.
 
Akcir said:
You say the stop pin looks like it isn't seated in the liners. I would be tempted to pad some plier jaws with leather, and give it a squeeze in that area. It may seat the pin properly, and give you the correct clearance. If you just crank on the pivot screw, it might strip before you can close the gap.
Click to expand...

I second this option-- but only if you can't just disassemble the knife yourself and re-seat the stop pin manually. That is of course assuming the pin isn't just too long.
 
Akcir said:
You say the stop pin looks like it isn't seated in the liners. I would be tempted to pad some plier jaws with leather, and give it a squeeze in that area. It may seat the pin properly, and give you the correct clearance. If you just crank on the pivot screw, it might strip before you can close the gap.
Click to expand...

An excellent suggestion. My first thought was "vice", but pliers is a better options. I'm going to try that. Thanks!
 
Read what I did to my 710 here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1091011-Sebenza-vs-BM-710

The distance between liners in the front, middle, and rear of the knife have a significant effect on smoothness and blade play. If you take calipers to measure the distance at these points, I'd imagine you'd find a difference. When I got my spacers from BM, they measured around .172". I stoned them down to .165" to match the width of blade and washers.

I would be happy to do it for you as I'm looking to practice doing it more often.
 
The 710's stop pin should be free rotating, it's not supposed to be tight in there. Sounds to me more like an issue with the new spacers being slightly wider than your old ones, thicker washers would be the appropriate fix for side to side play. (or as lennyo mention, grind down the spacers a bit till everything is tight)
 
I think it's a stop pin issue also. I've had a couple of Benchmade AXIS lock folders do this and once I got the stop pin to seat properly they tightened right up.
 
My BM 710 ATS34 never had a "blade hitting back-spacer" issue.
No blade play and perfect Axis lock.

Re: Axis lock:
Several months ago I purchased one of those BM Griptilian "Shot Show 2013 Limited Edition specials"... it arrived
with a horribly dysfunctional Axis lock, I sent it to BM, they repaired it, came back in functional condition but I quickly got rid of it on Dweebay
as I found it to be uncomfortably heavy and just one of those purchases where you say to yourself: "why did I ever buy this".

Both my Doug Ritter Griptilians (large and mini) have flawless amazing Axis locks.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1071938-EDC-III-Which-knife-or-knives-are-you-carrying-today?p=12473688#post12473688

DSCN1220_zps2f82d9ed.jpg
 
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yoda4561 said:
The 710's stop pin should be free rotating, it's not supposed to be tight in there. Sounds to me more like an issue with the new spacers being slightly wider than your old ones, thicker washers would be the appropriate fix for side to side play. (or as lennyo mention, grind down the spacers a bit till everything is tight)
Click to expand...

I think both Lennyo and you are onto something: I just got a hold of my dad's industrial strength magnifier and I'll be darned, the newly installed barrel spacers are cut crooked! Worse, I'm noticing the blade is now starting to rub the liners during opening; I'd bet dollars to donuts the uneven spacers are causing bladeplay.

Overall, I am incredibly disappointed with Benchmade. It seems like I've been getting a lot of bad apples lately, from my stuck-up Spyderco Manix Lightweight (which I had to send back) to my miserably off-centered Mini Barrage :(
 
Crooked spacers!

Sounds like Friday afternoon work... Maybe Friday morning if thirsty Thursday is a thing in Oregon.

Sorry to hear that, I'd call and ask for them to cover shipping again and see if they can make your knife high priority to get it back to you faster.
 
Not mentioned here is the number: 800-800-7427. I'd call them Monday, describe what you're seeing and the issues with the knife; and don't mail the standard $5 for return shipping. When you ship it to them make a copy of the receipt and mail it separately with your info including phone number. Since your knife was repaired there's a case number on the paperwork, please refer to that when you're talking to them. Good luck!
 
The first thing, and what you should do now is return it to Benchmade ASAP!

As suggested, call first thing, ask to speak to someone in customer service, explain you had sent it in and it was returned and now has play and the spacers are crooked. I'm confident they will take care of the problem for you.

They will most likely cover the shipping the with a prepaid label.

I understand your frustration. Never fun to send back a knife. Especially twice.

Not Benchmade but I had one instance when I sent in a NIB knife because it had rust on the blade and a torn washer. They sent me a brand new knife, with rust on the blade. That one went right back too.

Best of luck. I'm sure it will get sorted out though.
 
evanPGH said:
I doubt it if messing with the pivot does absolutely nothing.

If it were me I'd do a full takedown and re-assembly and if that doesn't work, send it back to BM.
Click to expand...

And take a chance of voiding the warranty, because that always helps.....
 
With their volume exceeding 500+ knives received every day things will happen, but problems with knives not fully covered or repaired to our satisfaction are rare. I would offer many of us have had issues with F&F...so patience is surely Golden. This is yet another good reason to own more than one...no chance for withdrawal symptoms. ;)
 
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